Executive Officer to First Assistant Secretary (multiple roles)
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, ACT. A merit pool may be formed and used to fill future similar vacancies in these locations and other locations within the same metropolitan area.
11:59pm AEST Sunday, 6 September 2026
The opportunity we have available
Operating in a dynamic and complex environment, First Assistant Secretary Executive Officers play a pivotal role in ensuring the effective functioning of the First Assistant Secretary’s office, and in providing strategic advice and support. This includes managing sensitive and high-priority matters, coordinating strategic communications, and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The Executive Officer works closely with the First Assistant Secretary and their Executive Assistant (EA) to ensure timely decision-making and seamless delivery across the Division.
What will you do?
Executive Officers provide high-level strategic, operational and governance support to First Assistant Secretaries across a broad range of complex policy, program and corporate matters impacting the Division, Group and Department. Operating in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, Executive Officers exercise a high degree of autonomy, judgement and initiative to manage competing priorities, support executive decision-making and ensure the effective delivery of business outcomes. The role requires flexibility and responsiveness, including the capacity to meet demanding and often competing deadlines, with occasional work outside standard hours to support priority business.
Executive Officers occupy positions of significant trust and are responsible for establishing and maintaining highly effective relationships with senior stakeholders across government. This includes managing professional relationships with Ministerial Offices, senior executives within the Department, counterparts across the APS, state and territory agencies, and external stakeholders. They act as a key conduit between the First Assistant Secretary and stakeholders, ensuring strategic priorities, decisions and expectations are communicated effectively and translated into action.
The role requires the provision of authoritative advice and coordination on complex, sensitive and often politically significant issues. Executive Officers provide secretariat services for senior executive committees, governance forums and stakeholder engagements, including meetings involving Ministers and senior officials. They lead the coordination, review and quality assurance of briefing materials, correspondence, submissions and reports, ensuring advice is accurate, strategically aligned and reflects whole-of-government and whole-of-department considerations. Executive Officers also coordinate and oversee material supporting parliamentary and public accountability processes, including Senate Estimates, parliamentary committees and other high-profile engagements.
Executive Officers apply sound judgement, discretion and professionalism in dealing with confidential and sensitive information and operate effectively in environments characterised by ambiguity, complexity and competing stakeholder interests. They adapt their communication and engagement approaches to influence a diverse range of audiences and build consensus across organisational boundaries. They are expected to anticipate emerging issues and risks, identify opportunities, and proactively implement solutions that support executive decision-making and organisational objectives.
As trusted advisers, Executive Officers drive the implementation of divisional and group priorities, including strategic, organisational and cultural initiatives. They are accountable for delivering outcomes through effective planning, coordination and stakeholder engagement, often leading initiatives without direct positional authority. EL1 Executive Officers monitor the progress of key deliverables for which SES officers are accountable, provide strategic reporting and analysis, and ensure risks, dependencies and issues are escalated and managed appropriately.
Executive Officers play a critical role in supporting organisational performance by identifying and addressing risks, challenges and emerging opportunities. They work collaboratively with SES leadership teams to develop strategies, implement corrective actions and ensure high-quality advice is provided to Ministers, the First Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretaries and the Secretary. Through their understanding of departmental priorities, government objectives and the broader operating environment, they contribute to strategic decision-making and organisational effectiveness.
The role requires the ability to lead through influence, build commitment across diverse stakeholder groups and foster collaboration to achieve outcomes. Executive Officers can be expected to represent the First Assistant Secretary in meetings, discussions and cross-departmental forums, exercising judgement and delegated authority appropriate to the role. They interpret executive intent, translate strategic direction into operational priorities, and provide guidance and advice that enables staff and stakeholders to deliver on organisational objectives.
Executive Officers are expected to model APS Values, Employment Principles and leadership behaviours, fostering a culture of integrity, respect, accountability and continuous improvement. They contribute to workforce capability by mentoring and supporting executive support staff and building effective networks across the Department. Depending on the role, they may also have direct people management responsibilities and are expected to create an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing work environment.
First Assistant Secretary Executive Officers operate in a high-pressure environment with significant responsibility for managing reputational, operational and strategic risk. They provide critical support to the Senior Executive by ensuring priorities are effectively coordinated, issues are managed proactively, and organisational objectives are achieved through sound governance, strategic foresight and strong stakeholder engagement.
Who are we looking for?
The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate their capability against the EL1 Work level standards, and specifically:
- Provide strategic executive support to the First Assistant Secretary by managing competing priorities, aligning divisional activities with strategic objectives, anticipating emerging issues, and exercising sound judgement in responding to complex, sensitive and time-critical matters. Provide authoritative advice and coordinate actions to support informed decision-making and the effective management of divisional priorities.
