EL2 - Director, Vehicle Standards, Vehicle Safety Policy and Partnerships Branch

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts - Sydney NSW

The Vehicle Standards team is responsible for developing, delivering, and shaping Australia’s national road vehicle standards to achieve better road safety outcomes. We manage a technically complex program of work, collaborating across federal, state, and territory governments, local automotive industries, and international forums. The team is professional, highly specialised, and dedicated to embedding international safety benchmarks into the domestic legislative framework.

The opportunity we have available

The Vehicle Standards team is responsible for developing, delivering, and shaping Australia’s national road vehicle standards to achieve better road safety outcomes. We manage a technically complex program of work, collaborating across federal, state, and territory governments, local automotive industries, and international forums. The team is professional, highly specialised, and dedicated to embedding international safety benchmarks into the domestic legislative framework.

The key duties of the position include:

What you will do

As the Director of Vehicle Standards, you will lead a high-performing team of 12 specialists in the development of Australia’s national road vehicle standards. You daily and strategic duties will include:

- Strategic direction : Setting priorities and the strategic framework for the team’s dynamic technical work program.
- Standards development : Leading the research, analysis, and creation of evidence-based regulatory instruments, including assessing safety impacts, benefits, and costs.
- Internation representation : Representing Australia at the United Nations World Forum for the Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations to influence global vehicle standards that match domestic road safety goals.
- Executive advisory : Delivering clear, authoritative advice to Ministers and senior executives, with the ability to explain intricate technical details to non-technical audiences.
- Stakeholder influence : Building and managing key strategic relationships across the APS, state/territory departments, road safety related bodies and the broader automotive sector.
- People leadership : Cultivating an accountable, inclusive, and high-performing team by championing specialist expertise and driving professional growth.

Inherent requirements for the role





The role requires regular engagement across international time zones outside of normal business hours and occasional overseas travel.

The inherent requirements for this role include:

- The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate their capability against the EL2 Work Level Standards.
- Program leadership : Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing complex programs to deliver high-quality outcomes in fast-paced, uncertain environments.
- Regulatory expertise : Deep operational knowledge of regulatory and/or standards-development frameworks, with a proven ability to provide strategic regulatory policy advice.
- Complex analysis : Capacity to interpret evidence, exercise sound judgment, and resolve sensitive, technically complex issues.
- Communication and influence : Highly developed written and interpersonal skills used to negotiate outcomes with diverse stakeholders and deliver concise briefings for executive decision-making.

Desirable requirements

- Knowledge of the automotive sector, road vehicle regulations, or an equivalent technically complex regulatory domain.
- Experience working inside a national or international standards-setting framework.
- A STEM or engineering qualification, relevant technical experience, or demonstrated history of successfully leading technical specialists.

Cultural capability requirement

The department believes every role contributes to cultural safety and that building staff cultural capability helps us deliver better policies, programs or 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 .

As an EL2, you will be expected to:

- Provide strategic leadership to embed cultural capability across programs, policies or functions.
- Influence senior leaders on culturally informed approaches.
- Drive partnerships and co-design with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities where applicable or appropriate.

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. 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 qualified. 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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📌 Director, Vehicle Standards, Vehicle Safety Policy and Partnerships Branch (Sydney)
🏢 Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and
📍 Sydney