Executive Director Assessments

• Full-time ongoing senior executive role based in Maitland
• TRP starting from $299,767 per annum including superannuation, commensurate with experience
• Pivotal senior leadership role driving assessment and systems for mining and resource activities in NSW

Summary

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is seeking an experienced executive to lead its Assessments and Systems function within NSW Resources. As Executive Director, you will be responsible for guiding the assessment and determination of mineral and petroleum title applications, overseeing the administration of multi-billion-dollar statutory funds including rehabilitation security deposits, and managing the delivery of systems and technologies that support efficient service outcomes. This role plays a key part in ensuring robust, transparent decision-making aligned with legislative frameworks and departmental policies.

About Us

NSW Resources, a division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, is responsible for supporting and growing safe and sustainable exploration and mining in NSW. We work closely with communities, landholders, and industry stakeholders to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

NSW Resources sets the strategic policy for the state's mineral and petroleum resources, assesses and determines applications for mineral and petroleum titles for exploration activities and extractive uses, provides high-quality geoscientific information to support decision making and investment, and regulates work health and safety and mine rehabilitation to ensure safe and environmentally sustainable mining.

About the role

Reporting directly to the Deputy Secretary of NSW Resources, the Executive Director, Assessments and Systems, holds a critical leadership position within the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. This role is responsible for overseeing the strategic delivery of complex assessments and determinations under mining and petroleum legislation, ensuring that all decisions are robust, transparent, and aligned with the broader priorities of the NSW Government. The Executive Director also manages the administration of multi-billion-dollar statutory funds, including levies, fees, and rehabilitation security deposits, with a strong emphasis on governance and accountability.

A key focus of the role is to drive reform, innovation, and operational excellence in the authorisation processes for exploration and mining activities. This includes leading the development and implementation of integrated systems and technologies that enhance service delivery and support customer-centric outcomes. The Executive Director will foster high-level stakeholder engagement across industry, government, and community sectors, navigating complex and often sensitive issues with professionalism and strategic insight.

In addition, the role demands strong leadership in building and sustaining high-performing, multidisciplinary teams. The Executive Director will champion capability development and cultural transformation to ensure the division is equipped to meet current and future challenges. As a member of the NSW Resources Executive Team, the incumbent will contribute to strategic planning and executive decision-making, playing a vital role in shaping the direction and success of the department's resource management agenda.

About you

You are a strategic and visionary leader with a distinguished record of achievement in regulatory frameworks, public administration, and resource management. Your career reflects a consistent ability to deliver complex reforms, lead high-performing teams, and navigate politically sensitive and high-stakes environments with integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment. You bring a collaborative mindset and a commitment to excellence in public service, underpinned by a deep understanding of the legislative and operational landscape governing the resources sector.

To be considered for this role, you will hold a degree qualification in a relevant discipline such as law, environmental science, natural resource management, or a closely related field. You will have extensive senior executive experience in the development and implementation of statutory frameworks and operational delivery, with a demonstrated capacity to lead strategic assessments and drive systems transformation. Your ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders across government, industry, and the community is matched by your strong communication skills and commitment to ethical leadership and the values of the NSW public sector.

To apply, please submit an updated CV and cover letter outlining your relevant experience.

For further information please contact Alana Percey on or Additionally, please view the role description.

Applications close Thursday 23 October 2025 @ 11:55pm

Additional Information:

The successful applicant in this role may be required to undergo a police check, health assessment and other assessments as required.

A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary roles of the same role or role type that may become available for filling over the next eighteen months.

Diversity and inclusion are core values of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is a workplace where everyone is able to contribute and participate to their full potential, and we are proud to have a team that reflects the richness and complexity of the regional NSW communities we serve.

If you require adjustments in completing your application, interviewing, completing any pre- employment testing, require information in an alternative format, or otherwise participating in the recruitment process, please let us know so we can assist. Send an email to or contact the hiring manager listed below for a confidential discussion.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is the department dedicated to growing primary industries and supporting regional economic development to deliver long term benefits to the state. Our focus is to protect, support and develop our primary industries, mining sector, and regions.

The department brings together Agriculture & Biosecurity; Forestry & Fishing; Local Land Services; NSW Resources; Regional Development & Delivery; the Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation; NSW Public Works and Soil Conservation Service.

We have nearly 5,000 employees, with almost 80 per cent of us living and working in regional NSW.