EL1 - Assistant Director (Multiple Positions), Communications Services and Systems Division, Affirmative Measures, Disability

Title:

EL1 - Assistant Director (Multiple Positions), Communications Services and Systems Division, Affirmative Measures, Disability

Classification(s):

Executive Level 1

Employment Type:

Ongoing/Non-Ongoing, Full Time/Part Time

Salary:

$126,838 - $144,278 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation

Business Division:

Communications Services & Systems

Branch / Section:

Various Branches

Location:

We want to recruit the best people to our department. Our roles support flexible work arrangements including the opportunity to work from one of our departmental offices and hybrid (mixture of office and home-based work).

These roles are located in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane.

A merit pool may be formed and used to fill future similar vacancies in these locations and other locations within the same metropolitan area.

Security Clearance:

Baseline - Negative Vetting 1

Job Reference No:

48350

Contact Officer:

Daniel Tangri, [email protected],

(02) 6136 6695

Closing Date:

11.59pm AEDT, Sunday 22 November 2026

The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under Section 33 of the Australian Public Service Commissioner's Direction 2022. This vacancy is open only to people with disability.

The prospect we have available

The Communications Services and Systems Division is the Australian Government’s lead policy adviser on telecommunications policy. We help ensure all Australians can access and benefit from reliable, modern digital technologies and communications services, supporting economic growth, social inclusion and participation in an increasingly digital economy.

Our work includes telecommunications and radiocommunications policy, universal telecommunications service obligations, the universal outdoor mobile obligation, oversight of NBN Co and Australia Post, and policy relating to 5G and 6G mobile, satellite broadband and direct-to-device technology. We also manage legislative and regulatory frameworks for spectrum, telecommunications deployment and resilience, competition and digital inclusion.

We are recruiting multiple EL1 positions. Roles may also be filled across the Communications, Media and Sport Group in areas including program management, project management, stakeholder engagement, evaluation, secretariat functions and multilateral international work. A merit pool will be established for future vacancies.

The work is diverse, high-profile and often fast moving. You may lead work supporting ministers, major policy announcements, legislation, Cabinet and new policy proposal processes, and engage with telecommunications providers, regulators, central agencies, and consumer and community organisations. Some roles will support Australia’s preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 in Shanghai.

The division offers an inclusive, approachable and flexible workplace where people share expertise, support one another and recognise high-quality work.

What you will do

Working under broad direction, you will lead complex policy or analytical work, exercise sound judgement and bring together research, data and stakeholder insights to develop practical advice that supports government priorities. Depending on the position, you will:

- lead research and analysis of complex communications policy issues, assess evidence and stakeholder views, and develop options and recommendations covering benefits, costs, risks and implementation implications
- lead policy proposals, discussion papers and implementation plans, coordinate consultation and clearance processes, resolve issues across teams and monitor policy outcomes
- lead analytical work with policy teams, identify suitable data sources, oversee data collection and validation, and analyse communications service availability, access and usage
- apply and quality assure analytical methods, identify trends, service gaps and emerging issues, test assumptions and document methods and limitations
- develop and maintain reports, dashboards and visualisations,



explain findings and uncertainty to non-technical audiences and improve recurring reporting processes
- prepare and quality assure executive and ministerial briefings, submissions, correspondence, parliamentary material and Senate Estimates briefs
- build productive stakeholder relationships, lead discussions within agreed parameters and incorporate consultation findings into advice and deliverables
- manage projects and competing priorities, establish milestones and quality checks, monitor dependencies and provide practical options to address emerging risks
- provide technical guidance, review work and build team capability. Where supervisory responsibilities apply, allocate work, set expectations, provide feedback and support staff development
- maintain appropriate records, exercise assigned delegations efficiently and ethically, and take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others.

Inherent requirements for the role

The successful candidate will demonstrate capability against the EL1 Work Level Standards and the following core requirements:

- sound judgement and the ability to lead complex work under broad direction
- strong research, critical thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to integrate evidence and stakeholder perspectives into practical options and recommendations
- high-quality written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex information into clear, evidence-based advice for senior executives
- the ability to build productive relationships, influence stakeholders and represent the department’s position within agreed parameters
- the ability to lead projects, manage competing priorities and risks, and maintain quality and timely delivery
- leadership skills, including the ability to guide others, review work, build team capability and foster a safe, inclusive and productive workplace.

