Director - Space Science and Innovation, Executive Level 2, Australian Space Agency

• Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin
• Applications close 15 June 2025
• Salary Range: $147,408 - $158,718

About the Department

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Governments economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector.

The APS and the Department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in peoples lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.

If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australias future.

Please see the APSCs APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.

About the team

The Australian Space Agency provides government leadership on civil space capability to improve the lives of Australians and strengthen our society. The Australian Space Agency ensures that Australias space activities contribute to Australias national interest and broader Government objectives, including enhanced economic resilience, social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and national security. Our space agents deliver meaningful outcomes that will benefit our nation long into the future. The Australian Space Agencys functions include: 

• Leadership of policy and coordination of civil space activities across government.
• Shaping and growing national space capability, including development and delivery of programs.
• Leading international civil space engagement for economic and strategic benefit, in alignment with Australian foreign policy objectives.
• Promoting a responsible, effectively regulated space sector, while delivering on our international obligations.
• Promoting the value and benefits of space to the community, including to inspire a highly skilled workforce.

The Australian Space Agency is comprised of three branches: Space Policy, Space Capability, and the Office of the Space Regulator. 

The Space Capability Branch is responsible for providing whole-of-government strategic guidance and leadership on national space capability and needs through scoping activities, expert advice, and technical due diligence. The Branch:

• Supports the growth and uptake of space applications and delivery of the Agencys programs in alignment with critical technology priorities, to grow a trusted and responsible Australian space sector.
• Informs and contributes to the delivery of the Agencys engagement priorities with local and international industry, space agencies and the scientific community to support Australias national space objectives.

The Space Capability branch is comprised of five sections:

• Space Science and Innovation
• Space Programs
• Capability and Integration
• Civil Space Monitoring Pathfinder
• International Partnerships.

The Space Science and Innovation Section sits within in the Space Capability Branch. The Section:

• Provides deep subject matter expertise on spaceflight (including launch and returns), space sustainability, space innovation, and space science, for policy development and program development and delivery.
• Manages the facilitation of incoming opportunities for Australian space sector engagement in international space science, research and commercial activities.
• Leads engagement with Australian space industry, academia and science agencies.
• Represents Australia on key international technical working groups and committees to drive alignment and to create, facilitate and build upon opportunities for the growth of the sector.

The opportunity

The successful candidate will be a Director (Executive Level 2) within the Space Capability branch, reporting to the General Manager - Space Capability. The initial role will be to manage the Space Science & Innovation section as Director - Space Science and Innovation. After 6 months, continuation or reallocation to another Director-level section-leadership role within Space Capability may be considered.

The successful candidate will be instrumental to the direction and development of Australian space capability.

Whats in it for you?

This role will provide an opportunity to:

• Harness your technical expertise, program management, strategic and leadership skills to be at the forefront of growing and shaping the Australian space sector, through leading a team of experts.
• Be part of the Australian Space Agency Leadership Team, working alongside those with government, industry and space expertise, including technical, policy, international engagement, regulatory and communications specialisations, who will value the knowledge and skills you will bring.
• Expand your knowledge base and network through working across government, national peak bodies such as the Australian Academy of Science and the Chief Scientists Office, industry, academia and international counterparts, to inform, develop and drive initiatives to ensure Australia continues to benefit from space capability developments.

Our ideal candidate

Our ideal candidate:

• Has at least a decade of experience on Australian and international space projects at the intersection of technical expertise, program management and technology strategy.  
• Has experience across a breadth of space mission types, segments, program phases and subsystems, or has in-depth experience in a relevant technical area.  
• Brings insights into the success factors required to develop and deliver on research activities, technologies, programs and capabilities.
• Is an astute stakeholder manager, from having worked in or with a variety of stakeholder organisations across industry, academia and/or government. 
• Has relevant knowledge and experience related to Australias spaceflight ecosystem, space science, and/or space sustainability. 
• Is an exceptional team leader, and active follower, that thrives in working dynamically across multidisciplinary teams. 
• Has experience in managing teams to deliver outcomes for government and/or space and/or science and/or technical programs. 
• Holds relevant postgraduate qualifications.

The Department has a commitment to inclusion and diversity, with an ambition of being the best possible place to work. This reflects the importance placed on people and on creating a workplace culture where each and every person is valued and respected for their contribution. Our ideal candidate adds to this culture and the workplace in their own way. What you will do

As a Director in Space Capability, the successful candidate will: 

• Lead, mentor and manage a section of specialists in technical and programmatic fields practicing inclusive leadership, collaboration and integrity, with the capability to develop and support people to sustainably strive for excellence. They will manage the sections budgets and annual business plan development and implementation.
• Facilitate the development, review and successful shepherding of technical advice. They will be accountable for the timeliness, quality, integrity and accuracy of the content of advice provided. They will provide verbal and written summaries to audiences with a range of backgrounds at a complexity and clarity that will enable robust decision-making.
• Personally contribute to the Australian Space Agencys technical expertise, including through the preparation and review of grant and procurement proposals and milestone reviews.
• Maintain awareness of the state of the art for the space sector as it relates to their area of expertise and responsibility, of sufficient depth so as to act as a technical authority or subject matter expert, including representation of Australia at national and international fora.
• Proactively identify and assess strategic and technical opportunities and risks, including performing scoping studies as required. 
• Develop and maintain a range of collaborative networks across the sector, including across whole-of-government and international partners, to support and advance the delivery of activities and foster appropriate coordination.
• Contribute to the development of policy and strategy. 
• Manage the opportunities triage process for the Branch to effectively handle incoming opportunities from international and domestic partners.
• Apply strategic thinking to achieve outcomes and creatively solve complex delivery challenges.
• Demonstrate outstanding judgement and capitalise on innovative alternatives to resolve complex problems.
• Demonstrate resilience, and live personal accountability for the quality and delivery of results.
• Demonstrate exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.

In the role of Director - Space Science and Innovation, the successful candidate will focus on delivering on the priorities of that Section as well as contributing more broadly as a member of the Australian Space Agency Leadership Team. Eligibility

Minimum criteria to be eligible include: 

• Australian citizen.
• NV1 security clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.
• A tertiary degree in a STEM topic.
• Prior or current experience working in the space, technology and/or scientific sectors as an engineer or scientist. 
• Professional team management experience. 

Notes

A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Gazette. 

The Department does currently offer flexible work opportunities for many roles. Flexible or remote work arrangements may be considered. Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.

Application information

Your application must not contain any classified or sensitive information. This includes in your application responses, CV and any other documents. The selection panel may not consider applications containing classified information.

Please provide a pitch explaining how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role and why you are the best candidate for the position. Your pitch can contain no more than 500 words and should align to the key duties listed above.

Please complete your application online and provide your current CV with your application. (CVs must be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format).

Accessible application documentation is available in other formats on request. Please contact ***********@industry.gov.au or (02) 6276 1*** if you require assistance with your application.

Please refer to our Applying for a position information for additional information on how to apply.

Contact Information

For more information regarding this opportunity, please contact Jarrod Powell on 1800 497 182 or via email on *********@space.gov.au