Risk Officer

Department of Defence; Sydney; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Defence invites applications for an APS 5 Risk Officer to support risk management across Training Force as part of the Business Optimisation Team. You will coordinate risk identification, assessment, monitoring and reporting to senior leadership and governance forums.

You will maintain risk registers, treatment plans and risk dashboards, analyse trends, engage stakeholders and contribute to assurance activities and governance processes to strengthen risk maturity across

Qualifications

• Experience in risk management within a complex organisation.
• Ability to identify, assess and monitor risks and provide practical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication for senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Service Risk Management activities and maintain risk registers.
• Analyse risk information, engage stakeholders and prepare risk reports.
• Support assurance activities and governance processes to strengthen risk maturity.

Skills

Risk management

Governance

Assurance

Compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

The APS 5 Risk Officer supports the coordination and continuous improvement of Service Risk Management across Training Force as part of the Business Optimisation Team. The role assists in the identification, assessment, monitoring and reporting of strategic, operational and emerging risks that may impact Training Force's ability to deliver its objectives and capability outcomes. Working closely with risk owners and stakeholders across Training Force, the position supports the maintenance of service risk registers, monitoring of risk treatment actions, facilitation of risk assessments, and preparation of risk reporting and advice for senior leadership and governance forums.

In practical terms, a large part of the role involves coordinating Service Risk Management activities, maintaining risk registers and treatment plans, analysing risk information and trends, engaging with stakeholders to support risk identification and mitigation, and preparing reports, briefs and dashboards that support informed decision-making. The role also contributes to assurance activities, governance processes and initiatives that strengthen organisational risk maturity and foster a positive risk culture.

Overall, the APS 5 Risk Officer plays a key role in supporting organisational resilience and capability delivery by ensuring risks are effectively identified, communicated, monitored and managed. Through the provision of risk management support, stakeholder engagement and risk reporting, the position contributes to informed decision-making, continuous improvement and the achievement of Training Force objectives.

About our Team

The Business Optimisation Team within the Office of COMTRAIN provides Risk Management, governance, assurance, performance reporting and continuous improvement functions that support the effective delivery of Training Force objectives. The team works across Training Force to identify, assess and monitor risks that may impact capability delivery, workforce generation and organisational performance. Through the coordination of risk management activities, assurance programs, governance frameworks and performance reporting, the team supports informed decision-making and organisational resilience.

The team also leads initiatives that strengthen risk maturity, improve business processes and enhance organisational effectiveness. By providing oversight of strategic and operational risks, monitoring treatment actions and promoting a risk-informed culture, the Business Optimisation Team enables Training Force leadership to effectively manage uncertainty, maintain accountability and deliver training outcomes aligned with Defence priorities and future capability requirements.

Our Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a motivated and analytical individual with experience in risk management, governance, assurance, and compliance within a complex organisation. They will possess strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify, assess and monitor risks and provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to support decision-making. The successful candidate will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality risk reports, briefs and executive correspondence for senior stakeholders. They will demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, enabling them to build productive working relationships across Training Force and the broader Defence environment.

The candidate will be highly organised, capable of managing competing priorities and delivering outcomes within tight timeframes while working both independently and collaboratively. Experience facilitating risk assessments, maintaining risk registers, monitoring treatment actions and supporting assurance activities will be highly regarded, along with a commitment to fostering a positive risk culture and continuous improvement across Training Force.

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at "Negative Vetting Level 1".

The key duties of the position include:

The Role

The APS 5 Risk Officer supports the coordination and continuous improvement of Service Risk Management across Training Force as part of the Business Optimisation Team. The role assists in the identification, assessment, monitoring and reporting of strategic, operational and emerging risks that may impact Training Force's ability to deliver its objectives and capability outcomes. Working closely with risk owners and stakeholders across Training Force, the position supports the maintenance of service risk registers, monitoring of risk treatment actions, facilitation of risk assessments, and preparation of risk reporting and advice for senior leadership and governance forums.

In practical terms, a large part of the role involves coordinating Service Risk Management activities, maintaining risk registers and treatment plans, analysing risk information and trends, engaging with stakeholders to support risk identification and mitigation, and preparing reports, briefs and dashboards that support informed decision-making. The role also contributes to assurance activities, governance processes and initiatives that strengthen organisational risk maturity and foster a positive risk culture.

Overall, the APS 5 Risk Officer plays a key role in supporting organisational resilience and capability delivery by ensuring risks are effectively identified, communicated, monitored and managed. Through the provision of risk management support, stakeholder engagement and risk reporting, the position contributes to informed decision-making, continuous improvement and the achievement of Training Force objectives.

About our Team

The Business Optimisation Team within the Office of COMTRAIN provides Risk Management, governance, assurance, performance reporting and continuous improvement functions that support the effective delivery of Training Force objectives. The team works across Training Force to identify, assess and monitor risks that may impact capability delivery, workforce generation and organisational performance. Through the coordination of risk management activities, assurance programs, governance frameworks and performance reporting, the team supports informed decision-making and organisational resilience.

The team also leads initiatives that strengthen risk maturity, improve business processes and enhance organisational effectiveness. By providing oversight of strategic and operational risks, monitoring treatment actions and promoting a risk-informed culture, the Business Optimisation Team enables Training Force leadership to effectively manage uncertainty, maintain accountability and deliver training outcomes aligned with Defence priorities and future capability requirements.

Our Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a motivated and analytical individual with experience in risk management, governance, assurance, and compliance within a complex organisation. They will possess strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify, assess and monitor risks and provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to support decision-making. The successful candidate will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality risk reports, briefs and executive correspondence for senior stakeholders. They will demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, enabling them to build productive working relationships across Training Force and the broader Defence environment.

The candidate will be highly organised, capable of managing competing priorities and delivering outcomes within tight timeframes while working both independently and collaboratively. Experience facilitating risk assessments, maintaining risk registers, monitoring treatment actions and supporting assurance activities will be highly regarded, along with a commitment to fostering a positive risk culture and continuous improvement across Training Force.

Eligibility

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at "Negative Vetting Level 1".

Getting to know the Department of Defence

The Department of Defence employs around 18,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees. Defence APS employees work in a wide variety of critical roles, Australia wide, enabling our three services Navy, Army and Air Force, to do their job. Defence has a range of Australian Public Service (APS) career opportunities that offer interesting, challenging, and unique work. Our workforce includes administrative support, accountants, intelligence analysts, engineers, policy advisors, graphic designers, lawyers, social workers, IT specialists and contract managers to name a few. We offer a rewarding career that includes professional development, work-life balance, recognition, a flexible and supportive work environment and a diverse workforce. To find out more about a career with Defence please visit https://www.defence.gov.au/jobs-careers

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