Desirable requirements

For some EL1 roles, qualifications in public policy, economics, law or communications, or equivalent professional experience, are desirable but not essential.

Cultural capability requirement

The department believes every role contributes to cultural safety and that building staff cultural capability helps us deliver better policies, programs and services for First Nations people and the broader Australian community. Candidates will be required to demonstrate their willingness to develop their cultural capability as part of the assessment process. In making it a requirement across all roles in our department, we are taking a practical step in delivering our commitments under the Our Stories on Country Agreement and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2025–28.

As an EL1, you will be expected to:

- Lead the integration of cultural considerations into work area outcomes
- Build trusted relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders
- Champion cultural capability within teams and challenge culturally unsafe practices.

What else can we offer?

You will lead significant, high-profile work affecting how Australians connect and access essential communications services. The role provides opportunities to develop broad public sector leadership skills and contribute to ministerial advice, major policy announcements, legislation, Cabinet and new policy proposal processes.

You will join an inclusive and approachable division that values diversity, supports flexible ways of working, shares expertise and recognises high-quality work. You will work with experienced colleagues and engage with industry, regulators, central agencies, and consumer and community organisations.

Eligibility requirements

This is an Affirmative measure vacancy – This vacancy is open only to people with disability.

For more information on Affirmative Measures - Disability, please visit -





Affirmative measure for recruiting people with disability:guide for applicants | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)

Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

- Citizenship: candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application.
- Health Assessment: The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department’s preferred medical provider.
- Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Baseline to NV1, depending on the role. You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information. You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
- Police check: The successful candidate must complete an Australian Federal Police criminal history check.
- Integrity and Performance check: The successful candidate must satisfy the requirements in an Integrity and Performance check which is completed by your most recent employer.

How to apply

Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm AEDT, Sunday 22 November 2026.

Prior to preparing your application for the department, please read our Artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment at the department principles. The principles aim to help you use AI in a way that supports your application and maintains fairness and transparency while maintaining your integrity as a candidate. They outline what is and isn’t acceptable use of AI in APS recruitment.

In applying for this position, you are not required to address individual selection criteria. Rather, you should provide in a PDF document a statement of no more than 2 pages outlining your background, capabilities and experiences and how these align with the advertised role.

You should also provide a tailored CV in PDF, no more than 3 pages. The capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role are identified in the ‘inherent requirements for the role’ section.

Your application should be received through the department’s online recruitment system prior to the closing date and time to be considered.

If you experience any issues with the system please contact the recruitment team on 02 6136 8989 or via email at [email protected] to discuss an alternative way to submit your application.

Please advise the contact officer if you require adjustments during the recruitment process. We recognise and value diversity as our strength and promote a culture of inclusion to enhance our work performance and the wellbeing of our employees. We are committed to systems that are accessible, inclusive and safe for all. If you need any further information about accessibility and inclusion at our department, please contact [email protected].

Timeline and assessment

A selection panel will be established to assess your suitability against the advertised role.

If a merit pool is established it will be valid for 18 months from date it first appeared in the APS Gazette.

Applications open: 12 November 2026

Applications close: 22 November 2026

Application shortlisting: 24 November 2026

Further assessments: 26 November – 1 December 2026

Selection report finalised: Week starting 14 December 2026

Offers and announcements: Week starting 21 December 2026

The above is indicative only, please reach out to the contact person if you have any questions on the recruitment process or timeframes.

Your application will be assessed against the inherent requirements of the role, the Work level standards and in comparison to other candidates who applied. Once the entire applicant pool has been assessed, the panel will create a shortlist of applicants. If your application is shortlisted, you may be asked to undertake further assessment, this may include work sample testing, interviews and reference checks.

Work with us. Apply now!

📌 Assistant Director (Multiple Positions), Affirmative Measures, Disability (Canberra)
🏢 Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
📍 Canberra