The opportunity we have available

Operating in a dynamic and complex environment, First Assistant Secretary Executive Officers play a pivotal role in ensuring the effective functioning of the First Assistant Secretary’s office, and in providing strategic advice and support. This includes managing sensitive and high-priority matters, coordinating strategic communications, and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

The Executive

Officer works closely with the First Assistant Secretary and their Executive Assistant (EA) to ensure timely decision-making and seamless delivery across the Division.

What will you do?

Executive Officers provide high-level strategic, operational and governance support to First Assistant Secretaries across a broad range of complex policy, program and corporate matters impacting the Division, Group and Department. Operating in a fast-paced and dynamic setting, Executive Officers exercise a high degree of autonomy, judgement and initiative to manage competing priorities, support executive decision-making and ensure the effective delivery of business outcomes. The role requires flexibility and responsiveness, including the capacity to meet demanding and often competing deadlines, with occasional work outside standard hours to support priority business.

Executive Officers occupy positions of significant trust and are responsible for establishing and maintaining highly effective relationships with senior stakeholders across government. This includes managing professional relationships with Ministerial Offices, senior executives within the Department, counterparts across the APS, state and territory agencies, and external stakeholders. They act as a key conduit between the First Assistant Secretary and stakeholders, ensuring strategic priorities, decisions and expectations are communicated effectively and translated into action.

The role requires the provision of authoritative advice and coordination on complex, sensitive and often politically significant issues.

Executive

Officers provide secretariat services for senior executive committees, governance forums and stakeholder engagements, including meetings involving Ministers and senior officials. They lead the coordination, review and quality assurance of briefing materials, correspondence, submissions and reports, ensuring advice is accurate, strategically aligned and reflects whole-of-government and whole-of-department considerations.

Executive

Officers also coordinate and oversee material supporting parliamentary and public accountability processes, including Senate Estimates, parliamentary committees and other high-profile engagements.

Executive Officers apply sound judgement, discretion and professionalism in dealing with confidential and sensitive information and operate effectively in environments characterised by ambiguity, complexity and competing stakeholder interests. They adapt their communication and engagement approaches to influence a diverse range of audiences and build consensus across organisational boundaries. They are expected to anticipate emerging issues and risks, identify opportunities, and proactively implement solutions that support executive decision-making and organisational objectives.

As trusted advisers, Executive Officers drive the implementation of divisional and group priorities, including strategic, organisational and cultural initiatives.



They are accountable for delivering outcomes through effective planning, coordination and stakeholder engagement, often leading initiatives without direct positional authority. EL1 Executive Officers monitor the progress of key deliverables for which SES officers are accountable, provide strategic reporting and analysis, and ensure risks, dependencies and issues are escalated and managed appropriately.

Executive Officers play a critical role in supporting organisational performance by identifying and addressing risks, challenges and emerging opportunities. They work collaboratively with SES leadership teams to develop strategies, implement corrective actions and ensure high-quality advice is provided to Ministers, the First Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretaries and the Secretary. Through their understanding of departmental priorities, government objectives and the broader operating environment, they contribute to strategic decision-making and organisational effectiveness.

The role requires the ability to lead through influence, build commitment across diverse stakeholder groups and foster collaboration to achieve outcomes.

Executive

Officers can be expected to represent the First Assistant Secretary in meetings, discussions and cross-departmental forums, exercising judgement and delegated authority appropriate to the role. They interpret executive intent, translate strategic direction into operational priorities, and provide guidance and advice that enables staff and stakeholders to deliver on organisational objectives.

Executive Officers are expected to model APS Values, Employment Principles and leadership behaviours, fostering a culture of integrity, respect, accountability and continuous improvement. They contribute to workforce capability by mentoring and supporting executive support staff and building effective networks across the Department. Depending on the role, they may also have direct people management responsibilities and are expected to create an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing work environment.

First Assistant Secretary Executive Officers operate in a high-pressure environment with significant responsibility for managing reputational, operational and strategic risk. They provide critical support to the Senior Executive by ensuring priorities are effectively coordinated, issues are managed proactively, and organisational objectives are achieved through sound governance, strategic foresight and strong stakeholder engagement.

Who are we looking for?

The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate their capability against the EL1 Work level standards, and specifically:

- Provide strategic executive support to the First Assistant Secretary by managing competing priorities, aligning divisional activities with strategic objectives, anticipating emerging issues, and exercising sound judgement in responding to complex, sensitive and time-critical matters. Provide authoritative advice and coordinate actions to support informed decision-making and the effective management of divisional priorities.




- Act as a key liaison and representative for the First Assistant Secretary, fostering collaboration across the Division, Group and Department. Provide leadership and guidance to staff on priorities, processes, standards and expectations; coordinate responses to organisational and operational issues; represent the First Assistant Secretary in meetings and forums as required; and maintain effective engagement with Ministers' Offices and other stakeholders on routine and sensitive matters.
- Build and maintain productive working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including Ministers' Offices, Senior Executive Service officers, departmental staff, central agencies, other APS entities, state and territory counterparts, and external organisations. Influence outcomes through effective communication, negotiation and relationship management, including providing advice and guidance to senior stakeholders and leading collaboration across executive support networks.
- Lead the coordination and quality assurance of ministerial, executive and divisional briefings, correspondence and reporting, ensuring advice is accurate, timely, strategic and aligned with departmental priorities. Analyse documentation to identify strategic, operational and reputational risks, facilitate consultation across business areas, and ensure advice reflects whole-of-Division, Group and Department perspectives.
- Drive continuous improvement in divisional governance and business operations by identifying, developing and implementing effective administrative and business processes. Ensure compliance with corporate governance requirements, strengthen planning and reporting frameworks, improve information management practices, and support the delivery of strategic and operational priorities through proactive forward planning and coordination.
- Provide leadership and oversight of executive support functions, including mentoring and coordinating Executive Assistants and administrative staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture, and promoting consistent approaches to executive support, governance and stakeholder management across the Division.

Eligibility requirements

Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

- Citizenship: candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application.
- Health Assessment: The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department’s preferred medical provider.
- Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at NV1. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information. You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
- Police check: The successful candidate must satisfactory complete an Australian Federal Police criminal history check.
- Integrity and Performance check: The successful candidate must satisfy the requirements in an Integrity and Performance check which is completed by your most recent employer.

📌 Executive Officer to First Assistant Secretary (multiple roles)- Identified (Canberra)
🏢 Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
📍 Canberra