Director

• Do you want to work at an agency where each day reveals new opportunities to work on some of the biggest issues facing consumers and businesses and have opportunities to pursue new and exciting pathways?
• Do you want to work at a place where smart and dedicated people from all walks of life collaborate to work on meaningful matters?
• Do you want to lead meaningful compliance and enforcement work that protects consumers, supports fair trading and helps improve business conduct across the economy?



Then this is the place for you! At the ACCC, we’re proud of the impact we can make together. We understand the responsibilities and challenges that come with a fast moving and ever-changing environment. Our high performing culture is built on a foundation of care, support and inclusion. It’s why we’re driven by connection and collaboration, sharing our skills, knowledge and support with each other freely and frequently. It’s why we prioritise the wellbeing of our people and empower them to work autonomously, flexibly and courageously. At the ACCC, we believe the best version of you is the one that’s true to who you are – and that’s the you we want working alongside us.

We value flexibility, and all roles can be performed from any capital city in a state or territory or Townsville and are available on a full-time, part-time or job-share basis.

Applicants from diverse backgrounds including First Nations peoples, people with disability and those from different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

What you will do as the Director

The Consumer and Fair Trading Division aims to protect the interests of consumers and support fair trading in markets affecting consumers and small business. It does so by delivering compliance and enforcement outcomes under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), which forms part of the CCA. Consistent with this aim the Division also has responsibility for the ACCC’s specialist agriculture, small business and industry codes functions.

The Division has primary responsibility for consumer and fair trading investigation, compliance and enforcement activities carried out by the ACCC under the CCA. This includes delivering a range of broader compliance initiatives to address or prevent misconduct in the market and enhance consumer and business welfare. The Division also contributes to the stewardship of the wider consumer protection system in Australia through advocacy and law reform initiatives, and engagement with domestic and international agencies.

The Division has three enforcement branches - the Consumer Compliance Strategies Branch, the Retail and Supermarkets Branch, and the Small Business and Agriculture Branch - which are responsible for investigating and resolving potential breaches of the fair trading and consumer protection provisions of the CCA, including through litigation. The enforcement branches support the broader work of the ACCC through internal and external stakeholder engagement, shaping policy and providing advice towards law reform, enforcement capability development for the ACCC and other regulators (national and international), and contributing to competition and consumer law outreach.

Further information about the branches is available in the Candidate Kit.

The Director roles available, reporting to General Managers (SESB1) or Executive Directors, will manage a diverse portfolio of projects and investigations. They will have staff management responsibilities, and support collaboration across the branch and division.

Key deliverables of all these leadership roles within the Consumer & Fair Trading Division include:

• Supporting the General Manager, as a member of the leadership team, with the overall leadership and management of the branch.
• Leading a team of professionals, supporting an inclusive and collaborative working environment, coaching, giving continuous feedback, resolving conflict, and facilitating career development.
• Ensuring the overall conduct and strategic focus of projects and investigations in the Division are in line with the Compliance and Enforcement Policy, strategies and directions.
• Driving change, solutions and improvements in team operations to ensure they are compliant with regulations, policy and guidance.
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships and professional networks with both internal and external stakeholders.

Further key deliverables of the enforcement branches include:

• Managing, developing, implementing and reviewing plans for the conduct of investigations, including identifying suitable resolutions, changing market behaviours, activities and issues and providing recommendations to senior management.
• Managing and delivering enforcement and/or compliance projects and activities, including planning, monitoring, reporting, research and analysis.
• Providing strategic input into escalation decisions and investigation strategy.
• Reviewing internal and external documents including staff papers, notices, undertakings, correspondence, reports, minutes, briefs, reports and media releases.
• Managing and supporting staff at APS levels.
• Focusing on team well-being and performance, and contribution to team and branch objectives.

Further key deliverables of the Consumer Compliance Strategies Branch, the Retail and Supermarkets Branch, and the Small Business and Agriculture Branch roles include:

• Providing advice to senior management on industry trends and emerging issues. Conducting research and providing advice on trends and patterns, industry and consumer behaviour, and impacts of broader environmental change.
• Developing, implementing and reviewing, policy and procedures, and planning for multi-regulator activities in response to consumer issues. Identifying suitable resolutions for identified actions, changing market behaviours, activities and issues and providing recommendations to senior management.
• Managing advocacy and stakeholder engagement in respect of law reform initiatives as well as implementing the ACCC compliance and enforcement approach to these new functions.



About you

All candidates are expected to meet the APS Integrated Leadership Profile (ILS) for the classification advertised. Follow the link for more information on the ILS.

For all roles within Consumer & Fair Trading we require:

• Demonstrated experience leading a team in a fast-paced and large complex people-centred organisation, with the ability to guide and develop staff.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake objective, systematic analysis to draw accurate conclusions and support evidence-based decision making.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate and make decisions using professional judgement and strategic vision.
• A good, working understanding of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), including the Australian Consumer Law, or the ability to quickly attain this understanding.

For roles specific to the Consumer Compliance Strategies Branch, the Retail and Supermarkets Branch, and the Small Business and Agriculture Branch, we will prioritise:

• Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining productive relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities, and apply strategic thinking to complex issues.

To find out more about us and the role, and how to apply, please read the Candidate Kit.

The ACCC is an independent statutory authority that administers the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and other Acts. The ACCC works to promote effective competition and fair trading in the market place to benefit consumers, business and the community, and efficiency in the delivery of certain infrastructure services. The AER is a part of the ACCC. The AER is Australia's national energy market regulator and has an independent board. The AER shares employees, resources and facilities with the ACCC.