Senior Director, Strategy | Full-time Temporary with a Possibility of Permanency

ACT; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

ACT Government is seeking a Senior Director, Strategy to lead our forward communications and engagement program in Canberra. You will advise Ministers on high-profile issues and shape how we connect with the community, turning complex policy into clear narratives.

You will build resilient, high-performing teams, foster agile delivery, and drive inclusive engagement across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities while balancing priorities in a fast-moving public service.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or significant experience in communications and engagement are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of forward communications and engagement program, advising Ministers on high-profile issues.
• Shape how we connect with the Canberra community and drive audience-first narratives across policy areas.

Job description

Senior Director, Strategy
Full-time Temporary with a Possibility of Permanency

Details: Are you a strategic, innovative communications and engagement leader looking to drive meaningful impact across the ACT community?

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Director, Strategy to join our team. If you thrive on transforming complex policy into compelling audience-first narratives, navigating dynamic issues, and fostering a supportive, high-performing team culture, this role offers a fabulous opportunity.

As our Senior Director, Strategy, you will lead the design and delivery of our forward communications and engagement program, advising senior leaders and Ministers on high-profile issues while shaping how we connect with our community.

What does our directorate do?

• We make it easier for Canberrans to access justice, and we help to keep our community safe.
• Our work spans legislation, human rights and gaming reform, emergency management, security, community safety and corrective services.

What does our branch do?

• Our branch delivers integrated communications, media, engagement, and digital advice, strategy and services.
• We operate in a fast-moving, collaborative environment where creative ideas, continuous improvement, and agile delivery are actively encouraged.
• We are passionate about telling the story of our work and driving connection between government and the community we serve.

What will you bring to the role?

• You can translate complex business projects into creative, data-driven, and audience-first communications and engagement strategies.
• You build resilient, high-performing teams and support individual excellence, capability development, and team well‑being.
• You apply high‑level political and strategic insight, with the confidence to advise Ministers, senior executives, and cross‑government partners on complex, sensitive, or emerging issues.
• You demonstrate a commitment to cultural safety and embed respectful engagement practices across strategies that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• You have resilience and sound judgment when balancing competing priorities, driving process innovation, and delivering outcomes in a dynamic environment.

We offer a flexible workplace where no two weeks are ever the same, where your strategic ideas are welcomed, and where you are supported to balance project delivery with personal well‑being. If you want to use your strategic talents to make a tangible difference in the ACT, we’d love to hear from you!

Eligibility/Other requirements:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or significant experience working professionally in the fields of communications and engagement are highly desirable.
• IAP2 accreditation and demonstrated experience applying engagement frameworks in a public sector context is highly desirable.
• The successful applicant will need to be available for occasional weekend and after-hours work.
• This position does not require a pre‑employment medical.
• This position does not require a Working with Vulnerable People Check.

Note: This is a temporary position available immediately until 30 June 2027 with the possibility of extension up to 12 months and/or permanency.

An order of merit will be established from this selection process and may be used to fill future identical vacancies over the next 12 months.

Selection may be based on application and referee reports only.

Opportunities for flexible working options could include hybrid working, being a combination of working from home, designated office based and FlexiSpace working locations across the ACT, part‑time hours, job‑sharing, flexible start, and finish times.

This position is located in a workplace designated for activity‑based working (ABW). Under ABW arrangements, officers will not have a designated workstation/desk.

The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal .

Note

This is a temporary position available immediately until 30 June 2027 with the possibility of extension up to 12 months and/or permanency.