Who are we?

The Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) is central to the independent oversight of the Australian intelligence and security agencies. The Inspector-General is an independent statutory office holder with oversight of the activities of Australia’s intelligence and security agencies to ensure they act legally and with propriety, comply with ministerial guidelines and directives, and respect human rights. The work of the Inspector-General and his staff provides assurance to ministers, the parliament and the public that these agencies are using their powers as intended.

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 provides that the IGIS has jurisdiction over the following agencies that make up the national intelligence community:

- Office of National Intelligence (ONI)
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
- Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS)
- Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)
- Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO)
- Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO)
- Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)
- Australian Federal Police (intelligence functions only)
- AUSTRAC (intelligence functions only)
- Department of Home Affairs (intelligence functions only)



This is a pivotal time for our agency, as our jurisdiction has recently grown and we are looking to expand our capacity to meet this new environment. There are significant opportunities to demonstrate and develop professional skills and leadership within the legal function of the agency.

We are a small portfolio agency, proud of our contribution to the national interest. We recognise that our people are our greatest asset – we recruit and retain highly capable, motivated professionals with high levels of integrity and personal drive; and we invest in, and value, their development. Further, we offer a rewarding, positive, and inclusive environment, empowering staff to work flexibly in their contribution to the achievement of agency goals.

The key duties of the position include:

The Prospect

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the Executive team at Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (OIGIS) and is responsible for leading the Enterprise Management Unit (EMU), ensuring alignment with key strategic objectives. EMU consists of Finance, Human Resources, Security, Information Technology and Information Governance. This role is critical in ensuring effective operational, administrative, and staffing arrangements, supporting the Inspector-General in their statutory functions and the Deputy Inspector-General and Executive team in the overall management of the agency.

Following a significant expansion of its oversight jurisdiction in June 2026, the OIGIS is undergoing a period of substantial organisational growth. With staffing levels expected to increase by approximately one-third, a focused uplift in corporate capability is required to support a larger and more complex operating setting. The COO role requires an experienced and cutting-edge leader with strategic vision, exceptional interpersonal skills and leadership capabilities to further professionalise its corporate functions and drive capability uplift.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a proven track record of delivering outcomes at a senior level, excellent judgement, and the ability to build strong stakeholder relationships and act as trusted advisor to the Executive. Experience managing organisational wide change will be highly regarded.

As a key senior leader, the COO strategically shapes internal policies, champions corporate strategies, and fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. High-level stakeholder management skills are crucial, with the role interacting with government departments, the AGD Portfolio COO Forum, intelligence agencies and parliamentary committees.



The role also requires the ability to navigate complex operational environments to support the agency’s objectives and maintain integrity across its statutory functions.

Please note, this position is Canberra-based with opportunity to negotiate flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working arrangements; however, the majority of the work will need to be conducted at the Canberra office.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership: Lead the EMU, shaping and delivering the core functions and capabilities to support the delivery of key organisational outcomes.

Operational Management: Oversee the day-to-day activities and operations of EMU teams responsible for Finance, Human Resources, Agency Expansion, Strategy and Design, Security, Information Technology and Information Governance and Business Intelligence.

Capability Building: Provide leadership, guidance and development to EMU staff, enhancing the unit's capacity and capability to deliver high-quality corporate services and support the agency's growth.

Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, including government departments, the AGD Portfolio COO Forum, parliamentary committees, and external partners, to facilitate collaboration and information sharing.

Change Champion: Be a strategic change leader, driving whole-of-organisation strategic change initiatives, including strategic human resources and security initiatives, and the implementation of new frameworks and programs.

Risk Management: Implement comprehensive risk management frameworks and practices to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of corporate operations.

Governance and Compliance:

Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, including the Public Service Act 2009, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), the associated Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (PGPA Rule) and Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Financial Reporting) Rule 2015 and other applicable laws including but not limited to the Archives Act 1983, the Protective Security Policy Framework, the Information Security Manual and Employment law.

