Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General – Canberra ACT

The Facilities Manager is responsible for the effective management, maintenance, operation, safety, and performance of the Government House estate. The role ensures that facilities are safe, compliant, sustainable, fit for purpose, and support the delivery of organisational objectives. The role ensures the protection and enhancement of heritage-listed property, ensuring all activities are undertaken in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Office’s heritage strategy and approved heritage management plans.

The Facilities Manager leads facilities operations, contractor management, maintenance programmes, asset management activities, workplace services, and compliance obligations while driving continuous improvement and value for money outcomes.

The position provides strategic and operational leadership for a multidisciplinary team responsible for the management of buildings, landscapes, infrastructure and associated facilities across the estate. This includes oversight of maintenance programs, facilities management services, asset performance, physical security systems and operational service delivery to ensure the properties are maintained to a high standard of functionality, presentation, safety and security.

The position oversees physical security operations, including the management of security infrastructure, policies, procedures and risk mitigation measures to safeguard people, assets and information. The role works closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure security arrangements remain effective, contemporary and aligned with organisational requirements.

The position leads small teams of trade based and administrative staff to deliver a wide range of property functions, several roles report directly to the position. A critical element of the role is the leadership and people management to ensure a positive, customer-focused team culture is fostered, and team performance and capability development is developed. The role must always promote continuous improvement and innovation by leading by example.

Some travel between Government House and Admiralty House may be required to support operational and project delivery requirements.

The Facilities Manager is responsible for the effective management, maintenance, operation, safety, and performance of the Government House estate. The role ensures that facilities are protected, compliant, sustainable, fit for purpose, and support the delivery of organisational objectives. The role ensures the protection and enhancement of heritage-listed property, ensuring all activities are undertaken in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Office’s heritage strategy and approved heritage management plans.

The Facilities Manager leads facilities operations, contractor management, maintenance programmes, asset management activities, workplace services, and compliance obligations while driving continuous improvement and value for money outcomes.





The position provides strategic and operational leadership for a multidisciplinary team responsible for the management of buildings, landscapes, infrastructure and associated facilities across the estate. This includes oversight of maintenance programs, facilities management services, asset performance, physical security systems and operational service delivery to ensure the properties are maintained to a high standard of functionality, presentation, safety and security.

The position oversees physical security operations, including the management of security infrastructure, policies, procedures and risk mitigation measures to safeguard people, assets and information. The role works closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure security arrangements remain effective, contemporary and aligned with organisational requirements.

The position leads small teams of trade based and administrative staff to deliver a wide range of property functions, several roles report directly to the position. A critical element of the role is the leadership and people management to ensure a positive, customer-focused team culture is fostered, and team performance and capability development is developed. The role must always promote continuous improvement and innovation by leading by example.

Some travel between Government House and Admiralty House may be required to support operational and project delivery requirements.

The key duties of the position include:

Facilities Operations Management

- Manage the day-to-day operation of organisational facilities and workplace environments including all buildings, landscapes, infrastructure, fleet vehicles, mobile plant, utilities, waste management, cleaning and animal management, in accordance with environmental, WHS, heritage value frameworks, and PSPF requirements.
- Oversee planned, preventative, and reactive maintenance programmes
- Responsible for ensuring building access, security, cleaning, grounds maintenance, and workplace services occur to the required standard.
- Monitor facility performance and service levels, including that of both in house trades and contracted teams.
- Responsible for ensuring facilities support operational requirements and business continuity objectives.

Asset Management

- Develop and implementing asset management programs that support the long-term preservation, sustainability and operational requirements
- Oversee the maintenance of asset registers and condition reporting
- Monitor asset performance, utilisation, and replacement requirements, providing input and leading the implementation of the capital works program
- The role ensures that heritage values are appropriately protected while balancing contemporary operational, security and visitor requirement.

Contractor Management

- Manage all stages of the contract lifecycle for contracts relating to day-to-day building operations.



This may include both repairs and maintenance, and capital works.
- Responsible for the monitoring and reporting of contractor performance against agreed service standards and key performance indicators
- Responsible for ensuring all contractors comply with statutory, organisational, and contractual requirements

Security and Risk Management

- Responsible for physical security management, including liaising with AFP and other government entities on policy, service provision and risk management.
- Develop and maintain strategies and plans for physical security and facilities management.
- Manage physical security including development of strategies and plans for policy, processes, risk management, training and drills, change management and outcome delivery.
- Contribute to business continuity including the development of strategies and plans for policy, processes, risk management, training and drills, change management and outcome delivery.
- Manage emergency management including the development of strategies and plans for policy, processes, risk management, training and drills, change management and outcome delivery.

General Management

- Manage staff performance
- Manage budgets management, procurement activity and standard finance processes
- Other duties as directed to assist the Office to meet operational requirements.

Eligibility

The successful candidate must:

- be an Australian citizen at the time of application
- be willing to undergo a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) prior to an offer made
- be able to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance for the duration of employment
- obtain and maintain a Working with Vulnerable People Check; and
- take reasonable steps to avoid any real, potential or perceived conflict of interest in connection with their employment with the Office, and disclose any material personal interests that may result in a conflict of interest.

Notes

Employment with the Office is in accordance with section 13 of the Governor-General Act 1974. If you are an ongoing APS employee and are engaged under the Public Service Act 1999, Under section 67 of the Australian Public Service Commissioner's Directions (2022) - an Agency Head must grant leave without pay to an ongoing APS employee to undertake employment with the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General and on return provide employment at the employee’s substantive level.

Getting to know the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General

The Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General (OOSGG) is a small Commonwealth budget-funded statutory agency with staff located at Government House, Canberra and Admiralty House, Sydney. The Official Secretary leads an organisation committed to identifying and implementing innovative ways to support the Governor-General in carrying out their constitutional, statutory, ceremonial and public duties.

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📌 Facility Manager, Government House (Canberra)
🏢 Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
📍 Canberra