Geoscience Australia values the lands, water and sky as we work to deepen a shared understanding of Country and Earth. We respect First Nations peoples and their enduring connection, contribution and obligations to Country. Reflecting on our shared history, we are committed to listen and learn.

About us

Geoscience Australia brings together science, data and technology to provide geoscience insights that inform decision-making by government and industry, support innovation, and contribute to Australia's safety, resilience and prosperity.

Our work spans the Australian continent, marine jurisdiction and Antarctic territory, from space to the Earth’s core. We deliver national-scale data, services and infrastructure and work with partners to deepen understanding of Australia and respond to the opportunities and challenges facing our nation.

Our culture

Our strength lies in our people, including our diversity in backgrounds, skills and experiences, and the way we work together to respond to the emerging needs of our work. We value diversity in gender, backgrounds, culture, and experiences of our employees and are committed to providing an inclusive workplace culture that ensures everyone has equal opportunity to contribute, participate and progress. Applications from people who reflect this diversity are encouraged.

What we can offer you

At Geoscience Australia, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant science, data and technology that makes a difference to Australia. You’ll work alongside people with diverse expertise and experience, with opportunities to learn, develop and contribute to work with real-world impact.

We offer competitive employment conditions, flexible working arrangements and a range of benefits that support the wellbeing and development of our people. Click here to find out more.

Our team

The Procurement and Commercial Section is responsible for providing strategic procurement advice, procurement governance, sourcing support and contract management guidance across the entity. The team plays a critical role in enabling the entity to achieve its objectives and deliver outcomes under the 2026–2036 Strategic Plan by ensuring procurements are conducted efficiently, ethically and in accordance with the Commonwealth's legislative and policy framework.

Led by the Director, Procurement and Commercial, the team comprises eight procurement professionals who provide expert advice and support across the full procurement lifecycle. The team works closely with business areas, senior executives and key stakeholders to plan, design and deliver procurement activities that achieve value for money, support effective resource management and manage procurement risk.

The role

The Director, Procurement and Commercial provides strategic leadership, expert procurement advice and oversight of complex procurement activities across the entity. The role ensures procurement and contract management practices are conducted in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs), the broader Finance Framework, and associated Australian Government policies and guidance.

The Director is responsible for the effective management of financial, people and operational resources within the section and contributes to the achievement of agency-wide financial and governance objectives.

This role reports to the Chief Finance Officer within the Chief Finance Officer Branch in the Enabling Services Division.

The key duties of the position include:

In this role you will:

Strategic Procurement Leadership

- Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the agency's procurement frameworks, policies, procedures and guidance materials.
- Ensure procurement activities align with government priorities, legislative requirements and best practice procurement principles.
- Provide authoritative advice on complex, high-risk and high-value procurements.
- Interpret and apply the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Procurement Connected Policies, Finance Framework requirements and relevant legislation.
- Provide strategic advice and support business areas throughout the procurement lifecycle, including procurement planning, approach to market, evaluation, negotiation, contract establishment and contract management.




- Advise delegates on procurement risks, value for money considerations and appropriate procurement methodologies.

Governance, Compliance and Risk Management

- Maintain robust procurement governance arrangements that support compliance with the PGPA Act, CPRs and associated policies.
- Monitor procurement practices and identify emerging risks, compliance issues and opportunities for improvement.
- Develop and implement procurement assurance activities, audits and reviews.
- Prepare high-quality briefs, reports and advice for senior executives, governance committees and external stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management

- Build and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, central agencies and other government entities.
- Represent the agency in whole-of-government procurement forums, working groups and communities of practice.
- Influence strategic procurement decisions through trusted advice and collaborative engagement.
- Support complex negotiations with suppliers and service providers.

Financial Management

- Exercise financial and procurement delegations in accordance with agency instruments of delegation and authorisation.
- Manage the operational budget for the procurement section, ensuring efficient and effective use of resources in accordance with the PGPA Act and agency financial policies.
- Contribute to agency budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activities.

Resource Management and People Leadership

- Lead, mentor and manage a team of procurement professionals, including workforce planning, recruitment, performance management and capability development.
- Allocate resources across procurement projects and priorities to ensure timely and effective delivery of business outcomes.
- Build organisational procurement capability through training, coaching, guidance and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Set clear performance expectations and support ongoing professional development.
- Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, customer service and continuous improvement.
- Manage workforce planning, resource allocation and team capability development.
- Manage external resources, including consultants, contractors and specialist advisers engaged to support procurement activities.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation and customer service excellence.

