Jobs
Director (EL2) and Assistant Director (EL1) Nuclear – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0769745
- Agency: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Job Title: Director (EL2) and Assistant Director (EL1) Nuclear
- Position Number: 0425/2026
- Classification: Executive Level 1;Executive Level 2
- Closing Date: Sunday 07 June 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
- Location: Canberra ACT
- Future Merit Locations: Various locations – ACT, Various locations – NSW,
- Salary: $127,351 – $173,760
- Office Arrangement: On Site (Due to the nature of the work and security)
About Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
To Apply
Position Contact Marcus Brims, N/A
Agency Recruitment Site https://dfatcareers.nga.net.au/?jati=BECAA7E5-12CA-6403-4B2F-ECEFE78A0D2
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
Foreign Affairs and Trade Vacancy
Duties
- Your duties and responsibilities will be aligned to the relevant APS Work Level Standards.
- Director Safeguards – EL2:
- Your key duties may include:
- Provide authoritative, strategically focused advice to the Director General ASNO and SES on
- nuclear safeguards implementation, policy, treaty interpretation and associated risks, including the
- operational impacts of AUKUS-related arrangements.
- Support strategic decision-making by applying sound judgement to interpret safeguards
- requirements, IAEA guidance and international practices, and translating these into practical and
- defensible regulatory advice.
- Lead the development and delivery of technical briefings, presenting complex information in a
- clear and accessible way for senior decision-makers and key stakeholders.
- Lead or support ASNO’s contribution to the negotiation and implementation of first-of-kind
- safeguards treaties and arrangements with the IAEA.
- Lead and be accountable for Australia’s nuclear safeguards accounting system, delivering core
- regulatory and international obligation functions including inspection, verification, compliance and
- statutory reporting, and providing leadership of the operational systems and policy frameworks
- that underpin safeguards implementation.
- Represent ASNO at domestic and international forums, including through negotiations and
- strategic engagement with the IAEA, AUKUS partners, peer regulators, and intergovernmental
- bodies.
- Build and sustain trusted senior relationships across Australian Government agencies, industry,
- and international counterparts.
- Identify, assess and manage high-consequence operational, policy, treaty, non-proliferation and
- reputational risks, including those arising from novel safeguards arrangements.
- Lead and develop a small specialist team, contributing to agency-wide strategic planning,
- governance, and workforce capability in safeguards and non-proliferation.
- Undertake required training to become a designated nuclear safeguards inspector, and conduct
- domestic and international inspections as required.
- Assistant Director Safeguards – EL1:
- Your key duties may include:
- Provide expert technical, operational and/or policy advice on the implementation of Australia’s
- nuclear safeguards obligations, supporting Directors and ASNO’s Director General in informed
- decision making.
- Contribute to decision-making by analysing safeguards requirements, IAEA guidance and
- international practices, and helping translate these into practical regulatory advice.
- Prepare and deliver technical briefings, clearly explaining complex information to support senior
- decision-makers and stakeholders.
- Lead discrete workstreams and work packages across safeguards inspections, verification,
- reporting, compliance and policy development, ensuring accurate and timely outcomes with limited
- direction.
- Support Australia’s negotiation of safeguards arrangements with the IAEA, including contributing
- to the development of Article 14 arrangements, briefs, analysis and engagement materials.
- Advise and engage with permit holders, regulated entities and government stakeholders,
- including responding to technical enquiries and supporting understanding of safeguards
- obligations and requirements.
- Plan, coordinate and participate in domestic and international safeguards inspections and
- verification activities, including preparation for IAEA inspections and reporting on outcomes.
- Prepare complex advice, guidance and documentation, translating treaty, policy and regulatory
- requirements into practical implementation arrangements.
- Represent ASNO in technical discussions, negotiations and intergovernmental forums,
- exercising sound judgement on sensitive issues.
- Coordinate ASNO’s contributions to whole-of-government processes related to AUKUS
- safeguards and international non-proliferation engagement.
- Work closely with Directors and specialist advisors to embed new or complex safeguards
- approaches into business-as-usual operations.
- Manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs in a fast-moving, high-visibility
- environment.
- Undertake required training to become a designated nuclear safeguards inspector, and conduct
- domestic and international inspections as required
Eligibility / Notes
- 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
How to Apply
Position Contact Marcus Brims, N/A
Agency Recruitment Site https://dfatcareers.nga.net.au/?jati=BECAA7E5-12CA-6403-4B2F-ECEFE78A0D2
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
Foreign Affairs and Trade Vacancy