Project Director - TRAILS Modernisation

UpperGround by Hudson; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

UpperGround by Hudson is seeking an accomplished Project Director to lead Queensland's TRAILS Modernisation Project, a multi-year digital transformation for registration and licensing services.

You will provide executive leadership across business, technology, data, policy and service delivery, aligning six domain teams and ensuring continuity for millions of Queenslanders, with governance, risk management and reporting to senior executives.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading large-scale digital transformation programs.
• Proven expertise in governance, assurance, risk management and executive reporting.
• Experience guiding cross-functional teams across technology, business, data and operations.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills in complex environments.
• Background in government or highly regulated sectors is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of traditional project delivery and agile/product-based approaches.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for a major government transformation program.
• Lead and align six domain teams against a shared roadmap and delivery objectives.
• Drive project governance, risk management, assurance, and executive reporting.
• Guide the modernisation of mission-critical registration and licensing systems.
• Build trusted relationships across executive stakeholders, suppliers, and delivery teams.
• Resolve complex issues and dependencies to maintain delivery momentum.
• Ensure successful transition from legacy environments while protecting service continuity.
• Develop organisational capability and leadership to sustain long-term transformation outcomes.

Skills

Digital transformation

Executive leadership

Governance & risk

Stakeholder engagement

Agile/product delivery

Government sector

Job description

Are you an accomplished transformation leader who thrives on delivering complex, large-scale digital change? The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is seeking an experienced Project Director to lead one of Queensland's most significant digital transformation initiatives: the TRAILS Modernisation Project. This flagship program will reshape the state's registration and licensing ecosystem, transitioning critical services from legacy technology platforms to a modern, customer‑centric future.

The Opportunity

This is not a traditional project leadership role.

You will provide executive leadership across a multi-year transformation program, bringing together business, technology, data, policy, and service delivery teams to achieve a unified vision. Leading six interconnected delivery domains, you'll drive strategic outcomes while ensuring service continuity for millions of Queenslanders.

Working closely with senior executives, governance boards, delivery partners, and technical specialists, you'll be responsible for translating complexity into clear direction, accelerating delivery momentum, and embedding sustainable capability across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for a major government transformation program.
• Lead and align six domain teams against a shared roadmap and delivery objectives.
• Drive project governance, risk management, assurance, and executive reporting.
• Guide the modernisation of mission‑critical registration and licensing systems.
• Build trusted relationships across executive stakeholders, suppliers, and delivery teams.
• Resolve complex issues, dependencies, and barriers to maintain delivery momentum.
• Ensure successful transition from legacy environments while protecting service continuity.
• Develop organisational capability and leadership to sustain long‑term transformation outcomes.

About You

We're looking for a proven executive‑level transformation leader with:

• Extensive experience leading large-scale digital transformation programs
• Strong government or highly complex industry experience
• Demonstrated success modernising enterprise technology environments
• Expertise in governance, assurance, risk management and executive reporting
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across technology, business, data, change and operations
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, influence and negotiation skills
• Deep understanding of both traditional project delivery methodologies and Agile/product‑based delivery approaches
• Relevant project, program, transformation or executive leadership qualifications and certifications

Why This Role?

• Lead one of Queensland Government's most significant transformation programs.
• Shape the future of registration and licensing services across the state.
• Work alongside senior government executives and influential stakeholders.
• Deliver meaningful outcomes that improve customer and community experiences.
• Long‑term engagement with an initial contract through November 2027 and optional extension periods available.

Casual Loading

• Please note for all Australian based contract and temporary roles only, the pay rate is inclusive of mandatory 25% casual loading.
• This excludes permanent and fixed term roles.

Due to current Victorian labour hire licence restrictions, Hudson is not advertising, offering or accepting applications for contract, temporary or labour hire roles that are based in Victoria or otherwise connected to Victoria. This includes contract, temporary or labour hire roles where the candidate resides in Victoria, even if the role is based in another state. These restrictions do not apply to permanent or fixed term employment opportunities.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Hudson

Hudson is committed to helping you find a workplace where you feel respected, supported, and free to thrive. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences—because when different voices come together, amazing things happen.