EL1 Assistant Director - Policy

Location: Nationwide (please specify your preferred location)
Rate: $602.55 daily + super

Submission Deadline: 8 AM - Wednesday 19 November 2025

We're seeking an experienced Assistant Director - Policy to lead the development and delivery of high-impact policy initiatives within a major Federal Government agency. This role is ideal for a strategic thinker with strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills who thrives in complex policy environments and enjoys influencing outcomes at a national level.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of strategic policy initiatives aligned with government and agency priorities.

• Provide expert policy advice to senior executives and contribute to strategic decision-making.

• Prepare high-quality materials including Cabinet submissions, ministerial briefs, and discussion papers.

• Navigate government processes, including parliamentary inquiries, intergovernmental forums, and ministerial workflows.

• Oversee complex policy projects, ensuring effective planning, risk management, and delivery within tight timeframes.

• Conduct research and analysis to inform evidence-based policy outcomes.

• Build and maintain productive relationships across government, industry, and community stakeholders.

• Represent the agency in interdepartmental committees and high-level forums.

• Support continuous improvement of policy frameworks and team capability.

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrated experience leading the development and evaluation of complex public policy initiatives, ideally in a First Nations or community-focused context.

• Highly developed analytical and conceptual skills, with the ability to synthesise evidence and provide authoritative advice.

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate emerging issues and develop practical solutions.

• Proven ability to align policy work with broader government priorities and cross-agency reform agendas.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to influence and collaborate across diverse stakeholders.

• Extensive experience preparing ministerial briefs, Cabinet submissions, and strategic reports.

• Demonstrated leadership in managing policy projects or programs within tight timeframes.

• Sound knowledge of Cabinet, Budget, and parliamentary processes.

• Deep understanding of and commitment to working respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, and organisations.

Desirable Criteria

• Ability to interpret and apply data, research, and evaluation findings to inform strategic policy direction.

• Experience contributing to intergovernmental working groups, corporate initiatives, or reform agendas.

• Tertiary qualifications in public policy, law, economics, political science, or a related field.

What's on Offer

• Lead high-impact policy projects that influence national outcomes.

• Work in a collaborative, inclusive, and forward-thinking government environment.

• Opportunity to shape programs that deliver lasting benefits for communities across Australia.

At HOBAN we encourage applications from people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, people of all genders, LGBTI people, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We provide reasonable adjustments; including alternate formats to the recruitment process for individuals with disability. If you require an adjustment to be made during the recruitment process, please email our Adjustments Coordinator at adjustments@hoban.com.au or visit hoban.com.au/adjustments for additional contact details.