General Manager, Regulatory Intelligence and Strategy

About the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

Working with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) will put you at the forefront of data protection and access to information regulation. As an independent statutory agency, the OAIC’s work is of national significance and plays an important role in shaping Australia’s information handling landscape across the economy - from government, digital platforms and the online environment, to health, finance and telecommunications. Our mission is to uphold and promote Australia’s privacy and freedom of information laws.

We are an agency within the Attorney-General Department’s portfolio with responsibility for:

• privacy functions under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Digital ID Act 2024
• freedom of information functions, in particular review of decisions made by agencies and ministers under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
• privacy and confidentiality functions in relation to the Consumer Data Right (CDR) under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA).

SES leadership roles in the OAIC

SES within the OAIC work as a united team, collaborating and supporting each other and staff in achieving outcomes for the Australian community, and ensuring the agency’s success.

You will demonstrate leadership that aligns with the values of the OAIC, which include:

• Modelling and championing the OAIC’s Guiding Principles (‘4 Pillars’): being proactive, proportionate, purpose-driven and people-focused
• Possessing integrity and demonstrating alignment with the APS Values: Impartial, Committed to service, Accountable, Respectful, Ethical and Stewardship
• Empowering staff to make decisions and supporting a shift to a more harm-focused regulatory approach for the OAIC that considers risk in a proportionate manner and is not risk averse
• Supporting OAIC’s Commissioners to set the strategic direction of the OAIC, communicating that direction internally and externally, and leading your team to deliver on it.

Teams/functions the role oversees

SES at the OAIC are expected to lead by motivating and organising people to produce outcomes that make a difference to the nation. It is not just about what they deliver, but also how they deliver through their teams and networks. This includes engaging others to innovate, collaborate, and create change.

Leading the Regulatory Intelligence and Strategy (RIS) branch, you will have oversight and leadership of several teams including Communications and Engagement, Guidance and Publications, Regulatory Intelligence and the Policy and Statutory Functions teams.

Key relationships

You will be expected to develop and maintain effective and productive working relationships with a broad range of external stakeholders which may include portfolio agencies, government, academia, private sector and the Minister’s Office. You will represent the OAIC (for activities both within and outside your branch) at high levels within and outside government and you will be required to build and maintain strong working relationships across the OAIC, particularly with the Commissioners and SES colleagues.

You will provide leadership, guidance and mentoring of staff within the branches to foster their professional development and career progression.

About the branch

The Regulatory Intelligence and Strategy branch informs the OAIC’s regulatory decision making and strategy, influences policy and legislative processes, and guides the regulated community to meet its privacy and FOI obligations. The branch:

• provides intelligence and data to inform regulatory decision making by the OAIC’s Commissioners
• develops guidance and publications to educate businesses, agencies, and the community on information rights
• communicates the OAIC’s work and its impact on people and their lives, including by working with the media, business and government stakeholders
• engages with legislative and policy processes to ensure an information rights and regulatory perspective is considered
• delivers various specialist regulatory roles conferred on the OAIC (e.g., Digital ID, Consumer Data Right, My Health Record, and credit reporting regulation).

About The Role

You will have recognised expertise in public administration and leadership, preferably in the context of transforming or overseeing statutory programs. You will need to strategically balance priorities and resources to optimise efficiency and effectiveness and engage with risk to achieve quality outcomes.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• Leading a branch to deliver the OAIC’s proactive regulation and strategy functions
• Championing and enhancing the accessibility and polices for the betterment of the Australian public
• Ensuring the OAIC’s delivery of services to the Australian community promotes and upholds access to information rights, including through active stakeholder engagement on policy reforms
• Standing up, supporting and overseeing taskforces to deliver strategic goals for the agency as required
• Coordinating the OIAC and regulated community’s preparedness for implementation of recent reforms to the Privacy Act 1988 which conferred substantial new powers on the OAIC including:
  • developing and consulting on a children’s online privacy code to enhance privacy protections for children using social media and other online services.
• Establishing and driving a strategic agenda that aligns with and supports the Commissioners’ priorities and the OAIC’s purpose
• Influencing and overseeing the implementation of integrated change initiatives with outcomes that may significantly impact communities, stakeholders and services, while working under high scrutiny
• Leading the development of systems and processes to ensure teams and individuals within the branch are performing effectively and efficiently
• Contributing to the OAIC Executive group including strategic planning, corporate management and budgetary responsibilities, including demonstrating genuine collegiality
• Guiding and directing the branch to develop and nurture a high performing, multidisciplinary, collaborative and innovative culture across the branch and the office that is aligned with OAIC’s guiding principles
• Representing the OAIC in complex matters before parliamentary committees and other public, government and stakeholder forums
• Preparing reports, submissions and recommendations on opportunities for administrative action and legislative and policy reform consistent with the objects of the Australian Information Commissioner Act, and Commonwealth FOI and privacy legislation
• Leading and overseeing important stakeholder relationships including across government, in academia, the private sector and the Minister’s Office, and ensuring staff across the branch are engaging effectively with stakeholders, positioning the OAIC as a trusted regulator
• Managing internal change that ensures that the wellbeing of OAIC staff is supported as they contribute to the evolution of the agency and delivery of significant initiatives
• Adhering to and promoting the APS Values and Code of Conduct and acts with utmost integrity and professionalism.

