The Role

The Head, Governance, Risk and Performance is a senior leadership position within the Corporate Services Branch, accountable for the strategic leadership, design and continuous improvement of the Memorial’s governance framework at an enterprise level. Operating with a high degree of independence under broad direction from the Assistant Director, Corporate Services (Branch Head), the role sets governance strategy, drives organisational compliance maturity, and provides authoritative high level advice to the Executive and Council.

The role is responsible for ensuring the Memorial meets its legislative, regulatory, and accountability obligations, while enabling informed decision-making and supporting organisational performance and risk management at a whole-of-entity level.

The position requires deep expertise in public sector governance, strong judgement, and the ability to engage, influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders, including the Executive, Council, and external oversight bodies.

Our ideal candidate

The successful candidate will be a highly credible senior leader with a demonstrated ability to operate at the strategic level within a complex public sector setting.

They will:

- Demonstrate high-level judgement, integrity and professionalism, with the ability to manage sensitive and complex issues

- Be a trusted adviser to senior executives, capable of influencing decisions and shaping organisational direction

- Possess strong conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate strategy into practical outcomes

- Show proven experience leading enterprise governance frameworks and driving organisational improvement

- Be an engaging and authoritative communicator, able to build relationships and influence at all levels

- Lead with resilience, adaptability and a focus on outcomes

Core Responsibilities

Enterprise Governance Leadership

- Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of the Memorial’s governance framework, ensuring alignment with legislative,



regulatory and whole-of-government requirements.

- Provide strategic leadership of corporate planning, performance and evaluation, including the Corporate Plan, Annual Report, Portfolio Budget Statements, visitor and audience evaluation, and other whole-of-entity reporting.

- Oversee and uplift enterprise approaches to risk management, compliance, fraud control, assurance, Freedom of Information and privacy, ensuring maturity, integration and continuous improvement.

- Act as the Memorial’s principal adviser on governance, influencing senior leadership decision-making and shaping organisational policy and practice.

Executive and Ministerial Governance

- Provide authoritative, strategic advice and briefing to the Executive, Council and Minister on governance, performance, risk and compliance matters.

- Lead the Council Secretariat function, ensuring high-quality governance practices, forward planning and effective decision support at the highest level.

- Oversee complex and sensitive parliamentary, ministerial and executive documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and alignment with strategic priorities.

Strategic Leadership and Management

- Provide vision, leadership and direction to the Governance and Executive Support functions, fostering a high-performing, professional and responsive team.

- Manage significant resources, including budget, workforce planning and capability development, to achieve strategic outcomes.

- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and accountability, embedding best-practice governance approaches across the organisation.

Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

- Build and maintain strategic relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders,



including central agencies, auditors and regulatory bodies.

- Lead negotiation and influence outcomes on complex governance issues, representing the Memorial in external forums as required.

- Promote a strong governance culture across the organisation through education, guidance and leadership.

Position Eligibility

- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS).

- All applicants external to AWM that are offered employment will be required to successfully undergo a National Police Check, even if they currently hold a security clearance. The check is conducted in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework requirements.

Mandatory Requirements

- Ability to Obtain and Maintain a Baseline Security Clearance.

Contact Information

- For specific questions relating to this job vacancy, please contact: Leanne Patterson, [email protected]

- For questions relating to the online lodgement of your application, please email the Recruitment team via [email protected]

Submitting Applications

- Please note that applications can only be accepted through the Australian War Memorial jobs portal

- To apply, go to Australian War Memorial – Employment Opportunities and complete the online application by 11:30pm, Wednesday, 18 November 2026

Notes

A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.

The Memorial is committed to workplace diversity and maintains an environment that values the contribution of people from different backgrounds and experiences. The Memorial welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, veterans, mature age people, people from diverse backgrounds, and people with a disability.

📌 Head, Governance, Risk and Peformance (Campbell)
🏢 The Australian War Memorial
📍 Campbell