Assistant Company Secretary

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The Board Secretariat at ARENA delivers comprehensive company secretariat services to the ARENA Board, its Chair, and Board Committees. This function plays a critical role in supporting the Board's oversight of the organisation and its responsibility for setting strategies and priorities. The Secretariat collaborates closely with all teams across ARENA to ensure the highest standard of service, with a particular focus on coordination with the Office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The Assistant Company Secretary supports the General Counsel and Company Secretary in delivering high-quality governance and secretariat services and requires a strong understanding of the government, political and industry contexts in which ARENA operates.

This opportunity is available to candidates based in Sydney, Canberra, or Melbourne.

Key responsibilities

In this position, you will:

• Support the General Counsel and Company Secretary in maintaining governance frameworks and processes that enable effective functioning and decision-making of the Board and its Committees, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements and ARENA's policies and procedures.
• Assist in the coordination of Board, Risk & Audit Committee (RAC), and People & Culture Committee (PCC) meetings — including scheduling, agenda preparation, collation of papers, and accurate minute-taking.
• Help maintain governance documentation such as charters and policies, monitor adherence to Committee protocols, and contribute to corporate risk management in collaboration with the General Counsel and Company Secretary.
• Support the onboarding, induction, and offboarding of Board and Committee members, including coordination of professional development activities and logistical arrangements for events such as ARENA project site visits.
• Assist in managing the Board's conflicts of interest register and support the identification and handling of potential conflicts in collaboration with the General Counsel and Company Secretary.
• Facilitate communication and information flow between the Board, Chair, and ARENA leadership, ensuring timely and confidential support for Board-related matters.
• Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the Executive Management Team and other internal stakeholders to support responsiveness to Board needs and strategic opportunities.

About you

We are seeking an experienced Assistant Company Secretary who is committed to supporting high standards of corporate governance.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Experience in a governance or secretariat support role, ideally within a government or public sector context.
• A sound understanding of governance frameworks, corporate risk management, and compliance obligations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong written communication skills, particularly in preparing agendas, minutes, and governance documentation.
• A collaborative mindset and a commitment to supporting best-practice governance.

About us

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is a Corporate Commonwealth entity established under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011 (the ARENA Act). Our primary objective is to improve the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies and increase the supply of renewable energy in Australia.

ARENA has received significant additional funding over the past three budget cycles and is trusted by the Government to deliver many of its most impactful emissions reduction programs. We support the Government's emissions reduction goals of a 43% reduction in net emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050, through our focus on technology innovation and commercialisation for the benefit of Australia.

ARENA complements other funding bodies and provides financial assistance to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electrification technologies for research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects. Knowledge sharing is a critical part of our mission, ensuring that industry and policymakers can leverage the insights from our funded projects.

ARENA operates under its own Act of Parliament, with the ARENA Board and CEO reporting to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, and the Minister for Finance.

Transition to an ARENA-led employment model

Historically, ARENA has not had the legislative authority to directly employ staff (with the exception of our CEO and CFO). Our workforce is comprised APS employees seconded from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), as well as consultants and contractors. In December 2024, as part of the Future Made in Australia program, ARENA was granted new employment powers, which means we are now in the process of building an employment framework to transition to an ARENA-led employment model, which will see us build a sustainable, high-performing workforce that supports our critical mission in the renewable energy sector.

The Assistant Company Secretary position will be offered on a contract basis until June 2026, with the possibility of transitioning to permanent employment.

Why us

At ARENA, we are committed to providing an inclusive culture so our workforce can bring their whole selves to work and have a sense of belonging.

• we offer generous flexible working arrangements
• we encourage learning and development
• you will have front row tickets to leading edge technology in the sector
• work in an impactful and evolving environment, and
• be part of a team that collaborates and makes a difference.

We encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We strongly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and background will lead to a better environment for our workers and better outcomes for Australia.

How to apply

If you think this role is the right fit for you, we encourage you to apply by submitting your resume and cover letter (no more than 1 page).

Applications close at 11:00pm on Wednesday 20 August.

Please note that we will be reviewing applications as they are received and may close the recruitment process early if suitable candidates are identified.

To learn more about ARENA, visit www.arena.gov.au/about.

Seniority level

• Seniority levelMid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment typeFull-time

Job function

• Job functionManagement, General Business, and Writing/Editing
• IndustriesGovernment Administration, Energy Technology, and Services for Renewable Energy

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) by 2x

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