EL1 - Assistant Directors, Ministerial, Cabinet, Parliamentary

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts – Canberra ACT

Operating in a dynamic and complex environment, the Government and Business Services Branch is a trusted, client‑focused branch which enables the department to support Ministers’ Offices through fit‑for‑purpose services and expert advice to support ministers and the department to make informed decisions and satisfy ministerial and parliamentary obligations. It is a respectful, inclusive and enjoyable place to work and grow.

There are several expected opportunities in our ministerial, parliamentary and Cabinet teams.

The Ministerial Services and Cabinet Section and the Parliamentary Services Section play pivotal roles in the productive and effective management of workflow between the department and Ministers’ Offices, Cabinet coordination functions, and supporting Parliamentary activities through providing strategic advice and support. This includes managing high‑priority matters, coordinating processes, clear communication, and building and maintaining strong relationships with others. The Assistant Directors work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely and seamless delivery across the department.

The Ministerial Services team leads and is responsible for the delivery of the ministerial workflow process and provides advice to the department and agencies on ministerial business processes and documents such submissions, briefs, and correspondence.The team manages workflows via PDMS+ ensuring documented procedures are followed and provides a daily courier service to ministers’ offices.

The Cabinet team leads and is responsible for the delivery of the department’s Cabinet business and support for Cabinet and Cabinet committee meetings, documents and procedures in accordance with Cabinet protocols via CabNet+. The team administers CabNet+ and manages the lodgement of the portfolio’s Cabinet submissions, and coordinates and lodges departmental views on non‑portfolio Cabinet submissions.The team also manages the handling of classified information via secure systems including the distribution of international cables.

The Parliamentary Services team leads and is responsible for the delivery of the department’s involvement with Parliamentary processes and committees such as Question Time Briefs and Questions on Notice; manages the Tabling, Senate Estimates, Orders for the Production of Documents, and Parliamentary Committee Inquires functions and oversees the management and administration of the Parliamentary Document Management System (PDMS+).The team administers PDMS+ and the management, coordination, clearance and tabling of parliamentary documents, including reports, responses, and submissions.The team also manages the distribution of parliamentary material, sitting week products and committee correspondence.

The opportunity we have available

Operating in a dynamic and complex environment, the Government and Business Services Branch is a trusted, client‑focused branch which enables the department to support Ministers’ Offices through fit‑for‑purpose services and expert advice to support ministers and the department to make informed decisions and satisfy ministerial and parliamentary obligations. It is a respectful, inclusive and enjoyable place to work and grow.

There are several expected opportunities in our ministerial, parliamentary and Cabinet teams.

The Ministerial Services and Cabinet Section and the Parliamentary Services Section play pivotal roles in the efficient and effective management of workflow between the department and Ministers’ Offices, Cabinet coordination functions, and supporting Parliamentary activities through providing strategic advice and support. This includes managing high‑priority matters, coordinating processes, clear communication, and building and maintaining strong relationships with others. The Assistant Directors work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely and seamless delivery across the department.

The Ministerial Services team leads and is responsible for the delivery of the ministerial workflow process and provides advice to the department and agencies on ministerial business processes and documents such submissions, briefs, and correspondence.The team manages workflows via PDMS+ ensuring documented procedures are followed and provides a daily courier service to ministers’ offices.

The Cabinet team leads and is responsible for the delivery of the department’s Cabinet business and support for Cabinet and Cabinet committee meetings, documents and procedures in accordance with Cabinet protocols via CabNet+. The team administers CabNet+ and manages the lodgement of the portfolio’s Cabinet submissions,



and coordinates and lodges departmental views on non‑portfolio Cabinet submissions.The team also manages the handling of classified information via secure systems including the distribution of international cables.

