Director, Office of the Technical Regulator

Department for Energy and Mining
Job reference: 856358
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Short Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

The Department for Energy and Mining is committed to building a diverse and flexible culture. We encourage and welcome all applications from women, diverse community groups and ages, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and people with disabilities.

Lead SA’s safety & technical regulation across energy and water industries
Drive reform, industry standards & national policy development
Provide advice while leading emergency preparedness & infrastructure resilience

The Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) is seeking an exceptional executive leader to join the Regulation and Compliance division as Director, Office of the Technical Regulator. In this high-profile leadership 12-month contract, you will provide strategic oversight of South Australia's safety and technical regulatory frameworks across the electricity, gas and water industries, ensuring the continued safe, reliable and secure operation of essential services.

As the statutory Technical Regulator for Gas, Electricity and Water Industries, you will lead the administration and enforcement of legislative and regulatory requirements, oversee safety and technical standards, and drive the ongoing development of regulatory frameworks that support innovation, consumer protection and the state's energy transition objectives.

A key adviser to government and industry, you will provide authoritative guidance on complex technical, regulatory and infrastructure matters while building strong relationships across government agencies, industry bodies and community stakeholders. You will represent South Australia in national forums and contribute to policy development, regulatory reform and the evolution of technical standards across Australia.

The role also plays a critical part in emergency preparedness and response, supporting the resilience, reliability and security of South Australia's energy and water infrastructure. As an executive leader, you will foster a high-performing, inclusive culture, build organisational capability and ensure strong governance and regulatory outcomes.

We are seeking a proven executive with significant leadership experience in a technical, engineering, infrastructure, safety, compliance, risk management or regulatory environment. You will bring outstanding strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, together with the capacity to provide trusted advice on complex and high-consequence issues. Tertiary qualifications in Engineering, Science or a related discipline are essential.

This is a rare opportunity to shape South Australia's regulatory landscape and make a lasting impact on the safety, sustainability and future performance of the state's energy and water sectors.

Confidential enquiries and requests for a briefing document can be made by contacting Andrew Payze at Morton Philips on (08) 8210 8***.

Applications for this opportunity are welcome directly through IWFSA or SEEK.

Applications close: 15/09/2026 11:30 PM

Attachments:
- Pre-Employment-Declaration_240522.pdf

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.