To be successful in this role:

The successful candidate will be a strategic and collaborative senior leader with a proven track record of delivering outcomes in complex and changing environments. They will demonstrate sound judgement, the ability to influence at senior levels, and a commitment to fostering a culture of high performance, accountability and continuous improvement.

Key capabilities include:

- Leading and developing high-performing teams, building capability and fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture
- Providing strategic leadership and direction to deliver key organisational priorities, drive operational excellence and support strategic outcomes.
- Building and maintaining productive stakeholder relationships, with high level skills in engaging and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders
- High level communication and influencing skills, including providing trusted advice to senior executives and decision-makers
- Applying sound judgement, critical thinking and analytical skills to navigate complexity, solve problems and inform evidence-based decision-making
- Demonstrating the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and accountability, consistent with the APS Values and Code of Conduct.

Essential skills

- Deep expertise in corporate services, including human resources, finance, and/or security.




- Demonstrated experience delivering significant staff and capability growth.
- Proven experience in leading teams and managing projects in multifaceted operating environments.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships and support organisational change initiatives.



Desirable skills

- A degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, or a related field would be highly regarded.

Eligibility

Security, suitability and integrity requirements

- Citizenship - you must be an Australian citizen
- Employment Suitability Assessment (ESA)– appointment to our Office depends on the outcome of an ESA
- Security Clearance – appointment and ongoing employment at the Office are subject to a Positive Vetting/Privileged Access clearance being granted and maintained. You must be willing to undergo a security clearance vetting process at the Top-Secret Positive Vetting/Privileged Access clearance level and must be willing to fully cooperate in the assessment process, including the timely provision of information and documentary evidence. Security vetting may take many months to complete and requires candidates to provide significant personal information to the vetting authority.



Positions at IGIS are positions of trust. In addition to the above, all IGIS staff are required to make annual conflict of interest declarations to support the independence and integrity of the Office.

The successful candidate must be located in Canberra or willing to relocate. The IGIS offers relocation assistance to current employees relocating to Canberra from interstate.

Notes

How to apply

Applicants must be submitted through IGIS Recruitment Portal on our website by 11:30pm 11 October 2026 AEDT on the closing date.

NOTE: All applications must be provided at the OFFICIAL level. Classified applications will not be accepted.

As part of your application you will need to provide:

- your current resume;
- contact details of two referees (one of these must be your current supervisor/manager)
- a written statement explaining why you are interested in IGIS and how your education, skills, knowledge and experience make you suitable for the position (maximum 750 words)

When framing your response, you should also refer to the Integrated Leadership System (ILS) and the capabilities required to be successful at the Executive Level 2. Information about the ILS is available on the Australian Public Service Commission website.

Getting to know the Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security is an independent statutory office holder who reviews the activities of six intelligence agencies within IGIS jurisdiction:

- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
- ASIO
- Australian Secret Intelligence Service
- ASIS
- Australian Signals Directorate
- ASD
- Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation – AGO
- Defence Intelligence Organisation
- DIO
- Office of National Intelligence
- ONI

The purpose of this review is to ensure that these agencies act legally and with propriety, comply with ministerial guidelines and directives and respect human rights. The functions of the Inspector-General are prescribed under sections 8, 9 and 9A of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Act 1986 (Comlaw). The Inspector-General can undertake a formal inquiry into the activities of an agency in response to a complaint or a reference from a minister.

The Inspector-General can also act independently to initiate inquiries and conducts regular inspections and monitoring of agency activities. In conducting an inquiry, the Inspector-General has significant powers which include requiring the attendance of witnesses, taking sworn evidence, copying and retention of documents and entry into the premises of an agency within jurisdiction. The Inspector-General can also conduct preliminary inquiries into matters in order to decide whether to initiate a full inquiry.

📌 Chief Operating Officer (Canberra)
🏢 Office of the Inspector-General
📍 Canberra