APS6 - Senior Policy and Contract Management Officer, Triple Zero Access & Awareness Branch

APS6 - Senior Policy and Contract Management Officer, Triple Zero Access & Awareness Branch

We actively seek to reflect the diversity of the Australian community in our workforce.  We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability and/or who are neurodivergent, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including people of all genders and gender identities. We uphold gender equality as a core organisational value. If you’re interested in the role but feel uncertain, we still encourage you to apply if you feel your passions, transferable skills and valuable experience align with this position.

The opportunity we have available

The Triple Zero Custodian (the Custodian) oversees and promotes continuous improvement of the Triple Zero ecosystem. A key function of the Custodian is to ensure that all parts of the Triple Zero ecosystem are connected and coordinated, particularly in times of crisis. The Custodian ensures the efficiency and effectiveness of the Triple Zero ecosystem and coordinates a collaborative approach to information sharing and reform.

The Custodian works closely with the Australian Communications and Media Authority, telecommunication companies, state and territory governments, emergency service organisations and other key stakeholders. It aims to increase transparency in the system, including through community awareness.

The Triple Zero Custodian Division was established in October 2025. This Division comprises two branches working collaboratively to deliver on the Custodian's work program.

Triple Zero Access and Assurance branch leads engagement with telecommunications industry stakeholders. The branch manages contractual arrangements and develops policy to address gaps in the Triple Zero ecosystem and aims to ensure emergency calls connect to Triple Zero in line with community expectations. Our branch is made up of a passionate and collaborative group of individuals and oversees a variety of complex projects, with many opportunities for growth and professional development.

We are looking for a capable, friendly and organised Senior policy and contract officer to support the work of the branch until 31 March 2027 with possibility for extension.

What you will do

As an APS6 Senior policy and contract officer in the Custodian Access and Assurance Branch, you will play an important role in building and enhancing the policy framework for delivery of Triple Zero into the future. You will support a review into Triple Zero legislation and regulation, which is now underway and is core to the work of the branch. The review will identify opportunities to safeguard the Triple Zero ecosystem and deliver recommendations for a workplan that establishes a modern, scalable and adaptable regulatory framework capable of supporting reliable emergency assistance and providing regulatory certainty for industry.

You will also support delivery of the Emergency Call Service, device testing across networks and research via the National Telecommunications Resilience Centre and early warning capability development through management of contractual arrangements.

These roles are varied and dynamic, but typical duties include:

• Leading discrete pieces of work to support delivery of the Custodian’s work program, including planning, prioritisation, and tracking of actions and deliverables
• Undertaking research, analysis and synthesis to inform advice on emerging issues, stakeholder needs, and system improvement opportunities
• Preparing high-quality written products (for example briefs, minutes, submissions, talking points, correspondence and stakeholder packs)
• Contributing to (or leading) stakeholder engagement activities—planning meetings, developing engagement approaches, facilitating discussions, and capturing outcomes and next steps
• Monitoring and advising on issues relating to provision of services under Module E of the Telstra Universal Services Obligation Performance Agreement (TUSOPA) governing delivery of the Emergency Call Service and National Telecommunications Resilience Centre.
• Engaging with internal finance team to ensure contract arrangements are delivered while mindful of the Public Interest Telecommunications Special Services Account (PITSSA).
• Invoicing and reporting, both internal and external.
• Engaging at a regular cadence with Mobile Carriers to support delivery of the Custodian’s reform priorities.

The branch contains two teams with a flexible work structure, so team members may be asked to work flexibly across different work streams to meet tight deadlines.

Inherent requirements for the role

The successful candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate their capability against the APS6 Work level standards.

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate your ability to:

• Provide accurate and specialised advice including anticipating problems and contributing to issues management.
• Ensure knowledge of and compliance with legislative, financial and administrative frameworks, government decision-making processes and agency guidelines and regulations.
• Maintain awareness of the longer-term strategic, political or operational outcomes for the agency/program and possible impacts on the work area.
• Work with independence, subject to limited direction against established priorities, practices, and methodologies to deliver quality outcomes.
• Make decisions, with direction from more senior staff, on tasks/assignments with considerable complexity and sensitivity.
• Manage relationships with stakeholders to achieve work area and agency goals.

RecruitAbility

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.

The RecruitAbility minimum requirements are listed above under ‘inherent requirements for the role’.

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 get in touch with the contact officer if you need any adjustments made. 

Desirable requirements

Previous telecommunications industry or policy experience, previous experience supporting legislative review and/or previous experience in contract management is desired but not essential.

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 APS6 you will be expected to:

• Consider the cultural context and implications of work area outcomes.
• Engage respectfully with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, building trusted relationships.
• Communicate respectfully and seeks appropriate cultural input to inform decisions.

What else can we offer?

We are dedicated to fostering personal and professional development, empowering individuals to set goals, acquire new skills, and cultivate unique qualities that define who they are. We believe that this not only leads to a more fulfilling and happier life but also enhances the overall quality of our work. Some of the benefits we offer include:

• Improve your leadership skills, through the department’s Professional Coaching Scheme and tailored leadership opportunities for staff members.
• Flexible working opportunities, including part time hours, home based work and job sharing.
• We offer generous leave entitlements of 20 days personal circumstances leave per year, with one month’s accrual of leave credited on commencement and 150 hours of paid annual leave (based on a full-time employee), plus a range of other miscellaneous leave options to support you.

Join our department and embark on a journey of growth, fulfillment, and well-being. Experience personal and professional development, prioritise your health, and be part of a vibrant and positive culture that empowers individuals and drives exceptional performance.

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 baseline level.   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 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.

How to apply

Applications for this opportunity close at 11.59pm AEST, Sunday 13 September 2026.

Prior to preparing your application for the department, please read our Artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment at the department principles. The principles aim to help you use AI in a way that supports your application and maintains fairness and transparency while maintaining your integrity as a candidate. They outline what is and isn’t acceptable use of AI in APS recruitment.

In applying for this position, you are not required to address individual selection criteria. Rather, you should provide in a PDF document a statement of no more than two pages 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 three pages. The capabilities and behaviours required to be successful for this role are identified in the ‘inherent requirements for the role’ section.

Your application should be received through the department’s online recruitment system prior to the closing date and time to be considered. 

If you experience any issues with the system please contact the recruitment team on 02 6136 8*** or via email at ***********@infrastructure.gov.au 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 ***************@infrastructure.gov.au.

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.

Applications open: 28 August 2026

Applications close: 13 September 2026

Application shortlisting: 16 September 2026

Further assessments: by 9 October 2026

Selection report finalised: By 16 October 2026

Offers and announcements: By 23 October 2026

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 inherent requirements of  the role, the Work level standards and in comparison to other candidates who applied. Once the entire applicant pool has been assessed, the panel will create a shortlist of applicants. If your application is shortlisted, you will be required to undertake an interview.

Work with us. Apply now!