Assistant Director - Engagement and Support

Job Description

Position: EL1 Assistant Director – Engagement and Support

Location: Darwin, NT

Start date: ASAP

Duration: Approx. 3 months with potential to extend

Pay rate: $81.26 to $92.24 per hour plus superannuation

Security requirements: Australian Citizenship and the ability to meet Federal Government security and pre-employment screening requirements

Overview:

Our Federal Government client is seeking an experienced EL1 Assistant Director – Engagement and Support to strengthen connections between government, communities and key stakeholders across the Northern Territory.

Working directly with a senior state or territory leader, the Assistant Director will lead a small team responsible for strategic stakeholder engagement, policy liaison, intelligence gathering and office support functions. The position will translate local insights and emerging trends into high-quality advice that informs government policy, program design and service delivery.

The successful candidate will operate with a high degree of autonomy and sound judgement while contributing to a safe, inclusive and well-functioning office. The role also provides general oversight of a small corporate support team to ensure staff receive consistent and effective support.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with the senior state or territory leader to build and maintain relationships with state, territory and local governments, peak bodies, community sectors, Commonwealth agencies and internal policy areas.

• Lead the analysis of intelligence, issues and emerging trends relevant to the community services portfolio.

• Translate local information and stakeholder insights into clear advice for policy and program delivery areas.

• Coordinate engagement with an allocated policy division and maintain strong connections between policy and regional delivery.

• Support ministerial visits, strategic policy engagements, stakeholder meetings and other significant events.

• Represent and support the senior leader in their role as the department’s key representative in the Northern Territory.

• Support a safe, connected and cohesive office through work health and safety, business continuity and corporate support activities.

• Promote collaboration and connectedness across the local leadership team.

• Lead, develop and mentor a small team to deliver high-quality outcomes.

• Manage competing priorities and ensure team activities align with broader strategic and operational objectives.

Experience/requirements:

• Demonstrated experience leading strategic engagement with government, community sector and other external stakeholders.

• Strong understanding of government policy development, program delivery or community services.

• Proven ability to analyse intelligence, identify trends and prepare evidence-based advice.

• Experience working with senior executives and supporting high-profile engagements, ministerial visits or events.

• Strong leadership skills with experience coaching, mentoring and developing staff.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver outcomes in a complex and changing environment.

• Sound judgement and the ability to work autonomously with limited direction.

• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills with the ability to tailor messages for different audiences.

• Strong organisational management skills and an understanding of corporate functions such as work health and safety and business continuity.

• Experience working within the Australian Public Service or a comparable government environment will be highly regarded.

• Knowledge of the Northern Territory community sector and stakeholder environment will be highly regarded.

Apply now or contact SOS Recruitment on 6260 8888 for a confidential discussion.

SOS Recruitment is committed to workplace diversity and equity in employment. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disabilities, women, people with family responsibilities and individuals from diverse cultural, linguistic, religious and LGBTIQ backgrounds.