AEE2 Director, Public Engagement Capability in Sydney

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) protects Australia and Australians from threats to their security. ASIO's people are ordinary Australians but they do extraordinary things - they are our most important asset. To be successful, we need talented people who are highly capable, dedicated, adaptable and resilient. We seek to reflect the community we protect. ASIO is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, where all staff are valued and respected.

We welcome applications from all eligible candidates, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious affiliation, age or disability. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply. At a time when Australia's security environment is dynamic, diverse and degrading, our work is more important than ever. Join the mission and make a difference every day.

ASIO is seeking an experienced and exceptional person to fill the role of Director, Public Engagement Capability. Operating from within the Office of the Director-General of Security, this role acts as a trusted senior advisor, providing frank and fearless guidance to leaders navigating complex, politically sensitive, or high-scrutiny public environments. Under broad direction, the Director, Public Engagement Capability leads ASIO's public affairs and engagement capability framework.

You will provide advice and support to the Director-General of Security, their Deputies and Division Heads in the performance of their roles, helping to build and sustain public confidence, strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, and protect the organisation's reputation. The advice you provide will cover emerging issues, stakeholder engagement, relationship management and reputational risk.

This is aimed at helping ensure the organisation, through its senior leaders, communicates with clarity, credibility, and integrity while supporting ASIO's security intelligence outcomes. In this role you will design and deliver training and coaching support to Senior Leaders to enable their involvement in high-impact media conferences, senate estimates and other committee hearings, and strategic stakeholder presentations, including public speaking engagements.

ASIO looks for candidates who are curious, resilient and enjoy problem solving. To be successful in this role, you will:

• Lead and manage people: You will need to apply leadership in developing high-performing teams, fostering an inclusive culture, and developing staff capability both in your immediate area, and more broadly across the agency.
• Coach with influence and political acumen: Including by providing real-time counsel to ASIO's most senior executive leadership and liaison teams during breaking media issues and crisis events.
• Create high-impact message architectures: Engaging and collaborating across ASIO to distill complex legislation, data, operations and policy into defensible, public-facing narratives and crisis holding lines.

A merit pool may be created to fill future vacancies which have the same or similar requirements to this position. This merit pool will be valid for up to 18 months.

As the Director, Public Engagement Capability in ASIO, you will:

• Uplift ASIO's senior executive leadership capability to communicate with influence.
• Lead in the development and delivery of stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Establish and manage a range of productive partnerships across domestic and international stakeholders.
• Provide expert advice and recommendations to the Director-General of Security, their Deputies and Division Heads on their communication styles.
• Develop and implement a coaching and training schedule for the Director-General of Security, their Deputies and Division Heads to uplift and enhance capability of their public communications.
• Work in a fast-paced, agile environment, adapting quickly to changing priorities and deadlines while maintaining a focus on delivering high-quality, timely support and advice.

We are seeking candidates with the following capabilities:

• Promotes a security culture: Support staff to identify, assess and manage security and organisational risk including promoting and maintaining a positive and inclusive workplace environment in which staff feel comfortable seeking support and raising concerns.
• Strategic thinking: Extensive knowledge of the Australian media landscape, parliamentary processes, and whole-of-government communication standards, with a demonstrated ability to anticipate political sensitivities and shape agency narrative.
• Achieves results: Proven track record in designing and delivering high-level media training programs, coaching programs, and executive simulations that enhance performance measurably.
• Productive working relationships: High-level emotional intelligence and diplomacy to influence senior executives, build psychological safety during rigorous coaching, and partner effectively across diverse functional areas.
• Personal drive and integrity: Sound professional judgment under pressure, political astuteness, and an unwavering commitment to the ASIO Values and Code of Conduct.
• Communicates with influence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with expertise in message framing, crisis communications, and adversarial interview dynamics.
• Technical skills: Extensive experience in training or executive coaching, journalism or public affairs, government relations, and stakeholder engagement and management.

Vocational or tertiary qualifications in the following areas are desirable:

• Presentation skills
• Training and executive coaching
• Public affairs and government relations
• Stakeholder engagement and management
• Journalism

ASIO provides a number of benefits to its staff including:

• A competitive salary, including a 7.5% allowance for maintaining a TOP SECRET-Privileged Access security clearance.
• Employer superannuation contributions of 15.4%.
• A variety of leave options in addition to the standard 4 weeks annual leave, including stand down between Christmas and New Year.
• Flexible working arrangements. Please note due to our unique working environment, work from home options are not available.
• Study assistance, including financial support and study leave for tertiary education.
• Access to 7 staff-led diversity and inclusion networks.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Eligibility:

• an Australian citizen
• assessed as suitable to hold and maintain a TOP SECRET-Privileged Access (TS-PA) security clearance.
• be available to support the Director-General and Chief of Staff during periods of official travel domestically and internationally, and for extended hours during other essential periods (e.g. active crisis response periods).

Please let us know if you require any additional assistance or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process in order to fully participate in the recruitment process or the workplace. This may include reasonable adjustments to assessment methodologies to enable full participation.

We do not use AI to screen, rank or shortlist candidates, assess candidate suitability or merit, or make recommendations or selection decisions. Candidate assessment and recruitment advice remain the responsibility of our consultants and the Selection Advisory Committee, based on the evidence gathered through the recruitment process. All applications are reviewed by a selection panel.

Our selection process is rigorous and extensive. All employment decisions and selection processes at ASIO are based on merit principles and candidates must be prepared to undergo various selection stages. The stages may include application assessment, eligibility checks, online testing, skills-based assessment and interview. We ask all applicants for their patience throughout the process.

Employment is under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979. Conditions of service are similar to those applying in the Australian Public Service. We recognise entitlements accrued under the Public Service Act 1999 and provide for continuation of superannuation under the Commonwealth schemes. Salary packaging arrangements are also available.

ASIO has achieved the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Gold Standard in 2024, 2025 and 2026, recognising ASIO's inclusion work and positive culture. ASIO was the first Australian intelligence agency to achieve this status.