Senior Program Officer

Work Initiatives; Canberra; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Work Initiatives is seeking a Senior Program Officer (Contract) to provide end-to-end secretariat services to boards and support governance coordination. The role supports branch priorities, governance reviews, and project work, including Agile practices.

The 12-month contract offers full-time hours with potential extension across ACT, SA, and QLD locations. You will coordinate board operations, manage membership terms, lead a small team, and improve governance processes while engaging senior

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering board/committee secretariat services.
• Experience coordinating governance activities and engaging senior stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills for workflow, deadlines and shifting priorities.
• Excellent written communication and attention to governance briefing materials.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate board operations end-to-end: agendas, papers, minutes, decisions, actions, and reporting.
• Manage board membership and terms of reference.
• Act as a coordination point for divisional requests with governance oversight.
• Lead and mentor a small team in day-to-day governance tasks.
• Review and improve secretariat processes to streamline ways of working.
• Support branch priorities, including risk management, workshops, and Agile governance activities.

Skills

Board secretariat

Governance coordination

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Agile practices

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Senior Program Officer (Contract) — Secretariat & Governance Overview We’re seeking a Senior Program Officer to provide end-to-end secretariat services to one or more boards and support broader governance and coordination functions.

To support branch priorities and manage peaks and troughs, you may also assist other teams with governance reviews, capability uplift activities, and project support. Contract: Full-time (40 hours/week) 12-Months + 12-month Potential extension Locations: Woden (ACT), Adelaide (SA) Brisbane (QLD)

Key Responsibilities

Coordinate board operations end-to-end: agendas, papers, minutes, decisions, actions, reporting

Manage board membership and maintain fit-for-purpose terms of reference

Act as a key coordination point for divisional requests, providing governance oversight and gap analyses

Lead and support a small team through day-to-day leadership, coaching, and mentoring

Review and improve secretariat and governance processes to streamline ways of working

Support branch priorities as needed, including risk/issue management, workshops, governance reviews, and project support (including Agile practices)

Must-Have

Proven experience delivering board/committee secretariat services

Experience coordinating governance activities and engaging effectively with senior stakeholders

Strong organisational skills (workflow management, deadlines, shifting priorities)

Excellent written communication and attention to detail (governance/briefing material)

Ability to work independently and collaboratively across competing priorities

Nice-to-Have

Experience developing training materials and facilitating workshops

Experience supporting project delivery, assurance, or transformed ways of working (including Agile)

Experience supporting workforce/resourcing/recruitment activities

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