The Role

You will be an experienced professional who will lead a highly effective team to create and deliver Defence AI priorities and provide enterprise leadership to ensure AI capabilities are governed appropriately, risks are managed effectively and opportunities are realised at pace to enhance Defence capability, decision advantage and organisational performance.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead the implementation of Defence's AI Strategy, ensuring alignment with government priorities, Defence objectives and emerging technological opportunities.
- Provide leadership for Defence AI policy, governance and assurance, establishing the frameworks, accountabilities and standards needed for responsible adoption of AI.
- Build Defence's AI workforce capability and communities of practice.
- Lead engagement with senior Defence leaders, government agencies, industry, academia and international partners to strengthen AI capability, influence policy development and advance Defence priorities.
- Provide advice to senior executives on AI strategy, governance, risk, assurance, workforce capability and adoption, to support informed decision-making.
- Translate government policy, strategic direction and regulatory requirements into practical frameworks, guidance and initiatives that support Defence outcomes.
- Drive AI adoption through targeted engagement, strategic communications and change leadership.
- Identify and manage strategic risks associated with AI while enabling innovation, experimentation and capability delivery at pace.




- Lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement.

About our Team

This is an exciting time to join our team as we establish the settings for Defence’s adoption of AI.

The Directorate of AI Strategy, Policy and Engagement is at the centre of the realisation of the advantages AI can bring by:

- Establishing Defence's strategic direction for AI.
- Designing and building key policy controls and the AI governance ecosystem.
- Engaging across government, academia and international partners on the design, development, deployment and use of AI.

Our Ideal Candidate

Our ideal candidate is an experienced and strategic leader with demonstrated experience in the following:

- Providing strategic direction within a large government or complex organisation.
- Developing and implementing high-impact initiatives, including AI strategies, governance frameworks, and workforce capability programs.
- Exceptional problem solving, analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly.
- Influencing and negotiating across diverse stakeholder groups to achieve outcomes.
- Leading and managing high-performing multidisciplinary teams through direction, coaching, and mentoring.

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 2”.

📌 Director AI Strategy, Policy and Engagement (Canberra)
🏢 Department Of Defence
📍 Canberra