The opportunity we have available

Protective Security is responsible for overseeing the department’s physical and personnel security arrangements ensuring compliance with the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF).

The Section delivers security governance, risk management, policy, and operational functions, and supports a secure operating environment across all departmental sites.

The team safeguards the department’s people, information and assets from security threats through a coordinated approach involving key stakeholders, including cyber security, property, WHS and fraud.

The key duties of the position include:

What you will do The Protective Security specialist provides strategic and operational advice to support compliance with the department’s protective security obligations and responsibilities. The role oversees physical and personnel security activities across the department, coordinates security risk reviews and site security planning, and drives continuous uplift in security governance, assurance and compliance.

The Protective Security specialist manages security contracts and initiatives (including electronic access control systems), supports incident and breach investigations, contributes to internal and external security committees, and supervises a small team to deliver priorities and maintain effective stakeholder relationships.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

- Manage protective security contracts and service agreements and support security budget management.
- Coordinate Protective Security Risk Reviews and Site Security Plans across all departmental sites, including sites outside Canberra.
- Drive remediation, assurance and compliance improvements, including coordinating annual PSPF reporting processes.
- Deliver security awareness information sessions and maintain security-related intranet guidance and communications materials.
- Draft, review and maintain protective security policies, procedures, guidance and related communications material.
- Represent the department in internal and external security committees, working groups and forums.
- Lead or support investigations into suspected security breaches and manage complex security incidents and enquiries.
- Manage a small team, including oversight of workflows, priorities and capability development.
- Support personnel security activities, including pre-employment screening, security clearance processes and maintaining the Designated Security Assessed Positions (DSAP) register.
- Engage with internal and external stakeholders to provide accurate, strategic protective security advice to senior management.
- Ensure appropriate records are maintained in accordance with the Department’s record keeping standards
- Exercise all delegations efficiently, effectively, ethically and in line with appropriate guidelines

Take reasonable care for their own health and safety, and that of others who may be affected by the worker's acts or omissions.

Inherent requirements for the role The inherent requirements for this role include:





- Strong working knowledge of the PSPF and experience applying protective security policy, governance and risk management in a complex organisation.
- Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to provide clear, authoritative advice to senior stakeholders and manage sensitive matters with discretion.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating security risk reviews, site security planning, remediation activities and managing protective security contracts and/or physical security infrastructure initiatives.

Desirable requirements

- Demonstrated technical knowledge or experience relevant to Electronic Access Control Systems, security infrastructure or physical security technology.
- Ability to oversee technical security projects, including working with vendors, contractors and internal stakeholders to support delivery, maintenance and issue resolution.
- Experience leading or supervising staff, including setting priorities, managing workloads, building capability and supporting a positive team culture.
- Relevant qualifications or certifications in security risk management, project management, physical security, personnel security or a related field.
- Qualifications in risk management highly recommended.

Cultural capability requirement The department believes every role contributes to cultural safety and that building staff cultural capability helps us deliver better policies, programs and services for First Nations people and the broader Australian community. Candidates will be required to demonstrate their willingness to develop their cultural capability as part of the assessment process. In making it a requirement across all roles in our department, we are taking a practical step in delivering our commitments under the Our Stories on Country Agreement and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2025–28.

As an EL1 you will be expected to:

- Lead the integration of cultural considerations into work area outcomes.
- Build trusted relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders.
- Champion cultural capability within teams and challenges culturally unsafe practices.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements

This is an Affirmative measure vacancy – This vacancy is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

This is an Affirmative Measures – First Nations applicants only position. The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an Affirmative Measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. To be eligible to apply under the Affirmative Measures initiative, applicants must:

- be an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person




- identify as an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person, and
- be accepted by their community as being an Aboriginal person and/or a Torres Strait Islander person

For more information please visit - Affirmative measure for recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: A guide for applicants

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 Negative Vetting Level 2. 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 ten years for Negative Vetting 2 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 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.

Notes For more information about this role, including the type of person we are looking for and how to apply, please refer to the position description available by clicking the 'Apply Now' button.

Getting to know the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Our work connects and enriches every Australian community, underpins our economy and society, and empowers our regions. We provide policy advice and deliver programs, projects and services in the infrastructure, transport, communications, sport and arts sectors, supporting our regions, cities and territories. Our staff have the chance to work on high profile and diverse national projects that have a meaningful impact on the lives of all Australians.

We seek people with a wide range of skills and competencies. Whether you write policy, deliver programs, projects or corporate services, or have experience in research, data or technology, we look for employees who are innovative, respectful and professional. We are an inclusive employer and promote, value and support diversity among our employees with the aim of ensuring our workforce reflects, respects and benefits from diverse communities including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with cultural and linguistic diversity, people with disability and LGBTQI people.

We are committed to achieving gender equality and, in particular, supporting women’s progression into senior leadership.

📌 Assistant Director, Protective Security Specialist, Integrated Services, Affirmative Measures, First Nations (Canberra)
🏢 Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts
📍 Canberra