principal advisor sustainability and asset planning

Department for Correctional Services

Job reference: 699166

Location: ADELAIDE

Job status: Long Term Contract

Eligibility: Open to Everyone

About the Department for Correctional Services

The Department employs approximately 2,000 staff and has responsibility for nine prisons and fifteen Community Correctional offices across the state. Our vision is for a safer community by protecting the public and reducing re-offending. We work towards this through the contribution of staff who are employed in a wide variety of fields, from correctional officers and teachers, to social workers, psychologists and supervisors of court orders. Their commitment ensures we deliver quality services to prisoners, offenders and victims of crime. We strongly promote diversity and equity in our workforce, which directly contributes to greater effectiveness and better outcomes. In a supportive and collaborative environment, you will encounter interesting professional challenges and you will work alongside dedicated and passionate people who help to turn around the lives of offenders and rebuild lives affected by crime.

Duties

• Providing expert guidance and oversight to ensure DCS's sustainability goals are achieved, with a focus on social, environmental, and economic outcomes.
• Leading the integration of sustainability principles into operational and strategic planning processes.
• Developing and implementing sustainability frameworks, policies, and reporting mechanisms.
• Collaborating with internal stakeholders to embed sustainability into daily operations and capital works.
• Maintaining project management practices that ensure safety and compliance is a focus and consideration as part of project management and focus.
• Planning and delivering capital projects that prioritise sustainable design, construction, and operation.
• Providing expert insertion into long-term infrastructure planning to ensure alignment with DCS's sustainability and decarbonisation targets.
• Reviewing and maintaining the DCS Strategic Asset Management Strategy and Plan.
• Ensuring asset planning supports the department's vision for "safe, secure and efficient sites that support the humane containment, rehabilitation and management of offenders".
• Integrating asset planning with service delivery and capital investment strategies.

Special Conditions

• Section 47 of the Public Sector Act 2009 applies in conjunction with other provisions of the act and other applicable industrial entitlements.
• The incumbent is required to satisfactorily complete a National Criminal History Check;
• A current South Australian Driver's Licence is essential;
• A flexible approach to working hours is required;
• Some interstate and intrastate travel will be required which may necessitate overnight absences.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a program of sustainability and asset planning initiatives, including the delivery of critical infrastructure and environmental outcomes within complex service environments. This includes managing competing priorities, engaging diverse stakeholders, and responding effectively to unplanned change and tight timeframes.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a proven ability to foster collaboration, build trust, and contribute to a positive team culture across multidisciplinary teams and organisational levels.
• Proven capability to understand and respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders in a service delivery context, particularly in relation to sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience, and asset lifecycle planning.
• Experience in preparing, monitoring, and reporting on project and program budgets, with a focus on sustainability investments, whole-of-life asset costing, and alignment with strategic capital planning frameworks.
• Comprehensive knowledge of government policies, procedures, and legislative frameworks relating to infrastructure procurement, sustainability reporting, and strategic asset management, including familiarity with Cabinet Circular 114 (PC114), ISO 55001, and the Climate Government ready Framework.

Remuneration

ASO7 ($108,109 - $116,864 pa)

Enquiries

Ms Deborah Sansone

Director Infrastructure and Safety Systems

E:

Application Instructions

All applications must be submitted online via I Work for SA.

A CV or resume outlining your qualifications and employment history.

Applicants are required to submit a cover letter of no more than two pages quoting the vacancy number and outlining their knowledge, skills and experience relevant to the role.

Refer to the Advice to Applicants for information on how to apply.

Applicants are required to complete the Employment Declaration if not currently employed by the Department for Correctional Services.

Additional Information

This is a temporary vacancy for up to 24 months.

DCS is an equal opportunities employer, and our workplace reflects the diverse communities that we serve. Safety at Work is central to our mission — emphasising respectful relationships, psychological wellbeing, and the physical and cultural safety of all employees.

We strongly encourage applications from women, Aboriginal people, people of African heritage, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTIQA+, neurodivergent people, people living with disability, people of all ages, and other diversity groups. We support flexible ways of working including part-time working arrangements, wherever reasonably possible, and strive to ensure a fair, accessible, and barrier-free recruitment process. We encourage you to share any support or access needs when you apply.

Applications close: 12/10/2025 11:45 PM