The Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) protects Australia and Australians from threats to their security. ASIO's people are ordinary Australians but they do extraordinary things – they are our most important asset. To be successful, we need talented people who are highly capable, dedicated, adaptable and resilient.
We seek to reflect the community we protect. ASIO is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, where all staff are valued and respected. We welcome applications from all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious affiliation, age or disability. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply. We are secretive about what we do, not what we value.
At a time when Australia's security environment is dynamic, diverse and degrading, our work is more important than ever. Join the mission and make a difference every day.
The opportunity
We are seeking high-performing and strategic executive leaders to fill current and future Director (EL2 equivalent) opportunities within ASIO's Human Resources (HR), Recruitment and Learning & Development teams. As a HR, Recruitment or Learning & Development Director in ASIO, you will provide high-level strategic advice to the senior executive, manage dynamic teams, and lead critical HR, recruitment or training functions.
Depending on your interest and experience, you may be assigned to lead one of the following specialised functions:
- Director, Workforce Analytics: Lead workforce planning, reporting, modelling, and business intelligence to drive data-informed workforce decisions across the agency.
- Director, Case Management: Oversee complex workplace relations, including leading the agency's performance management framework, managing ethics and conduct matters, and behavioural and integrity frameworks to foster workplace culture.
- Director, Senior Executive Service (SES) Unit: Lead senior executive talent management, SES recruitment, leadership development planning and support for the agency's executive leadership.
- Director, Recruitment: Shape the future of ASIO's workforce. From entry-level graduates and mid-career hires, to skilled specialist recruitment, you will design and deliver the recruitment frameworks required to build a future-ready workforce. Leveraging a deep understanding of the recruitment market and workforce trends, you will lead a team dedicated to securing the critical skills essential to ASIO's operational requirements.
- Director, Learning & Development: Lead the design, delivery and coordination of corporate learning across ASIO, including leadership offerings, core capability training and advisory services offered within our Learning Advisory Centre. You will also lead the Digital Learning & Technology team to deliver modern, technology enabled learning initiatives.
- Director, Entry Level Programs & Learning Operations: Oversee the delivery of ASIO's Entry Level Programs, induction function and learning operations team.
All HR Director roles engage with a range of stakeholders, including internally and with the Australian Public Service, National Intelligence Community and Five-Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States). These roles are critical in ensuring ASIO has the leadership and capability to meet evolving national security challenges.
ASIO looks for candidates who are curious, resilient and enjoy problem solving. To be successful in this role, you will require:
- Courage and capability to implement change
- The ability to read and navigate internal and external requirements
- A willingness to work well within a team, for the enterprise benefit
A merit pool may be created to fill future vacancies which have the same or similar requirements to this position. This merit pool will be valid for up to 18 months.
Responsibilities
As a HR Director in ASIO, you will:
- Lead and manage people: Apply leadership in high-performing teams, fostering inclusive culture, and developing staff capability both in your immediate area, and more broadly in the agency.
- Manage a HR function: Develop and deliver work programs and the achievement of set outcomes, in a manner that is ethical, legal and demonstrates positive organisational leadership.
- Engage with stakeholders: Demonstrate influence and negotiation skills, strong verbal and written communication, and political and business acumen when working with Senior Executives and external partners.
- Drive strategic outcomes: Translate broader organisational goals into operational HR strategies, practices and processes, and manage enterprise risks.
- Be a subject matter expert: Demonstrate deep expertise in workforce analytics, case management, integrity frameworks, or executive workforce strategy.
What you will bring
We are seeking candidates with the following capabilities:
- Promotes a security culture: Support staff to identify, assess and manage security and organisational risk, including promoting and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace where staff feel comfortable seeking support and raising concerns.
- Strategic thinking: The ability to translate organisational goals into operational HR strategies and manage long-term risks.
- Achieves results: The capacity to marshal resources and teams to deliver quality outcomes on complex, time-sensitive initiatives while ensuring legislative compliance.
- Productive working relationships: High-level negotiation skills, political acumen, and the ability to translate complex frameworks into concise briefs for Senior Executives and external partners.
