Executive Director, Criminal InvestigationsSenior Executive Service (SES) Band 1Melbourne; Sydney; Canberra; Brisbane; Adelaide; Hobart; PerthThe Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman (OFWO) is an independent statutory office established by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Fair Work Act). Our functions outline the responsibilities we have as set by the Fair Work Act and other legislation to achieve our purpose:
Provide education, assistance, advice and guidance to employers, employees, outworkers, outworker entities and organisations.Promote and monitor compliance with workplace laws.Inquire into and investigate breaches of the Fair Work Act.Take appropriate enforcement action.Perform our statutory functions efficiently, effectively, economically and ethically. From 1 January 2025, a criminal offence for intentional underpayment of entitlements takes effect. The OFWO will be primarily responsible for investigating contraventions of the new offence and referring matters to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions or the Australian Federal Police for potential prosecution. The criminal investigative function will be complementary to the OFWO's existing use of civil enforcement powers, with referral of matters for potential prosecution reserved for the most serious, intentional non-compliance.
The role The OFWO is looking to fill the role of Executive Director, Criminal Investigations within our Regulatory Transformation Group to lead the implementation and day-to-day operations of the Criminal Investigations Branch (the Branch). You will be part of the OFWO's broader senior leadership team and contribute to the achievement of the Agency's purpose and priorities. This is an exciting time to join our Agency, and we are looking for outstanding individuals who will shape this new function through supporting implementation, building new capability and working across the Agency to establish systems, processes and supporting technology to support operational effectiveness.
To be successful you will need to demonstrate a strong strategic focus and have excellent stakeholder relationship skills to work across the Agency and government. You will have qualifications or a background in the fields of criminal law, regulatory investigations and/or law enforcement, and be able to demonstrate strong judgment, influencing skills, strategic thinking, leadership of a geographically dispersed team, capability building and a collaborative approach. You will bring skills in developing and implementing innovative and contemporary strategies to identify, investigate and respond to serious intentional non-compliance, including through the use of data-led investigative approaches and technology-assisted evidence assessment.
Typical duties Reporting to the Group Manager - Regulatory Transformation, the duties of the Executive Director, Criminal Investigations include (however, are not limited to):
Lead and manage the staff, budget and all aspects of the Branch.Lead the implementation of the Agency's approach to the criminal jurisdiction and referral of appropriate matters for consideration of criminal prosecution.Ensure criminal investigations are conducted in accordance with applicable legal and disclosure requirements, and investigative standards and quality assurance frameworks are embedded in the Branch.Manage key data assets within the Branch and ensure they comply with Agency data arrangements.Oversee the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement Framework and negotiations of potential Cooperation Agreements.Build and sustain collaborative relationships within the Agency with civil investigation teams and externally with partner agencies, including the Australian Federal Police and Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions as well as other law enforcement and regulatory bodies.Oversight and management of operational risks and providing direction on specific cases investigated for potential criminal prosecution.Lead external stakeholder engagement, including with employer and employee registered organisations, civil society organisations and others in relation to the criminal offence jurisdiction.Contribute to broader corporate leadership, including participating in agency governance activities and being involved in cross-government and external representation as required. What we are looking for To be successful in this role you require:
Demonstrated leadership experience in one or more of the fields of criminal law, regulatory investigations and/or law enforcement. Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline will be highly regarded.Proven ability to strategically prioritise and continuously adapt to deliver results in a dynamic, high-pressure and challenging environment.Exceptional communication and relationship management skills to inspire your team and engage with highly experienced stakeholders across the OFWO and external to the Agency, including across government/law enforcement agencies.Demonstrated experience in building highly capable multi-disciplinary teams, with a culture of continuous improvement and delivery of high-quality outcomes.An understanding and appreciation of the legal and regulatory frameworks and operational context relevant to the OFWO.Excellent judgment and a great track record of effectively working with colleagues and leading staff within a complex operating environment.Demonstrated experience in showing resilience when dealing with difficult situations. Due to the nature of this role, some interstate travel and out of hours contact is required.
Please note that a merit pool may be established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of 18 months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Gazette.
Eligibility To be eligible for employment with the OFWO you must be an Australian citizen.Applicants must possess, or have the ability to obtain and maintain, a Negative Vetting 1 level clearance.
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