Technical Authority

Downer; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Training and development

Internal career opportunities

Healthcare discounts

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Downer is seeking a Technical Authority to lead governance, assurance and technical compliance across our Social Infrastructure & Citizen Services portfolio. Reporting to the Head of Risk & Assurance, you will set standards and ensure licensed, qualified personnel deliver work safely and compliantly.

You will identify and manage technical risk, drive continuous improvement, and lead the development of governance frameworks while collaborating with senior leaders across multiple jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• 15+ years' experience in facilities management, infrastructure, property or a related industry.
• Expertise in licensing, permitting, technical compliance and regulatory governance.
• Strong experience in risk and assurance, organisational capability, and continuous improvement.
• Proven leadership in complex, multi-disciplinary environments.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical governance, assurance and compliance across the business.
• Oversee licensing, permitting and competency frameworks to protect our licence to operate.
• Identify, assess and manage technical and regulatory risks.
• Drive capability development, continuous improvement and technical excellence.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to strengthen compliance, performance and operational resilience.

Skills

Governance

Licensing & compliance

Risk management

Assurance

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Regulatory governance

Project management

Education

Bachelor's/Master's Degree in Engineering

Job description

Lead the governance, assurance and technical compliance framework that protects our licence to operate. Acting independently from contract delivery teams, you will set technical standards, oversee licensing and competency requirements, and provide the assurance that work is delivered safely, compliantly and by suitably qualified personnel across a complex national portfolio.

We currently have an opportunity for a Technical Authority to join our Commercial & Risk team, reporting to the Head of Risk & Assurance. In this pivotal leadership role, you will lead the governance, assurance and technical compliance framework that protects our licence to operate across Downer's Social Infrastructure & Citizen Services portfolio.

Acting independently from contract delivery teams, you will set technical standards, oversee licensing and competency requirements, and provide assurance that work is delivered safely, compliantly and by suitably qualified personnel across a complex national portfolio. Your leadership will strengthen technical capability, manage risk, and ensure the business continues to meet its regulatory and operational obligations.

What You'll Do

As the Technical Authority, you will provide independent oversight of technical governance, compliance and assurance across a complex national portfolio. You will establish and maintain the standards, licensing frameworks and competency requirements that underpin safe, compliant and high-quality service delivery, ensuring the business maintains its licence to operate.
Working closely with senior leaders, you'll identify and manage technical risk, drive continuous improvement, strengthen organisational capability, and provide assurance that work is delivered by suitably qualified and competent personnel. You'll lead the development of governance frameworks, oversee licensing and regulatory obligations, and support the business in navigating change across multiple jurisdictions.
This role offers a broad scope, with key responsibilities including:

• Lead technical governance, assurance and compliance across the business.
• Oversee licensing, permitting and competency frameworks to protect our licence to operate.
• Identify, assess and manage technical and regulatory risks.
• Drive capability development, continuous improvement and technical excellence.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to strengthen compliance, performance and operational resilience.

What You'll Bring

You are a senior technical leader with extensive experience in facilities management, infrastructure, property, or a related sector. You bring deep expertise in technical governance, licensing, risk, assurance and compliance, with a strong understanding of ANZ regulations and standards across complex operating environments.
With a proven track record leading technical or operational functions within large, multi-stakeholder organisations and are comfortable influencing senior leaders, driving organisational capability, and managing competing priorities. Combining strong commercial acumen with a strategic mindset, you excel at identifying risk, implementing robust governance frameworks, and delivering continuous improvement.
This role offers a broad scope, with key responsibilities including:

• 15+ years' experience in facilities management, infrastructure, property or a related industry.
• Expertise in licensing, permitting, technical compliance and regulatory governance.
• Strong experience in risk and assurance, organisational capability, and continuous improvement.
• Proven leadership in complex, multi-disciplinary environments.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills.
• Experience working with technical teams, mentoring professionals, and building organisational capability.
• Strong commercial, analytical, financial and project management capabilities.
• A Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.

More than anything, you'll bring a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for our clients.

Why Downer?

At Downer, we plan, create, and sustain essential public services across Australia and New Zealand. From hospitals to data centres and defence partnerships, we manage critical infrastructure that keeps communities thriving.

What It Means to Belong at Downer

We're proud of our high-performance culture and commitment to diversity, offering:

• Training and development to support and diversify your career.
• With 30% of vacancies filled internally you'll find real opportunities to advance your career.
• Perks@Downer: healthcare discounts, great savings on retail purchases, car purchases and much more.
• Employee Assistance Program: professional support for you and your family when you need it most.

You want your work to matter and so do we. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.
We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.
We're committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals. Even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with this role, we'd still like to hear from you. If it feels like the right fit, apply - potential counts, and so do you.
As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.
If you need support or adjustments through the recruitment process, just let us know, we're here to help you put your best foot forward.