Jobs
Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0771085
- Agency: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety
- Job Title: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
- Position Number: 13356
- Classification: Executive Level 2
- Closing Date: Wednesday 29 July 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
- Location: Yallambie VIC
- Future Merit Locations: Various locations – ACT, Various locations – NSW,
- Salary: Future Merit
- Office Arrangement: Flexible (Flexible)
About Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is the Australian Government’s primary authority on
radiation protection and nuclear safety. Our purpose is to protect the Australian people and the environment from the harmful
effects of radiation, through understanding risks, best practice regulation, research, policy, services, partnerships and engaging
with the community.
Duties
- Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer is a critical member of
- the Executive Group, leading the agency’s corporate services portfolio across Finance, Human
- Resources, Digital Technology, and Facilities & Engineering. In doing so, you will ensure the
- organisation has the people, systems, governance and infrastructure required to deliver on its
- national purpose. This is an opportunity to shape the future of a highly respected scientific agency.
- Working closely with the CEO and Executive, you will lead strategic and digital transformation,
- strengthen organisational capability, modernise systems and processes, and develop practical
- roadmaps that position the agency for long-term success. Balancing strategic thinking with
- operational excellence, you will bring clarity to complexity, foster strong executive partnerships,
- and build confidence across the organisation while leading a multidisciplinary team through a
- period of continued evolution.
- You are an accomplished executive with a track record of leading complex corporate services
- functions within government or similarly sophisticated organisations. You have successfully
- delivered organisational and digital transformation, combining strategic vision with hands-on
- execution to modernise systems, strengthen governance and build sustainable organisational
- capability. Your experience spans one or more corporate services disciplines—such as finance,
- digital technology, human resources or facilities—and you understand how these functions work
- together to enable organisational performance. Equally important is your ability to build trusted
- relationships across technically complex environments. You lead with authenticity, curiosity and
- sound judgement, earning credibility through collaboration and a pragmatic approach to problem
- solving. As a trusted adviser to the CEO, you are confident navigating ambiguity, addressing
- complex challenges and providing clear, considered advice that supports informed
- decision-making. Calm under pressure and focused on outcomes, you bring people together,
- develop capability and create practical pathways that deliver lasting organisational impact.
- This is a rare opportunity to apply your executive leadership experience in an organisation with
- genuine purpose, helping shape the future of Australia’s national authority for radiation protection
- and nuclear safety while contributing to outcomes that benefit every Australian.
Eligibility / Notes
- Employment with ARPANSA is subject to:
- conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999
- agency and role specific pre-employment security checks that may include, but are not
- limited to:
- entitlement to work in Australian
- national criminal history
- international criminal history
- professional memberships
- qualifications
- sanctions
- anti-money laundering & counter-terrorism financing
- ASIC banned & disqualified persons
- ASIC credit registered persons
- bankruptcy & national personal insolvency
- directorship
- global media check
- former Australian Government employer information sharing
- Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) security clearance eligibility requirements
- evidence of citizenship status required
- evidence of qualifications required of the role
- internal security assessment
- security clearance vetting
- the CEO of ARPANSA, or their Delegate, approving a Notice of Engagement.
- The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website provides detailed
- information about the requirements for obtaining a security clearance at the required level, the
- documentary evidence you will be required to provide, the forms that need to be completed, and
- the relevant timeframes. Please ensure that you are able to provide the required evidence if you
- apply for the position. Failure or refusal to complete the required forms, or to comply with
- reasonable requests from AGSVA, will result in ARPANSA withdrawing your security clearance
- application, and your employment with the agency not progressing.
- ARPANSA is responsible for assessing how information relates to the agency’s security risks, as
- well as a person’s suitability for employment by the agency. ARPANSA will use the information
- you provide to undertake relevant checks in order to identify any factors or circumstances that
- pose a security risk to the agency and assess whether you are suitable to have access to the
- agencies non-public assets. You will be notified if you are assessed as unsuitable for employment
- by the agency.
How to Apply
Position Contact Paul Lefebvre, 0408 036 046
Agency Recruitment Site https://www.davidsonwp.com/job-details/chief-operating-officer-%E2%80%93-arpa
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
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