Assistant Director Change and Project Management

The APVMA’s Business Enabling Services program is seeking applications for an Assistant Director Change and Project Management. Make an immediate and visible contribution to the APVMA’s project delivery capability by helping embed a refreshed Project Management Framework, strengthen portfolio governance, and support the successful delivery of priority projects across the agency. 

The Assistant Director Change and Project Management will work closely with senior executives, project sponsors, project leads and enabling teams to improve the quality, consistency and strategic alignment of project proposals, plans, reporting, closure and benefits review activities. The position combines hands-on project leadership with enterprise-level influence, offering variety, autonomy and the chance to shape practical tools, processes and ways of working that support better planning, clearer decision-making and improved delivery outcomes across the APVMA. 

Located in either Canberra ACT or regional Armidale NSW, you will gain experience in the Australian Public Service and have access to a variety of flexible working arrangements.

The Enterprise Change and Projects team is a new function, focussed on delivery and supporting the agency to lead and deliver change effectively. 

The Assistant Director Change and Project Management support the effective administration, implementation and continuous improvement of the APVMA Project Management Framework and its interface with the Planning Framework. The role provides practical guidance to project sponsors, project leads and project teams to support consistent project initiation, planning, delivery, reporting, closure and benefits review.

Reporting directly to the Director of Change and Project Management and working within APVMA governance, planning, budget and risk frameworks, the role coordinates portfolio-level project information, supports Priority Project proposal development, maintains alignment between project documentation and organisational planning commitments, and contributes to reporting for Executive Team, Board and other governance purposes.

The position also manages and leads priority, strategic or enabling projects, including projects with cross-agency dependencies, stakeholder impacts, change-management requirements and benefits-realisation obligations. The role requires sound judgement, initiative, strong communication skills and the ability to operate with a high degree of independence while engaging effectively with senior leaders and stakeholders.

Working collaboratively with APVMA staff, the Assistant Director is required to administer the Project Management Framework, support portfolio governance and lead projects to deliver agreed outcomes.

The key responsibilities of this position may include:

• Own and continuously improve the Project Management Framework, including associated tools, templates and guidance.
• Provide expert advice and hands-on support across the full project lifecycle (initiation to closure and benefits realisation).
• Manage alignment between project and planning frameworks, including priority project governance, proposals and corporate planning integration.
• Coordinate portfolio-level reporting for senior governance bodies, ensuring clear visibility of status, risks, dependencies, resources and benefits.
• Lead and deliver assigned projects end-to-end, ensuring outcomes meet scope, time, budget, quality and governance expectations.
• Develop high-quality project artefacts and analyse proposals to support prioritisation, strategic alignment and informed decision-making.
• Build organisational project capability and stakeholder engagement, while proactively identifying, escalating and addressing risks, issues and change impacts.

To be a strong contender for the role, you will have:

Essential:

1. Demonstrated experience managing and leading projects, including planning, delivery, monitoring, reporting, risk management, stakeholder engagement, closure and benefits review.
2. Demonstrated ability to administer or apply project, portfolio, governance, planning, risk or performance frameworks in a complex organisational environment.
3. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess project proposals, identify risks and dependencies, evaluate options and provide pragmatic advice to senior stakeholders.
4. Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality briefs, reports, governance papers, project artefacts and executive-level communications.
5. Demonstrated ability to build productive working relationships, consult effectively, influence outcomes and work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and business areas.
6. Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgement, work with a high level of independence and deliver quality outcomes within agreed timeframes.
7. Ability to lead, coach and support others to improve project management capability, documentation quality and delivery discipline.

Desirable:

• Experience in portfolio management, enterprise project management office functions, change management, benefits realisation or corporate planning.
• Knowledge of Commonwealth public-sector governance, planning, budget, risk and reporting requirements.
• Relevant project, program, portfolio, change or agile delivery qualifications or certifications.

Please note that this role is being advertised as non-ongoing. If an offer of non-ongoing employment is made, the successful applicant could be employed for an initial period of up to 12 months, which may be extended in accordance with subsection 333E (1) of the Fair Work Act 2009.