The EL2 Programme Architect and Technical Manager is the Government Services Branch’s lead technical authority and primary technical advisor, accountable for the architecture, security and strategic direction of the Government Services Branch’s (GSB) whole-of-government collaboration, communications and secure hosting platforms. The role provides authoritative advice to senior executives, ensures compliance with Government security and assurance frameworks, and leads multidisciplinary technical teams delivering secure, scalable digital services for government.

This role will:

Provide strategic technical leadership for all GSB services.

Act as the branch’s principal technical advisor, setting the architectural and security direction for the branch’s whole-of-government collaboration, communications and secure hosting platforms.

Lead enterprise level technical decisions that balance security, usability, scalability and value for money, ensuring alignment with Government priorities and Finance’s digital strategy.

Lead and manage technical teams and capability.

Provide technical leadership for developers, system engineers and architects, including setting priorities, building capability, and fostering a high performing, security conscious culture.

Translate complex technical issues into clear advice for senior executives and non technical stakeholders.

Own platform architecture, security and assurance outcomes.

Design, approve and maintain up to PROTECTED cloud platform architecture for GSB products and services.

Oversee threat and risk assessments, IRAP engagements, and security design reviews, ensuring platforms meet Australian Government security, privacy and compliance requirements.

Drive security, risk and resilience across GSB services.

Establish and govern security and compliance backlogs to inform investment and delivery planning.

Ensure proactive threat detection, incident response readiness, data governance and resilience measures are embedded across all GSB platforms and services.

Engage strategically with senior stakeholders and partners.

Build and maintain strong relationships with internal business owners, cyber security teams, assurance bodies, vendors and whole-of-government stakeholders.

Represent Finance in technical forums and provide authoritative input to cross-government initiatives,



reviews and assurance activities.

The key duties of the position include:

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

- Authoritative technical leadership – the ability to set direction, make complex decisions and provide trusted advice at SES and executive forums.
- People and capability leadership – experience leading and influencing multidisciplinary technical teams and developing future technical leaders.
- Strategic thinking and judgement – balancing security, risk, delivery and business outcomes in a government context.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills – communicating complex technical concepts clearly to senior executives and non-technical audiences.
- Strong governance mindset – experience operating within formal assurance, risk and compliance frameworks.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

- Strong familiarity and understanding of ASD Blueprints, particularly for Secure Cloud.
- Extensive experience delivering and governing large-scale digital platforms in senior technical leadership, security or architecture roles.
- At least 5 years - Significant experience in cloud and digital platform architecture, including Microsoft 365 and enterprise cloud environments.
- Demonstrated experience designing and governing secure platforms up to PROTECTED or equivalent levels.
- Strong understanding of Australian Government security, risk and assurance processes (e.g. IRAP, ITSM, PSPF, threat and risk assessments, security design reviews)
- Proven experience providing technical advice to senior executives and influencing strategic decisions.

Desirable:

- Experience working in or with Australian Government agencies, particularly in regulated or high-assurance environments.
- Experience leading large-scale digital platforms or for whole-of-organisation services.
- Familiarity with whole-of-government digital, cyber or cloud initiatives.

Eligibility

A mandatory qualification is an essential component for the role.



i.e. CPA or CA qualifications for an Accounting role.

- Relevant tertiary qualification in Information Technology, Computer Science, Cyber Security, or a closely related discipline (or equivalent demonstrated professional experience).
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert
- Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator Expert (or equivalent enterprise cloud/security certifications)

For detailed information about this role, including the job specific capabilities, please refer to the downloadable vacancy pack, which can be accessed by clicking the hyperlink at the bottom of this page.

DETAILED VACANCY INFORMATION

Position Eligibility Requirements

- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.
- Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold the required security clearance level for the role as indicated in the downloadable job pack. All Finance staff are required to have a minimum baseline security clearance prior to commencement.
- We encourage and welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with Disability, LGBTQI+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and mature aged people.

Getting to know the Department of Finance

As a central agency of the Australian Government, the Department of Finance (Finance) plays an important role in assisting government across a wide range of policy areas to ensure its outcomes are met. Finance supports the government's ongoing priorities through the Budget process and fosters leading practice through the public sector resource management, governance and accountability frameworks. Finance plays a leading role in advising the government on many of its strategic priorities. We do this through our skilled and considered approach to providing advice, developing policy, delivering services and engaging with our clients and stakeholders. Finance's key areas of focus are: - Budget - Business Enabling Services - Commercial - Governance and Resource Management

📌 Programme Architect and Technical Manager (Canberra)
🏢 Department of Finance
📍 Canberra