Program Director Governance & Commercials in Geelong

WorkSafe is Victoria's workplace health and safety regulator. We are also the workplace injury insurer. Our job is to reduce workplace harm and improve outcomes for injured workers. This is our promise to the Victorian community and the reason we exist.

Executive remuneration package

Fixed term, full-time position (Until 31/12/2027)

Wadawurrung/Geelong based role (hybrid work from home - 3 days a week in office)

About the opportunity

As the Program Director, Governance & Commercials, you will play a critical leadership role in establishing and operating the governance, commercial, financial and risk management frameworks that enable the successful delivery of WorkSafe's major technology modernisation program, the Care and Recovery Program (CRP). The CRP is focused on modernising claims and recovery services through enhanced digital capability, data-driven decision making, and improved experiences for injured workers. The program aims to enable more proactive care, better recovery outcomes, and more efficient service delivery across the workers' compensation scheme.

The role ensures program delivery is supported by robust decision-making structures, strong financial and contractual controls, effective risk management, and disciplined oversight of scope, schedule and dependencies and benefits. In addition, it will lead the design and execution of governance forums, financial stewardship, commercial and contract management and integrated program planning within a complex, matrix delivery model.

Key Accountabilities

• Establish, lead and continuously mature the program's governance framework, ensuring effective decision-making, transparent oversight, and clear escalation across all governance forums including the Program Governance Group (PGG), Support Steering Committee, Technology Committee and the Board.
• Design and maintain fit for purpose governance structures and mechanisms, including control frameworks, reporting rhythms, risk and issue escalation pathways, and committee charters ensuring alignment with WorkSafe Victoria (WSV) standards and enabling high quality timely decisions.
• Deliver clear, timely and high-quality executive and Board reporting, synthesising complex delivery, financial, commercial and risk information into concise updates, briefings and decision-support material.
• Establish and lead strong financial governance across the program, including financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and expenditure management.
• Provide end-to-end commercial oversight of the program, including leadership of procurement activities, ownership of program contracts, and structured vendor governance.
• Oversee compliance and assurance activities across the program, ensuring adherence to regulatory, commercial, financial, security and organisational requirements.
• Provide strategic leadership across Governance, Procurement, Risk and Finance functions to enable disciplined, aligned and high performing program delivery.
• Build and maintain strong, effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including Executives, governance committees, delivery teams, Finance, Procurement, Legal, vendors and partners.

About you

You will be an experienced leader who has had extensive experience in providing strategic governance, commercial and financial oversight for large complex programs within the public sector, including a strong understanding and background within large scale technology programs. Your key strengths will include your ability to lead and influence complex stakeholder groups, building strong relationships across executive, governance, delivery and functional teams to drive aligned, timely and well-governed program outcomes.

Skills and experience

• Demonstrated experience in designing, establishing and operating program governance structures and forums providing clear direction and oversight across business and technology delivery functions.
• Proven leadership and accountability for the successful delivery of major programs in public sector or highly regulated environments including those with substantial risk and complexity.
• Experience in providing strategic, authoritative advice in a complex operating environment.
• Demonstrated experience working at an executive level within an organisation, with well-developed leadership, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong capability in managing complex contracts and vendor relationships including the provision of commercial advice and managing vendor performance across multi-phase transformation programs.
• Highly developed writing skills, including the ability to prepare concise briefing documents, reports and communications to internal and external stakeholders.

Working with us

At WorkSafe, our goal is for every employee to feel connected, safe, and valued within their team, for teams to feel appreciated in the workplace, and for WorkSafe to be respected in the community. We believe that a diverse workforce is essential for delivering the best outcomes for the Victorian community. We strongly encourage applications from all individuals, including First Nations people, people with disabilities, those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and individuals of all sexualities and genders.

What's next?

Applications close 11:00pm Thursday 22nd October 2026. Preferred candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and/or other checks as required for the position as part of the recruitment process. Eligibility for ongoing employment with WorkSafe Victoria requires Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency. Due to the volume of applications received, individualised feedback will only be provided to candidates who progress to interview stage. To ensure a fair and open recruitment process, we request that you complete your written application and any online interviews without the use of AI tools. We want to understand your professional skills, experience and capabilities. We acknowledge that candidates may choose to use AI as part of background research.

For further enquiries please contact Talent Acquisition Specialist via email.