Senior Director, Positive Duty

The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is Australia's national human rights institution, dedicated to fostering a society where human rights are upheld, protected, and celebrated. We envision an Australia where every individual is valued equally in dignity and rights.

Our mission involves promoting and safeguarding the human rights of all Australians by:

• Advising all levels of government and various public and private organisations.
• Strengthening laws, policies, and practices while providing accessible investigation and conciliation services.
• Engaging inclusively with civil society, communities, and the private sector.
• Raising awareness about human rights and offering educational resources.
• Collaborating with partners to cultivate a culture of respect for human rights across the nation.

Our Legal Division is a small, dynamic team that provides the services of in-house counsel to the Commission. The Positive Duty Team is a multi-disciplinary team that sits within Legal Services and is responsible for the regulation of the positive duty (section 47C of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (SDA)) and related functions. The Senior Director, Positive Duty reports to the General Counsel.

We are looking for an experienced strategic leader to lead the Commission's regulatory functions under the positive duty provisions of the SDA. In this pivotal role, you will oversee compliance monitoring, enforcement activities, and stakeholder engagement and drive the strategic implementation of the Commission's positive duty mandate. You will manage a multi-disciplinary team to deliver impactful regulatory outcomes that align with the Commission's corporate plan and broader strategic objectives.

This full-time ongoing position offers a competitive negotiable EL2+ base salary with additional 15.4% superannuation. Part time options will be considered for the right candidate.

We offer flexible, hybrid and remote work options.

What You'll Do:

• Develop and implement strategic approaches to regulate compliance with the positive duty under the SDA, ensuring effective monitoring, assessment and enforcement activities.
• Oversee the conduct of inquiries into compliance with the positive duty, including systemic inquiries, and coordinate enforcement actions including compliance notices and enforceable undertakings.
• Work with Legal Services to direct litigation strategies in Federal Courts to enforce Commission decisions and ensure regulatory compliance across relevant sectors.
• Lead and develop a multi-disciplinary team of compliance officers, analysts, legal professionals and support staff in a complex regulatory environment.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholders including government agencies, industry bodies, business leaders, legal practitioners and civil society organisations.
• Represent the Commission at high-level forums, consultations and public events to promote understanding and compliance with the positive duty requirements.
• Collaborate with Senior Executives and cross-Commission teams to integrate positive duty activities with broader Commission strategic objectives and regulatory functions.
• Analyse emerging trends, risks and opportunities in positive duty compliance to inform strategic planning and resource allocation decisions.
• Provide expert advice to the President, General Counsel and Senior Management on complex regulatory matters, enforcement strategies and policy development.
• Oversee development and publication of guidelines, research and educational materials to promote understanding and compliance with the positive duty.
• Lead initiatives to build organisational capability and public awareness of positive duty requirements across different sectors and industries.

What We're Looking For:

• High level knowledge of, or relevant experience in, legislative compliance and enforcement activities, Diploma in Government Investigations or Law Degree.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership and staff management skills with a demonstrated capacity to develop and maintain high performing teams in a regulatory or similar environment.
• Understanding of the positive duty in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), the unlawful conduct covered by the positive duty, gender equality issues or the capacity to quickly obtain it.
• Extensive experience in liaison, negotiation, influencing and consultation skills at a senior level, and ability to engage and develop relationships with senior stakeholders and government agencies.

Why Join Us?

By becoming a part of our team, you'll play a vital role in influencing public conversations about human rights and making a meaningful impact. If you're ready to use your skills to support a cause that matters, we want to hear from you

Apply Now Help us shape the future of human rights in Australia. Join us in making a difference

Applications close: 5pm 15 October 2025

Notes

We value inclusivity and diversity and seek people who support and model the behaviours we promote in our workforce. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations Australians, mature workers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, culturally and marginalised communities, carers, LGBTIQA+ and people with disability.

Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth), employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS).

The Commission is committed to providing an accessible, inclusive work environment to enable people with a disability to participate fully in all aspects of employment. Applicants are encouraged to request reasonable adjustment as required to assist your participation in this recruitment process.

The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the Commission where the duties are of a similar nature.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit:

How to Apply

Please provide a resume and a statement (maximum of 2 pages) outlining your interest in this position(s), your experience that would lead to impactful outcomes in the role, and the skills and capabilities you bring.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to fulfill the requirements of the role in an impartial and respectful manner as required by the APS Code of Conduct. The successful candidate will uphold the integrity and independence of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

As part of the recruitment and selection process, applicants will be required to consent to and undergo background checks which may include character and social media checks.

For more Information

Information about the role and Commission practices may be sought from Lara Renton, A/g General Counsel via email

Jobnumber

CEO 00287

Job Category

Legal

Closing Date

15-Oct-2025