Assistant Director, Employee Relations – Australian Electoral Commission
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0769811
- Agency: Australian Electoral Commission
- Job Title: Assistant Director, Employee Relations
- Position Number: 2026-079 13995
- Classification: Executive Level 1
- Closing Date: Sunday 07 June 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing;Non-Ongoing
- Location: Canberra ACT, Melbourne VIC
- Future Merit Locations: Various locations – ACT, Various locations – NSW,
- Salary: $122,163 – $137,665
- Office Arrangement: Flexible (The AEC support flexible workplace arrangements as)
About Australian Electoral Commission
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is at the heart of Australian democracy. The AEC is responsible for conducting federal
elections and referendums, maintaining the Commonwealth electoral roll and making sure the Australian public is informed about
all electoral matters. Our goal is to see that all eligible Australians actively participate in our democracy. The AEC values of
electoral integrity through quality, agility and professionalism drive strategic and corporate planning and assist in organising the
agency in a way that will effectively deliver the business into the future. The AEC is an equal opportunity employer which upholds
the APS employment principles and actively encourages a diverse and inclusive workplace. The AEC’s statutory functions in
relation to the conduct of elections and referendums require that the AEC and its employees must be, and must be seen to be,
impartial and politically neutral. As a result, the AEC Enterprise Agreement and Political Neutrality Policy state that it is an inherent
requirement of AEC employment that employees, and prospective employees, are not publicly active in any political affairs and do
not publicly engage in such activities. This includes advocating any issues associated with a referendum. Should a prospective
employee fail to meet this inherent requirement, they will be ineligible for employment with the AEC.
Duties
- The Assistant Director in the Employee Relations & Wellbeing team works under limited direction
- to provide high-quality advice and support on a range of complex HR matters, including
- employment entitlements and conditions, conduct, and review of employment-related actions. The
- role sits within the Employee Relations, Wellbeing and Diversity section of the People Branch and
- contributes to strategic planning, projects, and decision-making within the work area.
- This role will play a key role in supporting the AEC’s upcoming enterprise bargaining process,
- providing an opportunity to contribute to a high-profile, agency-wide priority. The successful
- candidate will support bargaining strategy, prepare advice, assist with negotiations, and coordinate
- stakeholder engagement.
- It is intended that, following completion of the bargaining process, the role will transition into an
- ongoing function within the Employee Relations team, supporting broader employee relations
- priorities and initiatives.
- In this role, you will work collaboratively across the business and engage with a wide range of
- stakeholders to deliver on the AEC’s obligations and responsibilities under relevant legislation and
- frameworks.
- The position requires the appropriate handling and management of sensitive personal information,
- and the provision of accurate, timely and evidence-based advice to business areas in accordance
- with APS legislation, Commissioner’s Directions, and AEC policies and procedures.
- To excel you’ll have:
- Demonstrated integrity and judgement in handling sensitive and confidential information,
- ensuring accuracy, discretion and compliance within a high-risk, legislative environment
- Proven ability to operate with autonomy and strategic awareness, including navigating
- ambiguity, managing competing priorities, and delivering high-quality outcomes within tight
- timeframes
- Highly developed stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to build
- productive relationships, negotiate outcomes, and collaborate across teams, branches and
- external stakeholders within a geographically dispersed network
- Strong written communication and advisory capability, including the ability to synthesise
- complex information, develop clear, evidence-based advice, and tailor messages for a range
- of audiences, including senior leadership
- Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying APS employment frameworks, including
- relevant legislation, policy, and enterprise bargaining processes within an APS context
- Proven leadership capability, including the ability to lead, manage and develop a small
- geographically dispersed team, foster an inclusive and high-performing team culture, and
- drive accountability and results.
- Desirable
- Relevant qualifications and/or experience working within a Human Resources environment.
Eligibility / Notes
- AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
- Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on
- this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
- Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
- Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain the security clearance
- required for this role.
How to Apply
Position Contact Antonietta Middleton, 02 5137 2344
Agency Recruitment Site https://candidate.aurion.cloud/aec/production/
Applicants to vacancies notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette should be aware:
that the names of successful applicants will also be notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette
applicants found suitable may be offered similar employment opportunities by other Australian Public Service agencies
Vacancy