Director – Freedom of Information – Department of Defence
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0770836
- Agency: Department of Defence
- Job Title: Director – Freedom of Information
- Position Number: GG/03870/26
- Classification: Executive Level 2
- Closing Date: Thursday 30 July 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
- Location: Russell ACT
- Future Merit Locations: Russell
- Salary: $144,430 – $173,359
- Office Arrangement: On Site (Defence is committed to supporting workplace)
About Department of Defence
Defence’s FOI Directorate sits within the Media and Information Disclosure Branch, as part of the
Ministerial & Executive Coordination & Communication.
The FOI Directorate consists of three teams, each headed by an Executive Level 2 (EL 2).
FOI Governance – leads FOI continuous improvement, training coordination, application
requests, courtesy consultations, reporting, and classified records review.
FOI Case Management – coordinates and manages primary FOI cases by working with, and
providing expert advice to decision makers.
FOI Reviews – processes merits review requests including internal reviews, complaints,
Information Commissioner reviews and ART matters.
The role provides regular opportunities to work closely with Defence’s senior leadership, including
direct engagement with the Senior Leadership Group, supporting informed decision-making and
strategic outcomes.
Our Ideal Candidate
We are seeking leaders with:
Strong analytical and legal research skills, with the proven ability to interpret and apply
legislation, including the FOI Act in complex scenarios.
Extensive experience in FOI processing or advisory functions.
Proven ability to build and maintain productive stakeholder relationships.
Sound judgement and FOI technical knowledge
The ability to support team members to manage complex FOI caseloads; offering practical
solutions and accurate technical advice to maintain timeliness, manage resourcing pressures
and resolve conflict constructively.
Inclusive leadership, with experience mentoring and developing high-performing teams,
including leading and supporting a geographically dispersed and remote workforce.
Excellent written and verbal communication.
The ability to deliver quality outcomes under pressure and within statutory timeframes.
The ability to work independently, prioritising and managing team workload to deliver
defensible outcomes.
Applicants for Review roles should also demonstrate experience in writing persuasive submissions
for external sources.
Duties
- The Role
- The Freedom of Information (FOI) Directorate is seeking experienced leaders to join our
- high-performing team. This recruitment round may be used to fill current and future vacancies
- across our three teams. Successful candidates will be matched to roles based on their skills,
- experience, and organisational need.
- As an FOI Director, you will work closely with senior leadership, and your team to foster strong
- networks, provide strategic direction, strong judgement and oversight for case management;
- internal and external reviews; and/or FOI governance.
- The roles are important leadership positions, with delegated authority to autonomously identify and
- resolve issues and risks with stakeholders across wide-ranging activities of substantial depth. You
- will provide supportive leadership, resource and performance management, and complex decision
- making.
- As a member of the FOI Leadership Team, you play a critical role in delivering statutory
- compliance outcomes and driving continuous improvement. Through strategic oversight and
- leadership, you ensure FOI processes are robust, compliant, and responsive. You demonstrate
- excellent communication and advisory capabilities, translating legislative requirements and policy
- into efficient, well-coordinated, and high-quality operational outcomes.
Eligibility / Notes
- Security Clearance
- Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 1”.
How to Apply
Position Contact Sebastian Beurich, 02 5108 5607
Agency Recruitment Site https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=F7A83126-FBFB-2414-A6A5-ED1C9A1FF
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
Defence Vacancy