The Parliamentary Services team leads and is responsible for the delivery of the department’s involvement with Parliamentary processes and committees such as Question Time Briefs and Questions on Notice; manages the Tabling, Senate Estimates, Orders for the Production of Documents, and Parliamentary Committee Inquires functions and oversees the management and administration of the Parliamentary Document Management System (PDMS+).The team administers PDMS+ and the management, coordination, clearance and tabling of parliamentary documents, including reports, responses, and submissions.The team also manages the distribution of parliamentary material, sitting week products and committee correspondence.

The key duties of the position include:

What you will do

- Assistant Directors in the ministerial, parliamentary and Cabinet teams provide high-level strategic and operational advice and support to the department including the Executive, departmental liaison officers, and ministerial offices.They exercise a high degree of autonomy, judgement and initiative to manage competing priorities, support 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.
- You will have a varied and dynamic role with the following key duties:
- provide strategic direction to the team to deliver efficient and effective services, support for the department’s processes, and to meet applicable government requirements
- oversee the management and handling of ministerial, Cabinet or parliamentary business documents and coordination and liaison with business areas
- build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders including the Executive, Departmental Liaison Officers, divisional/group support units, and colleagues in portfolio agencies and other portfolios
- uplift staff capability and understanding of relevant protocols across the department and ensure the department and relevant agencies have access to high‑quality support and training
- drive business improvement, including initiating, reviewing and managing implementation of streamlined workflows, quality assurance processes, guidance materials
- lead, manage and develop team members and manage the team’s workload, particularly during peak periods, and promote wellbeing, inclusion and psychological safety.
- These roles may require the successful candidate to have occasional out-of-hours availability for Cabinet and Parliamentary related work including in the lead up to and during Budget, MYEFO and Senate Estimates periods.
- All positions are expected to work collaboratively with Assistant Directors across the section and the wider Branch to coordinate activities, resolve cross‑team issues and provide operational coverage as required.

Inherent requirements for the role

The inherent requirements for this role include demonstrated capability against the El1 Work level standards and:

- Strategic thinking - Providing clear direction by aligning daily activities with the Department’s strategic objectives, clearly communicating purpose, expectations, and how individual contributions support broader goals. Demonstrating a strong understanding of the Department’s mission, considering the long‑term impacts of decisions, and ensuring operational alignment. Uses sound judgment and critical thinking to gather and analyse information, exploring different perspectives, identifying gaps, and developing solutions to support effective outcomes.
- Achieving results - Contributing own expertise to team goals. Reviewing performance to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and enhanced outcomes. Adaptable to changing requirements and leveraging the knowledge of others. Supports others through change, fostering collaboration by sharing information, and seeking stakeholder feedback to inform improvements
- Cultivating productive working relationships - Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Anticipating and responding to stakeholder needs through open communication and collaboration. Working effectively as part of a team,



encouraging different perspectives and fostering inclusive, high‑performing team environments. Identifying development opportunities, delegating tasks to build capability, setting clear expectations, and providing timely feedback
- Exemplifying personal drive and integrity - Upholding the APS Values and Code of Conduct and acting with professionalism, ethically, and impartiality. Representing the Department effectively, providing forthright, impartial advice and constructively engaging with issues. Demonstrating accountability, taking ownership of own and team deliverables, showing initiative. Pursues continuous personal and professional development with a proactive and growth‑focused mindset.
- Communicating with influence - Communicates with clarity and confidence, using concise and unambiguous language tailored to audience. Structuring written and verbal communication for maximum impact, actively listening to others, and ensuring mutual understanding. Engages with stakeholders to build support and work toward outcomes that deliver mutual benefit.

Desirable requirements

Desirable requirements include experience in using relevant information management systems such as the Parliamentary Document Management System (PDMS+) and CabNet+, or the ability to quickly learn use of these systems.

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 theOur 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

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 Baseline for ministerial and parliamentary positions and Negative Vetting 1 clearance for Cabinet positions, or the ability to obtain this level of clearance. 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 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.

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 opportunity 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.

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📌 Assistant Directors, Ministerial, Cabinet, Parliamentary (Canberra)
🏢 Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and
📍 Canberra