SES Band 1 Chief Governance Officer

Job no: 493653
Work type: Full Time
Location: Head Office, Canberra
Classification: Senior Executive Service Band 1

About us

DHA was established in 1988 following passage of the Defence Housing Australia Act 1987 (DHA Act) to provide adequate and suitable housing for, and housing related services to, members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and their families. We remain committed to our purpose of providing housing, and housing related services, to ADF members and their families to support Defence’s operational needs.

DHA manages an expanding portfolio of housing solutions and provides housing for over 17,200 ADF members and their families and has an opportunity for an experienced Chief Governance Officer to join the team.

About the role

The Chief Governance Officer (CGO) leads the Governance and Communication (G&C) Branch which sits within the People and Compliance (P&C) Group. The P&C Group brings together three critical teams; Governance & Communication, Legal Services, and Human Resources, who play unique roles and, together, enable DHA to function effectively and efficiently.

The CGO provides best-practice leadership and advice, influencing the development and implementation of strategies for governance outcomes. The CGO is a key engagement role across the whole of DHA’s activities, building and maintaining relationships with DHA’s Board and key stakeholders, including joint ministers and government agencies. The CGO also holds the positions of Chief Security Officer, Chief Audit Executive, and Principal Officer delegate under the Principal Officer delegate under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013.

About your team

The G&C team ensures information flows seamlessly throughout DHA, supporting good governance, transparent decision-making, integrity, and regulatory compliance. The CGO provides strategic leadership overseeing four discrete teams:

• Communication and Media
• Strategic Governance – including Risk & Internal Audit; Assurance, Compliance & Insurance; and Policy & Quality
• Governance Operations – including Privacy & Freedom of Information; Integrity & Security; and Work Health & Safety
• Secretariat, Parliamentary & Executive Coordination – including secretariat for the DHA Board and its Committees.

The role is responsible for:

• Collegiate leadership and stewardship of the Governance and Communication branch and contribution to the People and Compliance Group, overseeing the Group’s work program to deliver high quality outcomes for DHA.
• Engaging with Board and executive to lead the establishment and promotion of strategies which build organisation capability and responsiveness for governance, compliance, integrity and transparent decision making within DHA.
• In collaboration with stakeholders, lead the shaping of an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) approach in support of DHA’s statement of corporate intent to be a leader in ESG. This will include the establishment and maintenance of contemporary ESG frameworks.
• Proactive engagement to build and maintain productive relationships with key Commonwealth, State/Territory and non-government stakeholders.
• Representing DHA on high-level cross agency working groups, committees, and other forums.
• Collaborating and connecting with the Managing Director and Senior Executives to identify and pursue strategies that support achievement of DHA’s strategic objectives and position DHA to meet future Defence needs.
• Supporting simplified and streamlined governance that enables transparent and responsive decision making and flexible resource allocation.
• Contributing to and promoting DHA-wide initiatives beyond the Group’s work program, for example, through organisational committees and championship roles.

How to apply

All applications for this process must be submitted via the Executive Intelligence Group website. Before applying, please obtain selection documentation from the Executive Intelligence Group vacancies page www.executiveintelligencegroup.com.au/vacancies Ref. No. 1001.

If, after reading the selection documentation, you require further information please contact Tricia Searson or Lauren Searson-Patrick at Executive Intelligence Group on (02) 6232 2200 or admin@execintell.com.au.

Order of Merit

Applicants suitable for the role but not offered the position for the current vacancy, may be placed in a merit list or pool. If the applicant agrees, the results may be shared with other Australian Public Service (APS) agencies for filling similar roles. Applicants may be offered a future role, without the need to reapply. A merit list or pool may be used for up to 18 months.

This merit list or pool may be used to fill other vacancies in Canberra. For more information about Merit Lists or Merit Pools please go to APSC's website -The APS Merit Principle

Inclusion and Diversity

DHA is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from across our community including, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, ex-defence members, mature aged employees and carers.

RecruitAbility

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: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability

Eligibility

To be eligible for engagement to the Australian Public Service (APS), applicants must be Australian citizen. There are also restrictions on the employment of people who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency or the Australian Parliamentary Service and who is still within their 'redundancy benefit period' or restriction period. These arrangements do not apply to persons who have received a redundancy benefit from a non-APS Commonwealth employer, from a State/Territory Government employer, or from the private sector. There are no restrictions on such persons competing on merit for APS employment.

Prospective appointees will be required to satisfy character and security checks and a probation period.

Please note that, with any vacancy, it is important that you check your own circumstances and ability to meet the eligibility requirements.

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