Safe Work Australia is seeking experienced and motivated policy leaders to drive high priority national reforms to support safe and healthy workplaces across Australia.

To be a strong contender for the role(s) you will need to be a highly effective leader and strategic thinker with excellent judgement. You will also need to be an influential communicator and be able to develop and maintain relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. You will be a person who cares about your team and supports them to deliver results.

You will demonstrate experience delivering complex policy projects, consulting and engaging with multiple external stakeholders, supporting and advising senior executives, leading teams and managing change. You will be adaptive and flexible, capable of delivering results in a busy and complex policy workplace.

You will play a key role in translating the strategic goals of the Executive and SWA Members into operational goals, steering change and building the capacity and capability of SWA.

Reporting to the Branch Manager, Legal and Framework Policy, the Directors will lead policy sections within the branch. As a Director, you will:

- lead, manage and develop a high-performing policy section, setting transparent direction and priorities, managing performance and building the capability of your team
- lead the development and delivery of complex national policy and legislative reform projects, from research and options analysis through to consultation, regulatory impact analysis and implementation
- provide timely, high-quality strategic advice to the Branch Manager, CEO and Executive, and oversee the preparation of briefs, submissions, correspondence and papers for Secure Work Australia Members, the Minister and ministerial meetings
- build and maintain productive relationships with Commonwealth, state and territory governments, WHS regulators and workers' compensation authorities, employer and worker representatives and other stakeholders, and lead consultation and negotiation to achieve nationally consistent outcomes




- represent Safe Work Australia on tripartite committees, working groups and national forums, and support the agency's engagement in Senate Estimates, parliamentary inquiries and ministerial processes
- oversee the development of model codes of practice, guidance material and other resources that help duty holders and workers understand and apply the law in practice
- manage section resources, budget, risks and project timelines, including procurement and management of contracted research, and contribute to effective governance and reporting
- contribute to the leadership of the branch and agency, and model a positive, inclusive and safe workplace culture consistent with the APS Values and your WHS obligations as a leader.

- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS), unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise in writing.
- The successful candidate will be required to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.
- Successful applicants will be required to complete an Australian Federal Police criminal history check.
- RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activities if you choose to opt in, declare you have disability and meet the minimum requirements for the role. More information is available at apsc.gov.au/recruitability.

This selection process may also be used to establish a merit pool, which may be accessed to fill similar ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies across Safe Work Australia over the following 18 months.

Applications should be submitted via our website by 18 October 2026 at 11:30pm AEDT.

Please note that online assessment activities and/or a panel interview will form part of the selection process. If you require any adjustments to participate in the assessment process, please let us know.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Nathan Lee on 0409 758 094 or [email protected]. If you experience technical difficulties submitting your application, please contact [email protected]

📌 Director - Various Positions (Australia)
🏢 Safe Work Australia
📍 Australia