Chief Operating Officer, Net Zero Economy Agency

For an initial period of up to 12 months.
Who we areThe Net Zero Economy Authority (the Authority) is established by the Net Zero Economy Act 2024 as a statutory agency. Its mission is to empower the regions, workers and communities most affected by Australia's transition to a net zero emissions economy to anticipate and respond to the risks and opportunities of the transition.
The Authority is a new government agency in the Prime Minister's Portfolio, led by an independent board and Chief Executive Officer.
The Authority is presently establishing itself as a separate entity, including off-boarding from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Authority's annual Budget is approximately $55 million, with an allocated staffing level of approximately 157.
Find out more about Who We Are on the PM&C website.
What we doThe Authority pursues its mission by:
Engaging with regions, workers and industries affected by the transition to net zero to develop and deliver strategies to facilitate economic development and adjustment.Mobilising supports for workers impacted by the transition to net zero, such as workers in closing power stations, including by administering the legislated Energy Industry Jobs Plan.Helping to facilitate investment in new and decarbonised industries, especially where this creates jobs and economic opportunities for regions affected by the transition to net zero.Communicating and engaging with regions, workers and industries affected by the transition to net zero to build understanding of, and engagement with the change and associated government supports.Informing and influencing government policy so that it is responsive to the objective of an orderly and positive transition to a net zero economy.About the BranchThe Corporate Strategy and Services Branch is responsible for the provision of corporate and enabling services to the Authority, including human resources, financial management, property and accommodation services, governance, risk and audit policies and services, legal services, ICT, protective security, and records management.
As a new government entity, the branch has responsibility for building the systems and capabilities required to deliver these services, including off-boarding from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
About the OpportunityThe Chief Operating Officer (COO) is accountable for the overall strategic and operational direction, and management of functions of the branch. The candidate will establish, maintain and deliver strategies, plans and policies to build the corporate services capabilities and systems of the Authority – initially to minimum viable product standard, and over time, to best and better practice.
The candidate will be expected to bring a strong and adaptive client-focus to the delivery of corporate and enabling services. As a small and new government entity, it will be important services are delivered efficiently, and are responsive to the evolving needs of a nascent organisation.
The candidate will report to a First Assistant Secretary, but also engage regularly with the Chief Executive Officer, Authority Executive and Board on corporate strategy and policy, governance and legislative compliance, and corporate reporting.
The candidate will manage a branch of approximately 30 people, delivering a range of corporate services.
The key duties of the position include:Our ideal candidateThe successful candidate will:
Be an outstanding leader that has the capability to guide the agency through a dynamic period of change.Have substantial senior management and leadership experience across a diverse range of corporate and enabling functions.Have proven experience in managing resources and complex workloads, setting priorities and coordinating multiple teams to achieve results often within short timeframes.Have developed communication skills and demonstrated experience in building and sustaining relationships with colleagues and key external stakeholders.Your leadership style should be collaborative and engender trust and respect across the agency and when working with stakeholders. It will be important to be able to foster a positive workplace culture, provide a positive influence, lead by example and bring a strong commitment to public service.
Additionally, 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. You will be expected to model and champion the behaviours outlined in the Secretaries Charter of Leadership Behaviours - DRIVE.
Identified positionThis vacancy is Identified, meaning eligible candidates are expected to address in their application their level of cultural competency and their ability to relate to First Nations peoples. This position has limited contact with First Nations peoples, communities and service providers, but is still required to have the capacity and willingness to further develop these skills. You will require capacity to attain cultural competency, including:
Understanding of the issues affecting First Nations peoples.Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with First Nations peoples.Willingness and commitment to continue to develop cultural competency.The vacancy is open to all eligible candidates and is not restricted to First Nations applicants.
Integrity and Work Health and SafetyAll APS employees are required to comply with the APS Code of Conduct, including to at all times behave in a way that upholds the APS Values and Employment Principles, and the integrity and good reputation of their agency and the APS.
SES leaders in particular are required to demonstrate the highest levels of integrity, uphold and promote the APS Values and Employment Principles by personal example and other appropriate means.
To learn more refer to the APS Values and Code of Conduct in Practice.
SES leaders who make, or participate in making, decisions that affect the whole, or a substantial part, of the authority are regarded as an Officer for the purposes of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act). To fulfil their duty under the WHS Act, Officers must exercise due diligence to ensure the authority complies with its work health and safety duties and obligations.
Additional InformationThis role is being advertised as both ongoing and non-ongoing. The role may be offered as either ongoing or non-ongoing subject to business needs and/or candidate preference. Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled as a specified term vacancy for an initial period of up to 12 months.Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold the required security clearance level for the role as indicated.Successful applicants will be assessed through our pre-employment screening checks, such as an Australian Criminal History Check, and will normally be subject to a six-month probation period if new to the APS, or has not yet completed their probation period elsewhere in the APS.Indigenous job seekers are encouraged to apply for this vacancy. If the job is 'Identified', then part or all of the duties impact on Indigenous Australian communities or their representatives.
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.
Getting to know the Department of the Prime Minister and CabinetThe Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) advances Australia's national interests through high quality support to the Prime Minister and the operations of Cabinet. PM&C supports the Prime Minister as leader of the Government and of Cabinet and as leader of the country.
Our focus is to find new ways to improve the lives of all Australians.

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