- Act as a key liaison and representative for the First Assistant Secretary, fostering collaboration across the Division, Group and Department. Provide leadership and guidance to staff on priorities, processes, standards and expectations; coordinate responses to organisational and operational issues; represent the First Assistant Secretary in meetings and forums as required; and maintain effective engagement with Ministers' Offices and other stakeholders on routine and sensitive matters.
- Build and maintain productive working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including Ministers' Offices, Senior Executive Service officers, departmental staff, central agencies, other APS entities, state and territory counterparts, and external organisations. Influence outcomes through effective communication, negotiation and relationship management, including providing advice and guidance to senior stakeholders and leading collaboration across executive support networks.
- Lead the coordination and quality assurance of ministerial, executive and divisional briefings, correspondence and reporting, ensuring advice is accurate, timely, strategic and aligned with departmental priorities. Analyse documentation to identify strategic, operational and reputational risks, facilitate consultation across business areas, and ensure advice reflects whole-of-Division, Group and Department perspectives.
- Drive continuous improvement in divisional governance and business operations by identifying, developing and implementing effective administrative and business processes. Ensure compliance with corporate governance requirements, strengthen planning and reporting frameworks, improve information management practices, and support the delivery of strategic and operational priorities through proactive forward planning and coordination.
- Provide leadership and oversight of executive support functions, including mentoring and coordinating Executive Assistants and administrative staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture, and promoting consistent approaches to executive support, governance and stakeholder management across the Division.
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 provide strategic leadership to embed cultural capability across programs, policies or functions, influence senior leaders on culturally informed approaches, and drive partnerships and co-design with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisations and communities where applicable or appropriate.
RecruitAbility minimum requirements
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.
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 the contact officer if you need any adjustments made.
The minimum requirements for this role include:
- Demonstrated experience providing high‑level administrative, operational or strategic support to senior executives, including managing competing priorities and coordinating workflows in a fast‑paced environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft and coordinate briefings, correspondence or reporting on moderately complex issues.
- Proven ability to engage and work collaboratively with stakeholders, including building effective working relationships across teams and with external parties.
- Sound judgement and organisational skills, including the ability to manage sensitive information, anticipate priorities and respond to emerging issues.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage competing deadlines and maintain attention to detail.
More information can be found at RecruitAbility scheme: A guide for applicants | Australian Public Service Commission.
What else can we offer?
- Our collaborative and supportive culture fosters high performing teams where you are valued for your expertise, experiences and point of view.
- We provide the environment you need through excellent conditions and a supportive, values-driven culture, allowing you to keep being you.
- We provide a respectful and inclusive working environment.
- Our people feel a sense of belonging and are acknowledged for the contributions they make towards our objectives to deliver for the Australian community.
- Through our investment in learning and development opportunities, and a positive performance culture, we provide diverse career pathways for our people to enable their mobility and adapt in a rapidly changing world.
- We offer generous leave and superannuation entitlements and access to higher tiered pay points in some classifications.
- We offer you the unique opportunity to experience a range of exciting work areas, all with one thing in common – improving the lives of everyday Australians.
- Help plan for the global digital economy, design liveable future-facing cities, or create the transport and telecommunications systems of tomorrow. You can also help empower our regional communities, promote our thriving arts sector, or protect and celebrate the culture, heritage and languages of First Nations people.
- We have a direct role in ensuring our infrastructure, communication and transport sectors remain efficient, safe, sustainable and accessible in today’s rapidly changing environment.
- Our work touches the lives of all Australians every day and underpins our economy and society.
Eligibility requirements
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 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 satisfactory 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.
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.
Anticipated timeline for recruitment milestone dates: the APSC has set the target of recruitment processes being completed and offers made to successful candidates within 42 days.
Applications open: Thursday, 20 August 2026
Applications close: Sunday, 6 September 2026
Application shortlisting: within a week of the closing date
Further assessments: held within week after shortlisting
Selection report finalised: approx. 10 days after further assessments
Offers and announcements: within a week of process finalised
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 requirements of the job and the Work level standards. 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, interviews, and reference checks.
How to apply
Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm AEST Sunday, 6 September 2026.
In applying for this position, you should provide in a PDF document a statement of no more than 500 words 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 two pages. The capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role are identified in the ‘Who are we looking for’ section.
Your application should be received through the department’s online recruitment system. Applications via Indeed will not be accepted.
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].
