11.59pm AEST, Wednesday 22 July 2026
We actively seek to reflect the diversity of the Australian community in our workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability and/or who are neurodivergent, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including people of all genders and gender identities. We uphold gender equality as a core organisational value. If you’re interested in the role but feel uncertain, we still encourage you to apply if you feel your passions, transferable skills and valuable experience align with this position.
The opportunity we have available
Organised within the Chief Operating Officer Group within the department, Information Technology & Data Division’s (ITDD) purpose is to connect people, data, and technology, empowering the department to excel.
ITDD is responsible for the consolidated provision and support of stable and secure IT Systems, applications and services to all department users across all States and Territories, including Indian Ocean Territories and Norfolk Island, as well as supporting seven Ministerial offices, and coordination with portfolio entities.
ITDD provides the digital collaboration and communications tools necessary to connect a geographically dispersed workforce and to optimise hybrid working arrangements. We manage industry and public facing digital systems, deliver desktop services, oversee cyber security, and provide data, AI, and information management advice to over 2,400 staff, supporting over 30 office locations across Australia.
What will you do?
As the EL1 - Assistant Director, AI, Governance & Digital Risk, you will contribute to the responsible and ethical adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the department.
This position encompasses a wide range of responsibilities; however, the core duties generally include:
- Establish and maintain end-to-end AI governance across the full system lifecycle (design through to retirement), including procurement, change and operations.
- Apply strong technical literacy in AI (machine learning, generative AI, automation, decision support) to define governance requirements, controls and evidence expectations for risk and assurance.
- Embed AI assurance checkpoints into IT delivery and operational workflows, including standard templates, approval steps and operational handover requirements.
- Run AI risk and assurance processes grounded in understanding data flows, model behaviour, system dependencies and the control environment, with clear roles and review cadence.
- Coordinate and quality-check AI impact assessments and privacy, security and legal reviews by working closely with technical specialists and architects and ensuring evidence is captured.
- Define and consistently apply guidance on how design choices (training data, model updates, human-in-the-loop, vendor architecture) affect risk, assurance and accountability.
- Align AI systems with cyber security, data governance and ICT architecture teams to meet Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), Information Security Manual (ISM) and internal security/architecture standards.
- Establish assurance processes for AI procurement and third-party/cloud AI services, including due diligence checklists and review pathways, plus escalation and incident processes.
Inherent requirements for the role
The inherent requirements for this role include:
- The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate their capability against the APS/Executive level 1 Work level standards.
- Demonstrated ability to lead governance, policy, risk and secretariat functions with sound judgement, accountability and a clear understanding of APS decision-making requirements, preferably in an ICT environment.
- Demonstrated ability to apply digital, data, technology or artificial intelligence policy and governance expertise to support practical outcomes in a public sector or comparable operating environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, accurate and influential agendas, minutes, briefs and papers for senior executives and governance forums.
- Ability to undertake objective analysis of complex or emerging issues, identify risks and interdependencies, and provide evidence-based advice to support timely and defensible decision making.
- Well-developed stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to build productive relationships, negotiate priorities and work collaboratively across organisational, functional and technical boundaries.
- Ability to manage competing priorities with limited direction, establish clear plans and timeframes, monitor progress and deliver high quality outcomes in a changing operating environment.
RecruitAbility
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is committed to supporting the employment and career development of people with disability. Our participation in APS RecruitAbility means we will progress an applicant with disability to a further stage in the recruitment process, where they opt into RecruitAbility and meet the minimum requirements for the vacancy.
The RecruitAbility minimum requirements are listed above under ‘inherent requirements for the role’.
You will be asked to indicate if you wish to opt into RecruitAbility in the application form. You must tick the 'opt in' box to participate in RecruitAbility. Simply declaring that you have a disability will not automatically include you.
We provide reasonable adjustments such as access, equipment or other practical support at relevant stages of the recruitment process. Please advise in the application form or get in touch with the contact officer if you need any adjustments made.
More information can be found at RecruitAbility scheme: A guide for applicants | Australian Public Service Commission.
Desirable requirements
- Experience supporting governance, risk, assurance or compliance activities in a digital, data, ICT or technology-enabled environment.
- Familiarity with artificial intelligence, automation, data governance, cyber security or digital assurance concepts.
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 challenges culturally unsafe practices.
What else can we offer?
In this role you will work at the forefront of responsible AI in government—helping shape how the department adopts, assures and governs AI across its full lifecycle. In return, we offer a supportive environment with opportunities to learn, collaborate and grow your leadership in a high-impact domain. Opportunities include:
- Working on high-profile, emerging AI governance and assurance priorities, with exposure to whole-of-department decision-making and risk management.
- Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work (office and home-based work) in line with business needs.
- The opportunity to strengthen your leadership capability by driving practical governance uplift and improving organisational capability.
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 Negative Vetting Level 1 (NV1). 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.
Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm AEST, Wednesday 22 July 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 2 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].
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: 8 July 2026
Applications close: 22 July 2026
Application shortlisting: 29 July 2026
Further assessments: 5 August 2026
Selection report finalised: 19 August 2026
Offers and announcements: 26 August 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!
