SM Project Standards & Assurance

Transport for NSW; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Transport For NSW is seeking a senior leadership professional to run the Project Standards & Assurance function within the PMO&E, guiding governance and delivery across a complex portfolio. You will establish and uplift assurance practices, design a risk-based model, and provide trusted advice to executive stakeholders.

You will lead a team of about 6–10 professionals, empowering delivery teams and embedding accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Seasoned senior leader with 10+ years in assurance, governance, standards, or portfolio delivery within large organisations or government.
• Experience establishing or transforming assurance and standards functions to improve delivery performance and governance maturity.
• Strong communication skills with ability to engage executive stakeholders and governance bodies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Project Standards & Assurance function across a complex portfolio of Transport initiatives within PMO&E.
• Design and manage a risk-based integrated assurance model proportionate to project lifecycle.
• Provide trusted, evidence-based advice on high-risk or strategically significant initiatives.
• Build and lead a team of 6–10 direct reports focused on governance clarity, accountability, and continuous improvement across delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Governance

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Organisation/Entity: Transport For NSW

Job category: Information & Communication Technology

Job location:

Macquarie Park, NSW, AU, 2113

Job reference number: 107906

Employment type: Permanent Full-Time

Salary range: An attractive remuneration package

You crave a career that pushes you, where you'll meet challenges head on and you're guaranteed to grow.

You're passionate about public service and ready to lead a team of professionals, share your expertise and guide decision-making to help shape the future of our State.

In this role, You will:

This is a senior leadership opportunity within the Portfolio Management Office & Enablement (PMO&E), leading the Project Standards & Assurance function across a complex portfolio of Transport initiatives.

You will provide independent oversight and drive continuous improvement of delivery frameworks, methodologies, governance, and assurance practices, ensuring projects and portfolios are aligned to strategic objectives, compliant with assurance requirements, and positioned for successful delivery outcomes.

This role will lead the establishment and uplift of the function, requiring a clear vision, strong strategic thinking, and the ability to execute and embed practical improvements across portfolio delivery practices. You will integrate assurance activities with delivery standards, ensuring insights and lessons learned directly inform continuous improvement and governance maturity.

You will design and manage a risk-based integrated assurance model, ensuring assurance activities are proportionate, scalable, and embedded across the project lifecycle. The role also involves overseeing portfolio delivery standards across project, program, and portfolio management disciplines including governance, scheduling, risk, cost, delivery methodologies, and agile practices.

You will provide trusted advice on high-risk or strategically significant initiatives, applying critical analysis, assurance leadership, and evidence-based recommendations to strengthen delivery confidence and organisational capability.

Leading a team of approximately 6–10 direct reports, you will build a high-performing and collaborative assurance practice focused on simplicity, clarity, governance maturity, and delivery outcomes. You will work closely with delivery, finance, technology, and divisional stakeholders to embed a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across the organisation.

About You

You are an experienced senior leader with 10+ years’ experience in assurance, governance, standards, or portfolio delivery environments, ideally within large, complex organisations or government settings.

You bring strong strategic capability, with experience establishing, uplifting, or transforming assurance and standards functions, creating clear frameworks, objectives, and operating models that improve delivery performance and governance maturity.

You are a strong communicator who values clear, succinct communication and practical outcomes, with the ability to engage confidently across executive stakeholders, delivery teams, and governance bodies.

You have demonstrated experience implementing risk-based assurance models, delivery standards, and governance frameworks, while balancing compliance requirements with flexibility and innovation in delivery practices.

You are a capable people leader, experienced in managing multidisciplinary teams, setting direction, developing capability, and fostering a collaborative and accountable culture.

You are highly organised and outcomes-focused, with strong judgement and the ability to simplify complexity, prioritise effectively, and maintain focus on delivering measurable business outcomes.

With a pragmatic and strategic mindset, you are passionate about improving delivery confidence, strengthening governance capability, and enabling successful outcomes across Transport’s project and portfolio landscape.

Who We Are

Transport for NSW provides a safe, integrated, and efficient transport system. We connect people, communities and industry every day.

Join us

Our workforce is as diverse as the community we serve. If you’d like further information on our inclusion and diversity initiatives, visit Transport careers.

Flexible work options may be available. Learn more via Flexible work options and policy

Aboriginal people and people living with disability are supported throughout the recruitment process and at work, and we encourage you to apply. Visit Supporting Aboriginal People or Supporting People with Disability for more information or speak to your talent team member to arrange any adjustments to how you interact with us.

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