Technology operations should do more than maintain platforms and respond to incidents.

At the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), they are becoming an important enabler of organisational growth, productivity and digital transformation.

ARENA is establishing a new Digital, Data & Technology operating model to strengthen internal capability across applications, data, portfolio delivery and technology operations. It is seeking a Director, Security & Service Operations to build the operating environment that supports its people, platforms and growing Digital agenda.

This is not a traditional infrastructure leadership position or a specialist cyber security role.

Service management and technology operations sit at its centre, supported by responsibility for operational resilience, security assurance and managed-service performance.

About ARENA

ARENA supports Australia’s transition to net zero by funding renewable energy and decarbonisation projects, helping emerging technologies and commercial models move towards practical application.

The agency also shares knowledge from the initiatives it supports, helping government and industry make better future investment decisions.

With approximately 160 employees across Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, ARENA is large enough to undertake nationally significant work while remaining small enough for individual leaders to have genuine visibility and influence.

The organisation is investing in modern applications, trusted data, practical AI and stronger Digital capability. Reliable and secure technology services will help employees spend less time navigating operational issues and more time focused on higher-value work.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the General Manager, Digital, you will establish and lead ARENA’s Security & Service Operations function.

You will lead two direct reports across security, domain administration and business application support, while providing the direction and technical judgement that ensures ARENA’s managed providers operate as part of one connected service environment.





The foundations are already forming, but the service-management capability is still developing. A Change Advisory Board has recently been introduced, while service ownership, operational reporting, service catalogues and ITIL-aligned practices require further maturity.

You will bring these elements together into a practical operating model that improves service quality, strengthens resilience and creates a better employee experience.

Your remit will span

- Service ownership, governance and operational reporting
- Incident, problem, change and release management
- Service levels, catalogues and continual improvement
- Major incident and remediation ownership
- Business continuity, recovery and operational resilience
- Vendor performance and managed-service accountability
- Security, risk and operational assurance
- Platform readiness and transition into ongoing support

The aim is not to implement every ITIL process in its most complex form. ARENA needs someone who understands good service management and can adapt it to a lean, delivery-focused organisation.

Why This Role Is Different In a larger organisation, these responsibilities would often be divided across several leaders.

At ARENA, you will influence how service management, technology operations, security and managed services work together, while the function and its governance practices are still developing.

You will need enough technical and security knowledge to challenge recommendations, recognise risk and ask informed questions. You will not be expected to configure every platform personally.

For someone motivated by ownership, curiosity and visible improvement,



this is an opportunity to leave ARENA substantially stronger than you found it.

About You

You may currently be a Head of IT Operations, IT Operations Manager, Technology Services Manager, Infrastructure & Operations Manager or Service Operations Manager. Equally, you may be a senior operational leader ready to step into your first Director-level prospect.

You will bring a strong service-management foundation, broad technical understanding and experience leading outcomes delivered through internal and external teams. You will understand how to apply ITIL practices without introducing process that adds little value.

Most importantly, you will be approachable, curious and outcomes-focused. When a stakeholder raises a problem, your instinct will be to understand it and help reach an outcome rather than explain why it belongs elsewhere.

Government experience would be useful but is not essential. Experience within another regulated or assurance-focused environment may be equally relevant.

Why Join ARENA?

This role offers an unusually broad platform for career development.

You will work directly with senior leaders and broaden your experience across technology operations, service management, security, resilience and organisational transformation.

ARENA will invest in your development and give you the opportunity to build capabilities you may not possess today.

For an operational leader ready for greater accountability, this is an opportunity to expand your career while contributing to an organisation with genuine national purpose.

Next Steps For a confidential discussion, please contact Steven Fulop on [0418 994 446](tel:0418 994 446) or [email protected]

Alternatively, please contact Anthony Trimboli on [0422 604 782](tel:0422 604 782) or [email protected] xceltium has been exclusively retained by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to manage this appointment. All direct and third-party applications will be referred to xceltium and treated with the strictest confidence.

📌 Director, Security and Service Operations (Sydney)
🏢 Xceltium
📍 Sydney