Chief Information Officer

Job no: 493841
Work type: Full Time, Full Time / Part Time
Location: Head Office, Canberra
Classification: Senior Executive Service Band 1

The Role

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is responsible for leading DHA’s information and digital functions to enable the delivery of organisational strategy and business outcomes. The CIO provides strategic leadership over the Business Solutions and Technology (BS&T) Branch, which oversees ICT operations, digital transformation, cyber security, data governance, and technology investment, ensuring systems are secure, resilient, and fit for purpose. The role delivers expert advice to senior executives on technology-enabled innovation, manages key ICT risks and partnerships, and ensures alignment between business needs, government policy, and whole-of-government digital standards.

The BS&T Branch is responsible for delivering DHA’s digital and technology transformation agenda, ensuring ICT capability, investment and reform activities are strategically aligned to organisational priorities, government policy and contemporary best practice. The Branch enables secure, reliable and modern digital services that support business operations, customer outcomes and long-term organisational sustainability. Within the BS&T Branch, the CIO leads a large multidisciplinary, specialist team to deliver the following functions:

• IT Operations - providing enterprise-wide ICT operations and service management, ensuring the availability, reliability and security of core technology services and end-user support.
• Technology Partnerships & Architecture – Establishing and efficiently maintaining enterprise architecture, technology standards and strategic partnerships to guide ICT investment, ensure interoperability, and support scalable, future-ready solutions.
• Application Development & Integration - Design, develop and integrate business applications and digital solutions to enable efficient, user-centred services and effective information flows across the organisation.
• Technology Refresh - Manage the planned refresh and modernisation of ICT assets to maintain currency, reduce operational risk and support evolving business needs.

All SES roles represent the Australian Public Service (APS) and government externally to stakeholders and are characterised by a high level of accountability for outcomes. How outcomes are delivered is equally as important as the outcome. The Secretaries’ Charter of Leadership Behaviours sets out the behaviours Secretaries expect of themselves and SES, and want to see in leaders at all levels of the APS.  The Charter focuses on behaviours that support modern systems leadership within the construct of the APS Values and Code of Conduct. These behaviours build on the Integrated Leadership System and APS Leadership Capability Framework.

Everyday Activities

Reporting to the Executive General Manager Strategy and Transformation and operating as a key member of DHA’s senior executive cohort, the Chief Information Officer provides strategic leadership and stewardship of DHA’s information and digital functions to enable the delivery of organisational strategy and business outcomes.

Key activities include:

• Provide strategic leadership as an active and influential member of the DHA Executive Leadership Team, contributing to whole‑of‑organisation strategy, governance and priority‑setting.
• Provide enterprise leadership for information, digital and technology capability to support organisational objectives, service delivery and long-term sustainability.
• Set clear strategic direction for ICT that aligns with corporate strategy, government policy and Defence requirements.
• Lead the development and stewardship of ICT, digital and data strategies, ensuring they are coherent, prioritised and deliver measurable value.
• Translate business and customer needs into technology-enabled solutions.
• Establish and maintain effective ICT governance frameworks, including investment prioritisation, risk management, assurance and performance reporting.
• Provide regular assurance to the Executive and Board on ICT risk, capability, delivery and maturity.
• Ensure appropriate cyber security, information security and resilience controls are in place, consistent with government frameworks and risk appetite.
• Lead responses to significant ICT incidents and emerging technology risks.
• Oversee the ICT investment portfolio, ensuring initiatives are prioritised, sequenced and aligned with organisational capacity and strategic outcomes.
• Partner with senior leaders to understand business priorities and shape technology responses that enable transformation and operational effectiveness.
• Engage with Defence, central agencies, regulators and external partners on ICT-related matters.
• Identify, develop and deploy workforce capability to ensure DHA has the digital and technological expertise as well as the systems required to meet current demands and future challenges.
• Establish and maintain strong, productive relationships across DHA to enable integrated planning, cooperation and coordinated delivery of business outcomes.
• Represent DHA at senior-level cross-agency forums, working groups and committees, contributing to whole-of-government and sector-wide initiatives.
• Represent DHA at Senate Estimates, providing clear, evidenced-based insights and demonstrating transparent, accountable stewardship.
• Champion DHA-wide initiatives beyond the immediate function, contributing to organisational reform, improvement programs and leadership priorities.
• Partner closely with the Managing Director, Senior Executives and the Board to identify and pursue financial strategies that support DHA’s long-term sustainability and strategic direction.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements

To excel in this role, you will be expected to demonstrate a broad range of leadership and technical capabilities that enable DHA to fulfil its organisational objectives, deliver high-quality services, and ensure long-term sustainability.

