Assistant Secretary, Transport Investments Branch

Commercial Group / Commercial Investments Division / Transport Investments Branch
- Ongoing | Full-time
- Canberra, ACT or Melbourne, VIC

**ABOUT THE BRANCH**

Transport Investments Branch (the Branch) within Commercial Investments Division, supports delivery and oversight of a diverse set of relationships and commercial investments on behalf of the Australian Government and the Minister for Finance. The Branch provides oversight of the management of 3 of the Government’s 9 Government Business Enterprises (GBEs) to ensure accountability and transparency is maintained while also delivering value for money. The functions provided by the GBEs include:

- Australian Rail Track Corporation is the operator of Australia’s interstate freight rail network and, through its subsidiary Inland Rail Pty Ltd, is constructing the nation-building Brisbane to Melbourne Inland Rail project to increase resilience and improve the productivity of Australia’s supply chains.
- The Government has invested over $1 billion for National Intermodal Corporation to assess the feasibility of and to construct intermodal terminals to enhance the efficiency of Australia’s rail freight network and to deliver enhanced competition, environmental and social outcomes.
- Western Sydney Airport Corporation is in peak construction phase for the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport and is expected to have created more than 11,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction. Once completed in 2026, the airport will generate significant economic and social benefits to Western Sydney and the Australian economy.

All Shareholder Teams within the Branch, work closely with their respective GBEs and the co-shareholder departments, such as the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts and Department of Defence, to support senior Executives and Ministers to ensure accountability and transparency in the delivery of critical nation building projects and services.

**ABOUT THE** OPPORTUNITY**

The Department is seeking a talented commercially savvy leader to join our team at the SES Band 1 level in the Transport Investments Branch, Commercial Investments Division.

This is a unique opportunity to work in the Commercial Investment Division at the interface between the public and private sector. You will be leading a team representing the Minister for Finance in providing oversight and strategic policy guidance to GBEs which are constructing and managing nationally significant infrastructure such as Western Sydney Airport, the Inland Rail Program and modern intermodal precincts.

Working on these significant GBEs and their commercial transactions will enable you to shape investment decisions impacting the Commonwealth’s balance sheet, risk appetite and approach to partnering with large Australian and international businesses to deliver policy outcomes for the Australian Government. We have complex relationships and collaborate with other Australian Public Service departments (and external experts) to provide strong shareholder oversight, assess investment proposals, advise on structuring and financing transactions, negotiate legal and commercial agreements and evaluate risks.

To be a strong contender for this important and challenging role you will need to demonstrate the capability to lead and motivate a team while being commercially strategic, forward thinking, self-motivated, resilient and adept at building relationships in a complex and fast paced environment. You will also contribute to and communicate the strategic direction of the Division and Department.

Your strong leadership credentials and ability to engender trust and respect will be complemented by sound judgement, a strong focus on results, and the ability to solve complex issues.

You will actively promote the ongoing transformation of the Department, and drive and implement reform in a rapidly changing public sector environment.

In addition to this, you will:

- determine and be accountable for objectives, priorities, resources and task allocation;
- strengthen organisational capability, including through managing and leading people;
- work alongside colleagues across the Division to build and maintain a whole-of-department strategic capability to provide advice on emerging priority issues;
- formulate proposals and advice for Ministers and the Secretary on policy and management issues which are the responsibility of the branch;
- represent the Department in high-level discussions and negotiations with key stakeholders / outside organisations, and work closely with the Department’s Executive; and
- drive a positive workplace culture by designing and delivering approaches to embed desired behaviours across the organisation.

**OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE**
- engages proactively with the primary government entity responsible for delivery with a strong focus on analysing their operations and their environment, and consulting