- Executive Level 1
- $121,755 - $138,410 per annum plus 15.4% Superannuation
- Canberra and Melbourne

FOR CURRENT COMMONWEALTH EMPLOYEES ONLY

NHMRC's Research Strategy and Engagement Section is seeking to fill an Assistant Director role. Our ideal candidate is a current EL 1 or high-performing APS 6 with demonstrated experience in stakeholder management with proficient written and verbal communication skills.

The role is only available to current APS employees as a S26 temporary transfer at level or on higher duties for a period of 10 months.

What we offer

What truly makes us a great place to work? It's our people and the culture we've built together. With an 87% response rate in the 2026 APS Employee Census, NHMRC employees reported high levels of pride (90%), commitment (94%) and connection to our purpose (95%).

NHMRC scored above the APS average across key employee experience measures, including wellbeing, innovation, communication and speak up culture. At NHMRC, you'll find meaningful work, supportive leadership, flexible ways of working, and a collaborative environment where people can thrive and make a difference.

Our roles come with broad responsibilities and minimal hierarchy, making it easier to get things done. You will be part of a small, inclusive, and high performing team with a strong, supportive culture.

We offer

- A truly flexible workplace culture.
- A agile, diverse and supportive team across Melbourne and Canberra.
- Wellbeing programs including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year and a workplace that genuinely cares.
- Generous recreational leave, personal leave, cultural leave, parental leave and paid end-of-year shutdown.
- Study assistance and professional development opportunities that align with your career goals.
- Opportunities to be trusted to lead high value projects with the freedom to innovate and the support to grow.
- Strategic exposure where you can engage directly with senior leaders and contribute to decisions that shape our future direction.

About the Branch The Research Partnerships Branch is responsible for driving the translation of evidence into health policy and clinical practice through partnerships and strategic engagement. We manage grant schemes focused on translating research into policy and practice through the Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies, Development Grants, Targeted Calls for Research,



Partnership Projects and Centres of Research Excellence grant scheme. We implement priority-driven health and medical research initiatives and bilateral and multilateral funding opportunities with international funders and manage grant opportunities for the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) working closely with the Department of Health and Aged Care.

The Branch is also responsible for NHMRC’s International Engagement Strategy, Research Translation Strategy, our strategic and health priorities, consumer and community involvement and manage a range of advisory committees. The Branch is comprised of the Research Strategy and Engagement, MRFF A & B, Translation Programs and Research Collaborations sections.

About the Section The Research Strategy and Engagement section leads NHMRC’s engagement with key stakeholders and provides strategic oversight of national and international policies and strategies shaping Australia's health and medical research landscape. We collaborate with research funders, policymakers, consumers, and the community to support the agency's strategic direction and produce high-level evidence for critical decision making in health and medical research.

Working with teams across the agency we shape NHMRC’s health priorities, international engagement and research translation strategies, consumer and community involvement in research and facilitate collaboration with the Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care on a range of matters including the National Strategy for Health and Medical Research.

We lead a range of initiatives that support Research Translation Centres, dementia research, and partnering with NHMRC. We also manage NHMRC-MRFF advisory groups including the Consumer Advisory Group, Industry, Philanthropy and Commercialisation Committee, Public Health and Health Services Committee and MRFF-NHMRC alignment working groups.

Job specific duties

As the Assistant Director, you will:

- Manage NHMRC's international engagement activities, in accordance with NHMRC’s International Engagement Strategy.




- Lead the refresh of NHMRC’s health priorities, including environmental scanning, analysis and leading consultations.
- Manage investment approaches for dementia research funding.
- Develop high level input including briefs and committee papers.
- Manage and mentor staff, valuing diversity and flexibility to deliver high-quality outcomes in a dynamic environment.

Core capabilities The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:
- Stakeholder engagement: Demonstrated skills in engaging diverse stakeholders.
- Policy Development: Evidence of contributions to policies across the agency and wider sector.
- Program and Project Management: Ability to manage multiple complex projects.
- Communication and Representation: Highly developed written and verbal communication skills for ministerial briefs, reports, and external representation.
- Cultural Competence, Inclusion and Diversity: Modelling leadership that provides a secure, inclusive and respectful workplace culture that supports and develops diverse staff, working collaboratively to achieve outcomes.

Highly desirable The following demonstrated knowledge, experience and qualifications will be highly regarded:
- Tertiary qualifications in a health-related degree

Location The role is available in either Canberra or Melbourne.

Eligibility

This EOI is open to current Commonwealth employees only. Non-ongoing employees are not eligible for temporary transfers under section 26 of the Public Service Act 1999. Non-ongoing employees may be eligible for a secondment if the term of the secondment does not exceed the term of their engagement, and is consistent with the employment instrument the employee is engaged under.

Further information

How to apply

You will need to complete the online application form and provide:

- a short pitch (no more than 550 words)
- a current Resume
- contact details of two referees, one of whom should be your current supervisor or manager.

NHMRC is an inclusive and diverse employer that supports gender equity and diversity in leadership. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including People with Disability, First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, mature age people and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds. Applications close

11:30 PM AEDT Thursday, 8 October 2026.

Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment

📌 Assistant Director (Melbourne)
🏢 National Health and Medical Research Council
📍 Melbourne