- Personal drive and integrity: High-level judgment, resilience, and professional ethics, particularly when managing sensitive personnel matters.
- Communicates with influence: The capability to provide expert guidance to Senior Executive Service (SES) officers and key stakeholders on complex operational and policy matters.
You are not required to address each capability separately in your application. Consider providing examples that illustrate multiple capabilities at once.
Refer to ASIO's Core Capability Framework to understand what is expected at each level for each capability.
Skills and qualifications
The following qualifications are desirable, but are not required:
- AHRI Practising Certification, tertiary qualifications in Human Resource related fields.
What we offer you
ASIO provides a number of benefits to its staff including:
- A competitive salary, including a 7.5% allowance for maintaining a TOP SECRET-Privileged Access (TS-PA) security clearance.
- Employer superannuation contributions of 15.4%.
- A variety of leave options in addition to the standard 4 weeks annual leave, including stand down between Christmas and New Year.
- Flexible working arrangements. Please note due to our unique working environment, work from home options are not available.
- Study assistance, including financial support and study leave for tertiary education.
- Access to 7 staff-led diversity and inclusion networks.
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Eligibility
To be eligible to work at ASIO, you must be:
- an Australian citizen
- assessed as suitable to hold and maintain a TS-PA security clearance.
Reasonable adjustments
Please let us know if you require any additional assistance or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process in order to fully participate in the recruitment process or the workplace. This may include reasonable adjustments to assessment methodologies to enable full participation.
How to apply
ASIO officers' identities are protected by law. Under section 92 of the ASIO Act, the only declared ASIO officers are the Director-General and Deputy Directors-General. Due to the need to protect our people's identities, ASIO holds all employment applications in the strictest of confidence. It is essential that you do the same. Please do not discuss your application with others as doing so may adversely affect your potential employment.
Apply online' to commence your application. Your application must be complete and include the following:
- A written pitch of up to 500 words that addresses the required capabilities for the role. Use examples to demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the capabilities.
- A current CV, no more than 2 pages in length, outlining your employment history, the dates and a brief description of your role, as well as any academic qualifications or relevant training you have undertaken.
- Details of 2 referees, which must include a current or former supervisor. ASIO will not contact your referees without advising you prior to doing so.
Before applying read the ASIO People Capability Framework and Core Capability Guide, both available on the ASIO website. To increase your chances of success, tailor your application responses to align with the relevant capabilities and levels outlined in these frameworks.
Use of artificial intelligence in recruitment processes
ASIO does not use any form of artificial intelligence (AI) at any point in the recruitment process.
All applications are reviewed by a selection panel. We recognise some applicants may use AI technologies to draft applications or prepare for interviews. If you wish to use AI, we recommend doing this only for initial drafts and ensure that your application is personalised and accurately reflects your skills, experience and qualifications.
Additionally, be aware of the privacy policies of any AI tool you use. Be mindful of the information you are entering into AI tools (personal details, work history, etc) and how using it may link you to potential ASIO employment, noting that you are expected to be discrete and maintain confidentiality with your application.
If you are invited to attend interview, the use of AI tools and recording devices during interview is strictly prohibited. Should AI tools or recording services be detected, your application, and any future applications may be discontinued.
The recruitment selection process
Our selection process is rigorous and extensive. All employment decisions and selection processes at ASIO are based on merit principles and candidates must be prepared to undergo various selection stages. The stages may include application assessment, eligibility checks, online testing, skills-based assessment and interview.
We ask all applicants for their patience throughout the process.
Employment conditions
Employment is under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979. Conditions of service are similar to those applying in the Australian Public Service. We recognise entitlements accrued under the Public Service Act 1999 and provide for continuation of superannuation under the Commonwealth schemes. Salary packaging arrangements are also available.
Australian Workplace Equality Index
ASIO has achieved the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold Standard in 2024, 2025 and 2026, recognising ASIO's inclusion work and positive culture. ASIO was the first Australian intelligence agency to achieve this status.
For more information about ASIO, please visit: www.asio.gov.au.