• Tertiary qualifications in ICT, business, data, digital or a related discipline and/or substantial senior executive experience leading complex ICT and digital functions in a comparable environment.
• Demonstrated senior executive leadership of enterprise-wide ICT, digital and information capability to enable organisational strategy, service delivery and long-term sustainability.
• Proven ability to develop, implement and steward enterprise ICT and digital strategies that align with organisational objectives, government policy and Defence requirements, balancing innovation, risk and value.
• Extensive experience establishing and operating ICT governance, assurance and control frameworks, including investment prioritisation, portfolio oversight, risk management, performance reporting and benefits realisation.
• Advanced leadership in cyber security and information security, providing strategic oversight of resilience, incident response and technology risk management in line with government frameworks and organisational risk appetite.
• Demonstrated capability to provide clear, evidence-based assurance and advice to Executives and Boards on ICT risk, delivery, capability, maturity and emerging technology issues.
• Proven people and change leadership experience building high-performing multidisciplinary teams, uplifting organisational capability and delivering complex digital and technology transformation in high-accountability environments.
• Ongoing commitment to professional development and contemporary ICT leadership practice.

 Essential Capabilities

Shapes strategic thinking:

• Focusses strategically.
• Inspires a sense of purpose and strategic direction.
• Harnesses information and opportunities.
• Shows judgement, intelligence and common sense.

Achieves results:

• Builds organisational capability and responsiveness.
• Marshals professional expertise.
• Steers and implements change and deals with uncertainty.
• Ensures closure and delivers on intended results.
• Manages information and records.
• Engages with technology.

Cultivates productive working relationships:

• Nurtures internal and external relationships.
• Facilitates cooperation and partnerships.
• Values individual differences and diversity.
• Guides, mentors and develops people.

Displays personal drive and integrity:

• Demonstrates public service professionalism and probity.
• Exemplifies the ‘DRIVE’ Secretaries' Charter of Leadership Behaviours.
• Promotes, manages and upholds the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles, including Stewardship.
• Engages with risk and shows personal courage.
• Commits to action.
• Displays resilience.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and commitment to personal development.

Communicates with influence:

• Communicates clearly and with influence.
• Listens, understands and adapts to the audience.
• Negotiates persuasively.

Technical Proficiency:

• Demonstrated capacity to focus on business improvement and organisational sustainability.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead and drive transformational change to achieve strategic objectives.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership in the delivery of property services.

Eligibility Requirements

Employment with DHA is subject to the following conditions:

• Australian Citizenship.
• Security Clearance – The occupant of this position must obtain and retain an AGSVA security clearance to the specified level.
• Probation - A probation period will apply to any new ongoing engagement to the Australian Public Service.

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. This initiative/program is only applicable where the successful applicant will be employed under the Public Service Act 1999. Similar conditions may apply when employed under other Acts. 

Merit Pool Creation

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 anywhere in Australia.

For more information please go to APSC's website -The APS Merit Principle.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the DHA Careers Portal - click 'Apply Now' below.

Your application should include:

• A written pitch of up to 1000 words outlining your skills and experience and how they align to the role
• An up-to-date CV

Before applying, please review the Candidate Information Pack and selection criteria. If you have further questions after reviewing the materials or if you need assistance with the application process, please contact Manish Sanduja on msanduja@launchrecruitment.com.au

All enquiries will be kept in strict confidence.

Please note, applications close 11:30 PM AEDT Sunday 22nd March 2026.

View Candidate Pack