A merit list of suitable candidates will be established and may be used to fill future vacancies that arise.

Job Specific Capabilities, Skills & Experience

We are seeking applications from candidates who have:

• Legal qualifications or extensive experience in policy and/or managing in a regulatory environment requiring an expert level understanding of legislation, or an ability to quickly obtain this knowledge
• Demonstrated experience in the proportionate management of resources to achieve effective and timely regulatory outcomes
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to inspire and guide teams, and a demonstrated commitment to developing and empowering staff
• Strong stakeholder engagement experience, including representing organisations externally
• High-level strategic skills
• Demonstrated experience in leading through change
• Experience in managing the development and implementation of organisational policies, programs and approaches to work that is complex
• In depth knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1988 (and/or other relevant legislation), or the ability to quickly acquire this knowledge
• Ability to provide impartial and forthright advice to agency-head level leaders, giving consideration to organisational and government priorities.

Desirable:

• Management or public administration qualifications (e.g., MBA/MPA)
• Knowledge of information access and privacy frameworks, or an ability to quickly obtain this knowledge.

These duties are to be performed in accordance with the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values and Office policies, including Workplace Diversity and Work Health and Safety. Under section 25 of the Public Service Act 1999 the Office may re-assign the duties of an employee from time to time.

Security requirements

You must be able to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance.

SES Requirements

The Secretaries’ Charter of Leadership Behaviours sets out the behaviours expected from SES across the APS and apply to senior leadership roles in the OAIC. The behaviours build on the Integrated Leadership System and APS Leadership Capability Framework.

This role is considered an Officer under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and is required to exercise due diligence in complying with the obligations under this Act.

Position location

The OAIC operates a hybrid work model with a combination of remote working and office attendance.  Whilst the OAIC office is located in the Sydney CBD (and preferred), we will consider candidate applications from all other locations within Australia.

The OAIC values face-to-face interaction and fostering connection between our people and with our stakeholders. The OAIC’s hybrid work model expects in office attendance when the type of work or task is better suited to being completed from an office, for example, staff inductions and onboarding, planning days, relationship building activities and project or collaborative work.

Remuneration and benefits

Salary will be negotiated with the successful candidate, commensurate with the work level standards at the SES Band 1 level.

The OAIC is committed to enabling its people to perform at their best and offers the following benefits:

• Opportunity to work at the cutting edge of privacy and data protection, paving the way for future career opportunities.
• Access to ongoing professional development, with a capability framework to guide skill enhancement.
• Genuine flexibility to help achieve a balance between work and home life.
• Additional paid leave over the Christmas to New Year period as well as access to other leave (e.g. for study or moving).
• Contribution to your wellbeing through subsidies for eye health, flu vaccinations and a wellbeing allowance.

The OAIC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage and welcome applications from people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTIQ+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and mature age people.

Eligibility

• Section 22 of the Public Service Act 1999 requires that APS employees must be Australian citizens.
• There are restrictions on employment of people who have, within the previous 12 months, accepted a redundancy benefit from an APS agency or a non-APS Commonwealth employer.
• For the duration of your employment with the OAIC you will be required to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance at the Negative Vetting Level 1 and meet required background, identification and character checks.
• Note: All duties are to be performed in accordance with the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values and OAIC policies, including Workplace Diversity and Work Health and Safety. Under section 25 of the Public Service Act 1999 the OAIC may re-assign the duties of an employee from time to time.