Technical Specifications Manager

Austroads employs staff across a range of specialised and technical disciplines, including for the core Austroads work program, the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS), and Transport Certification Australia (TCA). Our rigorous recruitment process includes skills and psychometric testing. Due to the environment we work in, all successful applicants are required to undergo a National Police Check.

We promote a culture of professionalism, innovation and integrity, with a commitment to accountability, quality and excellence in the delivery of all the services we offer. We pay attention to maintaining a safe and welcoming work environment, where all staff have equal access to opportunities. We encourage our staff to participate in external and internal training to make sure their skills and knowledge are continuously improved.

Austroads takes inclusion and diversity seriously. We embrace difference and diversity of identity, experience and thought, and actively strive for inclusive behaviours across our company and our work.

In 2025, Austroads was recognised by _HRD Australia_ Magazine as a 5-Star Employer of Choice, celebrating excellence in workplace culture, leadership, and employee engagement.

**Location**
- Sydney or Melbourne

**Description**

Austroads and its members are producing a set of harmonised technical specifications for the construction of roadworks and bridgeworks that incorporate the most appropriate technical requirements.

Member agencies use technical specifications, which rely on unique road agency test methods, in procurement contracts. Harmonisation through the Austroads Technical Specifications has the potential to improve efficiency for road agencies and industry, and improve compliance with contract requirements.

Austroads and its members engage on Austroads Technical Specifications through the Austroads Technical Advisory Group (ATAG), which comprises state, territory and New Zealand chief engineers or equivalent.

This senior role combines technical knowledge with a capacity to negotiate to achieve consensus and results. Skills in process development, knowledge management and business acumen are also required.

**Major responsibilities/accountabilities**

The role is responsible for:

- Working within the Austroads team to develop and implement a suitable knowledge and document management system (for at least the initial 12 months):

- Collaborating on the design and implementation of a complete technical document management framework, including classification systems, metadata structures, and version control protocols.
- Helping to develop charging models, including subscription tiers and pay-per-use frameworks, that balance accessibility to the Austroads Technical Specifications with revenue generation.
- Supporting and maintaining document quality standards, templates, and style guides.
- Contributing to the implementation of appropriate document management technologies, including establishing feedback collection mechanisms and document improvement workflows.
- Develop metrics and reporting systems to track document usage, quality, and financial performance with respect to the Austroads Technical Specifications.
- Ongoing management and optimisation:

- Liaise with relevant industry and government stakeholders, including notifying them of published and revised specifications.
- Manage the Austroads Technical Specification document lifecycle from creation, through updates and archiving.
- Monitor the day-to-day operation of the technical document library, including monitoring and analysing usage patterns and feedback to continuously improve document quality and system usability.
- Report the performance of the technical document library, status of developments and reviews, and member adoption, including attending meetings with state, territory and New Zealand chief engineers.
- Periodically review the subscription models for suitability.
- Maintain and adhere to Quality Systems processes and procedures associated with the role.
- Leadership:

- Build and lead a team of document coordinators and technical writers (includes external contributors).
- Develop training for document authors, reviewers, and users.
- Foster a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
- Other duties as directed.

**Qualifications, knowledge, and experience**

The Manager Austroads Technical Specifications will possess:

- A tertiary degree in engineering or similar.
- Superior written and verbal communication skills, including technical writing.
- Thorough understanding of procurement practices (desirably those relevant to the road and bridge engineering industry).
- Demonstrated experience in change management, process development and implementation.
- Demonstrated project management skills (including risk management) associated with a portfolio of projects.
- Experience in experience in technical documentation, knowledge management, or content managemen