Branch Head, Assets and Infrastructure Branch, Australian Antarctic Division

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The Division has responsibility for delivering a range of elements of the Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 year Action Plan. The Strategy and Action Plan supports Australia’s national interests in Antarctica, which are to:

• maintain Antarctica’s freedom from strategic and/or political confrontation
• preserve our sovereignty over the Australian Antarctic Territory, including our sovereign rights over adjacent offshore areas
• support a strong and effective Antarctic Treaty System
• conduct world-class scientific research consistent with national priorities
• protect the Antarctic environment, having regard to its special qualities and effects on our region
• be informed about and able to influence developments in a region geographically proximate to Australia
• foster economic opportunities arising from Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, consistent with our Antarctic Treaty System obligations, including the ban on mining and oil drilling.

 The department advances Australia’s environmental, scientific, strategic and economic interests in the Antarctic region by protecting, researching and administering the Australian Antarctic Territory.

To achieve these outcomes the Division leads, coordinates and delivers the Australian Antarctic Program, which includes supporting our stations in Antarctica and on Macquarie Island. The Australian Antarctic Program is a highly collaborative program that works across other Australian Government agencies, a range of research organisations, other Antarctic Nations and industry.

The Australian Antarctic Division has staff with diverse skills, located primarily in Tasmania, in Antarctica and on Macquarie Island. We are committed to keep our people safe and support a positive culture.

For more information about us please visit our website.

As the Branch Head of the Assets and Infrastructure Branch, you will work across Government, department and division and with industry to deliver, maintain and construct infrastructure to preserve our national interests, keep our people safe and reduce our impacts on the Antarctic environment.

You will work as a member of the divisional executive to contribute to building a capable, strong, inclusive and respectful workforce. You will also focus on upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability and a high-performance culture.

You will lead our work with the Antarctic Infrastructure Renewal Alliance, a $270 million industry partnership to deliver a new utility building, water and power facility upgrades at Australia’s Davis Station in Antarctica. In this role you will serve as a member of the Alliance, working with industry partners to achieve the best outcome for the Australian Antarctic Program

You will lead the Assets and Infrastructure Branch to support our ongoing presence in the region including:

• Maintenance and upgrades of systems and buildings for self-contained research stations in Antarctica (Davis, Mawson, Casey and Wilkins Aerodrome) and in sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.
• The planning, acquisition, operation, and disposal of physical assets and critical infrastructure to continue Australia’s permanent research stations
• Development and implementation of preventative and corrective maintenance schedules to ensure facility reliability and redundancy.
• Prioritise and manage AAD led construction projects to enable efficient and effective operations and management of our Antarctic and sub-Antarctic infrastructures.
• Working to ensure that infrastructure meets regulatory, environmental, and workplace health and safety standards.
• Manage vendor relationships, tender processes, and procurement of materials or contracted services.
• Analysing and providing advice to align future infrastructure delivery with operational and strategic priorities.

What we are looking for

Your roles and responsibilities will be aligned to the SES Band 1 Work Level Standards and the Secretaries’ Charter of Leadership Behaviours. 

To be successful, you will demonstrate:  

• experience providing strategic and operational leadership. 
• exceptional program and project management and delivery experience, including appreciation of the limitations and challenges of delivering large infrastructure projects in complex environments.
• high level vision and judgement to enable delivery of outcomes that balance complex whole of government priorities.
• highly developed management and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to represent the organisation at external forums, meetings, governance committees and in high-level discussions with key stakeholders and external organisations.
• innovative, consultative, resilient and personally accountable for the quality of advice, products, service and strategies.  
• ability to maintain a strong understanding of risks and think critically to manage and minimise risks. 
• self-awareness, cultural competence and ability to foster respect and inclusion in the workplace. 
• ability to promote and apply the APS Values and Code of Conduct, as well as Agency values and behaviours. 
• stewardship by ensuring the high performance and sustainability of the APS, harnessing experience, diversity and resources to deliver common objectives. 

Eligibility and other requirements

Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.

Security Clearance - this position requires a Negative Vetting Level 2 security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Pre-employment checks - your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period.