Principal Governance Officer

Cross River Rail will transform the way we travel to, from and through Brisbane in the future. It is a catalyst for wider rail transformation underway across the South East Queensland and it is already playing a key role in how we prepare for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Cross River Rail is a new 10.2km rail line including 5.9km of twin tunnels running under the Brisbane River and CBD, with four new underground stations. The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority is also tasked with multiple supporting projects and activities, including accessibility rebuilds for eight surface stations, construction of three new stations on the Gold Coast, upgrades for stabling yards, track works and surface rail enhancements, and the introduction of a new world-class digital train signalling system.
About the Role
This is a rare opportunity to lead governance innovation on one of Queensland's most transformative infrastructure programs. As Principal Governance Advisor, you will champion the streamlining and evolution of governance and assurance processes, helping to mature frameworks so they remain robust, intuitive and fit for purpose in a fast-paced delivery environment.
You will provide expert insight and technical leadership to executives, governance forums and delivery teams. Your work will shape how risks are understood, decisions are framed and accountability is maintained across the program. Drawing on your strategic judgement and systems thinking, you will lead the design and continuous improvement of governance models that enable clear, timely and confident decision-making.
This role is ideal for someone who sees governance as a driver of clarity and performance, and who thrives on translating complexity into practical solutions that support long-term success. This opportunity is offered as a two-year fixed term contract with possible extension. We are currently advertising other governance roles in our team. Please check our careers page to view.
**Key Responsibilities**:
Design and embed governance frameworks that are intuitive, agile and responsive to delivery needs
Lead the development of assurance strategies and models that evolve across project phases
Provide expert advice to senior leaders and committees, aligning forums with delivery priorities
Identify emerging risks and trends early, enabling proactive responses and strategic foresight
Support the traceability and accountability of decisions through robust governance records
Promote consistency in governance practices across business areas and delivery interfaces
Use data to identify systemic issues, inform mitigation strategies and uplift governance quality
Drive capability development by engaging stakeholders and embedding best practice
**About You**:
Experienced in governance, program assurance, reporting within a complex, large scale infrastructure or transformation programs
Strong strategic thinking and systems-level insight, with the ability to identify patterns and anticipate emerging risks
Expertise in governance and assurance best practice, including designing and maturing frameworks to suit evolving program needs
Demonstrated capability in governance documentation
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders and present insights clearly
High level of organisation, professional judgement and self-motivation, with the ability to operate effectively in fast-paced environments
Relevant tertiary qualifications in a related field, with postgraduate study in governance or assurance viewed favourably
Why work with CRRDA?
On Cross River Rail you will not only work with the best but become your best. And as we enter a new phase of delivery, our project offers a rare career opportunity for top tier professionals to have played their part on something that is genuinely city shaping and transformative.
Our people are supported with flexible work options, career development through the Australian Institute of Management, salary packaging and access to world class employee assistance provider Telus Health.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.