Deputy Head

• Strategic leadership role with impact across the Bank
• 5-year fixed-term contract based in Sydney CBD with flexible hybrid working
• Play an important part shaping the future of our iconic Australian institution

About the Role

We're seeking a strategic and experienced IT leader to join the Reserve Bank of Australia as Deputy Head of Technology Strategy, Risk and Performance. Reporting to the Head of Department this leadership role leads the development of an integrated IT organisational strategy encompassing operating model, operational excellence, technical strategy and IT vendor and asset strategy; underpinned by an integrated financial plan and effective risk and governance.

About the Team

As Deputy Head, you will lead, inspire, and empower a high-performing team to define and deliver on the Bank's strategic technology objectives. In partnership with the Head of Department, the Deputy Head plays a key role in driving organisational outcomes that make a meaningful impact. Australians rely on our systems to be secure, efficient, and highly resilient. This role offers a unique opportunity to build capability while working with some of the nation's most critical core banking and payments platforms.

Key Responsibilities

You will lead and develop IT teams to deliver world-class services that meet current and future organisational needs while balancing emerging technologies, governance requirements, and budgetary considerations.

Further to this, you will:

• Oversee the performance of your areas of responsibility and contribute to the delivery of the Bank's strategy through cross-department collaboration, advice, and support.
• Inspire a high-performance culture aligned with the Bank's values, fostering staff engagement and accountability.
• Champion continuous improvement across strategies, systems, and processes, ensuring strong governance and clear ownership.
• Communicate proactively and effectively, encouraging open dialogue and multi-level feedback to build trust and transparency.
• Anticipate and manage risks and issues in alignment with the Bank's risk appetite.
• Collaborate with leaders and stakeholders to drive enterprise-wide outcomes.
• Deliver a responsive and cost-effective technology partner engagement model that meets defined service targets.
• Maximise the value of technology investments through strategic planning and execution.
• Simplify and strengthen the technology landscape while promoting innovation and resilience.

About You

You are a strategic IT leader with deep expertise in technology planning, governance, risk management, supplier engagement and business process improvement. You bring a proven ability to align technology strategies with enterprise objectives and deliver impactful outcomes across complex environments.

We would like to speak with candidates who demonstrate:

• Proven experience formulating and executing technology strategies aligned with organisational goals.
• Strong executive communication skills, with the ability to articulate strategic vision and roadmaps to diverse stakeholders.
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement and influencing adoption of technology to support continuous improvement.
• Deep understanding of technology capabilities, operating models, and emerging technologies, with the ability to provide actionable leadership insights.
• Demonstrated success in driving innovation and continuous improvement across people, processes, budgets, and systems.
• Experience representing an organisation at senior levels with external stakeholders.
• Strong governance and risk management capabilities across both project and BAU environments.
• Ability to analyse complex risks and contribute to the development of risk standards aligned with organisational appetite.
• Commitment to fostering a safe, healthy, and inclusive workplace.
• Experience developing and implementing policies, systems, and processes that drive change and efficiency.
• Understanding of the central bank's role and how IT contributes to its strategic objectives.
• Ability to build strong relationships across departments and peer organisations to identify opportunities, manage risks, and ensure effective technology use.
• Demonstrated capability in leading, coaching, and mobilising multi-disciplinary teams through change.
• A degree in a relevant IT discipline or equivalent experience.

Please note:
Along with an updated copy of your most recent CV, we kindly request a
brief cover letter
outlining your key experiences and how they align with the role's requirements. This will help us better understand your suitability and strategic fit for the opportunity.

Be More
Working for an organisation that truly makes a difference to the people of Australia, we can offer development and career opportunities in a collaborative environment that supports your growth, wellbeing and promotes flexibility. Your individual growth and success drives the RBA forward as an organisation. Be more means you can do more, for yourself and for Australia.

Why RBA?
The RBA makes an important contribution to the Australian economy through the pursuit of national economic policy objectives and associated activities in financial markets and banking. We also issue Australia's banknotes and operate infrastructure critical to the payments system, all of which contribute to the welfare of the Australian people. Made up of specialists across a wide range of fields, our people, values, and culture play a critical role in achieving our objectives. Striving to be Open & Dynamic, we consider and incorporate different perspectives, work across teams and are transparent with each other, whilst delivering quality together effectively and focusing on outcomes by prioritising, testing, learning, and refining as we go.

Our people conduct themselves with a high degree of integrity, while striving for excellence in the work they perform and the outcomes they achieve. We encourage intelligent inquiry, and we treat one another with respect while promoting the public interest through our efforts. We know it is the growth and success of our people that drives the RBA forward. Come and make a bigger contribution while you build and develop your own skills too, because being more means you can do more, for yourself and for Australia.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion through key initiatives. We welcome and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse background, those living with a disability and from the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to making the recruitment process fair and equitable for all our candidates.

Desired Skills and Experience
Provide strategic IT leadership, aligning operations, technology, assets, finance, risk, and governance to enable organisational excellence.