SES Band 3 - Deputy Secretary (Multiple Positions)

SES Band 3

Deputy Secretary

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

The Department is seeking two Deputy Secretaries to join our leadership team, ideally one with experience in leading corporate services and another with experience in developing and delivering policies and programs.

As a Deputy Secretary at the department, your ability to think strategically and take a system-wide perspective will be critical. We are seeking people who are adept at generating and translating insights into practical and implementable actions and will be able to strengthen the department’s strategic policy capability.

Quality leadership is important to us. We are seeking experienced values-based leaders, who inspire, empower, and drive positive change. The successful candidates will be stewards of the department, the health, disability and ageing systems, and the broader APS. They will foster a culture of integrity, performance, and innovation.

We actively encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for our senior leadership roles, as your voices are vital to building a stronger, more inclusive future for all Australians. The Department is committed to fostering a culturally safe and inclusive workplace that empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to lead and thrive. We recognise that the knowledge, perspectives and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people offer invaluable insights that enrich our leadership and decision-making. These perspectives help shape more responsive policies and programs, ultimately strengthening our impact across communities.

To be a strong contender, you will be expected to demonstrate the following capabilities:

• Demonstrated high level policy skills and an ability to understand Australia’s health, disability and aged care systems, policies, key opportunities and challenges.
• Demonstrated high level understanding of the content that supports strategic development of enabling services.
• Executive management, commitment to talent development, succession planning, and driving APS capability uplift.
• Professional authority and credibility, building leadership legitimacy through honest and authentic relationships.
• Highly developed communication skills, able to articulate a vision and priorities while addressing diverse stakeholder concerns through strong communication and representational skills, building trust with the public and stakeholders.
• Pragmatic problem-solving skills and a demonstrated ability to think systemically and long-term, anticipating future challenges and opportunities.
• Exceptional results orientation, resilience, and a positive approach to issue resolution, with a focus on nurturing relationships for an inclusive and collaborative approach.
• People leadership and organisational management, to build and sustain capability across the department for current and future needs.
• Demonstrated stakeholder engagement, effectively exchanging information, listening to, and learning from stakeholders.
• Ability to inspire confidence and operate effectively in dynamic and rapidly changing environments, including leading and supporting teams through change.
• Keen intelligence, persuasiveness and influence necessary for both formal and informal leadership.
• Proactive approach to professional and organisational development, with the ability to engender enthusiasm and professionalism in others.
• Astute judgment and political awareness.

For more information, please contact

Tricia Searson, Executive Intelligence Group

[email protected]

Job Number VN-0760153