External Reporting and Government Accountability

- Ensure the agency meets all procurement-related reporting and transparency obligations to Government and central agencies, including accurate and timely reporting through AusTender and other whole-of-government reporting frameworks.
- Provide oversight of procurement data integrity, reporting compliance and responses to government information requests, supporting transparency, accountability and effective stewardship of public resources.

Leadership and Communication

- Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare briefs, reports, ministerial correspondence and technical advice.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and negotiations.
- Ability to lead projects and provide technical leadership within multidisciplinary teams.
- Solid judgement and decision-making skills in complex and sensitive environments

Required skills, knowledge, experience and/or qualifications

Essential

- Extensive experience leading a procurement and commercial function within the APS or a comparable regulatory environment.
- Extensive experience leading complex procurement and contract management activities within the APS or a comparable regulatory setting.
- Strong knowledge of:
- Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs)
- PGPA Act and associated instruments
- Commonwealth Resource Management Framework (Finance Framework)
- Procurement Connected Policies
- Contract management and commercial practices
- Strong stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing skills.




- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive-level briefs and submissions.

- Strong analytical, risk management and problem-solving capabilities.

Desirable

- Qualifications in procurement, law or a related discipline.
- Membership or accreditation with a recognised procurement professional body (e.g. Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS)).

Are you unsure about applying?

Did you know that a Hewlett Packard internal report found that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60 per cent of the job requirements? Women and other people from diverse backgrounds tend to only apply when they check every box. If you think you have what it takes, but don’t necessarily meet every single point on what we are looking for, please still apply or get in touch with the contact officer to learn more about the role.

To Apply

Please visit the careers page of our website to submit your application via our e-Recruit system. Your application should include:

- Your resume (no more than 3 pages)
- A brief statement (no more than 700 words) outlining your transferable skills, experience and capabilities related to the role and the value you would bring to Geoscience Australia.

If you have any questions regarding the role, please contact Laura Shore at ***********@ga.gov.au.

To learn more about applying for roles within the Australian Public Services please review, ‘Applying for an APS job: cracking the code’.

Use of AI in Recruitment

Geoscience Australia may use Microsoft Copilot to support limited administrative and preparatory aspects of the recruitment process. Artificial Intelligence is not used to assess or select candidates, and all decisions are human-led and based on merit.

Candidates must ensure their application reflects their own skills, experience and capabilities. Any use of AI must be responsible, transparent where required, and must not misrepresent their suitability for the role.

Candidates will be asked to disclose their use of AI when submitting an application and may also be asked to do so at various stages throughout the recruitment process.

Applicants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment, as well as the Principles for agency use of AI in recruitment which outline expectations for the responsible, ethical and transparent use of AI when applying for APS roles.

Eligibility

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for this position you must meet the below eligibility criteria.

- Be an Australian Citizen at the closing date of application.
- The successful applicant must be able to obtain, hold and maintain a security clearance of an appropriate level relevant to this role.
- Commencement of employment is subject to the successful applicant undergoing and satisfying pre- employment screening, which includes a police history check.

Notes

Technical Assistance

If you require technical assistance, call our Recruitment team on (02) 6249 9*** or email ***********@ga.gov.au.

A merit list/pool may be created from this process. If you are successful for the merit pool, your details may be shared with other Australian Public Service agencies unless you choose not to have your details disclosed.

Getting to know the Geoscience Australia

Geoscience Australia is an Australian Government listed entity within the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio. Geoscience Australia is Australia's pre-eminent public sector geoscience organisation. We are the nation's trusted advisor on the geology and geography of Australia. We apply science and technology to describe and understand the Earth for the benefit of Australia. We apply our diverse professional expertise, our deep and trusted knowledge, our national-scale Earth observation infrastructure and our strong partnerships, to the opportunities and challenges that face our nation. We value diversity in gender, backgrounds, culture, and experiences of our employees and are committed to providing an inclusive workplace culture that ensures everyone has equal opportunity to contribute, participate and progress. Applications from people who reflect this diversity are encouraged. We are committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees and offer a flexible and diverse workplace.

📌 Director, Procurement and Commercial (Symonston)
🏢 Geoscience Australia
📍 Symonston