Director, Event Operations And Sales in Canberra

The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) is seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to join the Commercial Operations Branch as Director, Event Operations and Sales at the Parliamentary Executive Level 2 (PEL2).

Australian Parliament House (APH) Canberra is the meeting place of our nation and is one of our nation's most iconic buildings. The iconic building welcomes over 725,000 visitors each year including some 127,000 school children. It is home to some 1,300 people working across the building, rising to more than 3,500 people on sitting days and peaking at around 10,000 people in the building on the busiest day of the year each Budget Day.

The APH Catering and Events Team delivers high quality food and beverage services to building occupants and visitors that showcase products of the local region and position APH as a destination of choice.

Who we are looking for

• Leadership and sector experience: The successful applicant will be an experienced, commercially minded leader with expertise in event operations, business development and sales, hospitality, venue management, or a similarly complex service environment. They will bring strong strategic and operational capability, with a demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams, drive business growth, and deliver outstanding customer experiences in a fast-paced, high-profile setting. A broad understanding of food and beverage offerings, and the ability to communicate this information effectively to diverse customers, is essential.
• Stakeholder and commercial capability: They will demonstrate excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, sound commercial and financial acumen, and the ability to provide trusted advice to senior leaders. The successful applicant will be collaborative, innovative, and customer-focused, with a strong commitment to continuous improvement and to delivering exceptional event outcomes that enhance the reputation of APH.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in event management, hospitality management, business administration or a related discipline are highly desirable.
• A current Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate, or the ability to obtain and maintain one promptly, is also highly desirable.
• Minimum of Ten (10) years’ experience in a similar role.

The key duties of the position include:

Eligibility: The role requires flexibility to work outside standard hours for significant events and peak parliamentary periods. The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 1 (Confidential/Highly Protected/Secret) security clearance.

Notes: At DPS, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that ensures all our people can contribute to our shared purpose. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, people from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who identify as neurodivergent, and mature aged people.

Getting to know the Department of Parliamentary Services: The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) supports Australia’s Parliament and parliamentarians through innovative, unified and client focused services. DPS is proud to be the custodian for Australian Parliament House (APH) as the working symbol of Australian democracy and as a significant destination for our citizens and international visitors alike. It is a place where more than 3,500 people work on sitting days and which nearly one million people visit each year.