EL1 - Assistant Director Investigations, Vehicle Safety Operations

About this role

Contact Officer

[[hiringManagerName]] Drew.Ward@infrastructure.gov.au 02 6136 8743

We actively seek to reflect the diversity of the Australian community in our workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability and/or who are neurodivergent, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including people of all genders and gender identities. We uphold gender equality as a core organisational value. If you’re interested in the role but feel uncertain, we still encourage you to apply if you feel your passions, transferable skills and valuable experience align with this position.

The opportunity we have available

The Vehicle Safety Operations Branch is Australia’s national vehicle standards regulator. The Branch is responsible for administering the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) which sets vehicle standards for all new vehicles entering the Australian market and regulates the provision to the market of used imported vehicles.

This involves assessment of RVSA applications for the provision of compliant road vehicles, supporting stakeholders through a central contact centre, managing the road vehicle and road vehicle component recall process and compliance and enforcement activities under the RVSA legislation.

There are 4 sections in our Branch

• Application Assessments and Approvals
• Technical Assessments and Approvals
• Compliance and Enforcement
• Recalls Notification and Monitoring.

What you will do

Key duties of the position include

• proactively lead a small team responsible for:
• • undertaking and progressing formal regulatory investigations in accordance with Australian Government Investigation Standards requirements.
• reviewing and assessing enquires related to alleged non-compliance with relevant legislation; and
• resolving alleged non-compliance matters in a timely manner.
• leading compliance and enforcement activities directly related to the current Compliance and Enforcement Strategy and future strategies
• identifying appropriate and proportionate escalation (i.e. enforcement) pathways to resolve complex non-compliance reports and matters
• supporting and guiding team members when alleged non-compliance requires an escalation pathway, including the use of various legislated enforcement tools
• undertaking thorough, accurate and efficient task relevant research
• leading your team in the analysis of information gathered as a result of investigative activities (i.e. either desk or field) and then making informed and proportionate regulatory enforcement recommendations for senior decision makers
• regularly demonstrating highly developed legislative interpretation skills
• identifying, developing and fostering enduring relationships with key stakeholders, both internally and externally
• consulting, planning and developing work programs for your team and the Section
• actively monitoring the performance of your team
• preparing accurate reports, briefings, correspondence, statutory notices, and other written materials that include sensitive compliance and enforcement information, including preferred regulatory enforcement recommendations
• if required, work directly with other authorities in relation to matters under investigation, inquiry, and /or court or tribunal proceedings
• develop and lead the preparation of detailed operational policy, procedures, templates and guidance materials to support the Section’s compliance and enforcement functions
• as required, undertake domestic and international travel.

The role may require the successful candidate to undertake frequent domestic travel, from time to time.

Inherent requirements for the role

The inherent requirements for this role include

• an ability to demonstrate their capability against the Executive level 1 Work level standards.
• a highly developed commitment to integrity and accountability
• excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to generate high-quality written materials to support sensitive regulatory decision making
• demonstrated experience in investigations, enforcement and/or regulatory compliance
• demonstrated ability to effectively manage self and lead a team that undertakes investigations, enforcement and/or regulatory activities
• the capacity to work on multiple tasks, while also delivering various work products within deadlines
• demonstrated ability to interpret and apply a wide variety of regulatory legislation
• demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement
• highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to work within a distributed multistate team that fosters a culture of informed decision making, continuous improvement, integrity and respect
• the ability to continuously work to a professional standard in a complex environment while demonstrating resilience
• the ability to apply a high level of attention to detail, while undertaking various tasks.

Mandatory qualifications: Diploma in Government Investigations (or recognised equivalent).

The role requires the successful candidate to hold and maintain a driver licence as travel between the office and third-party workplaces is required. PPE will be provided for use while onsite.

RecruitAbility

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is committed to supporting the employment and career development of people with disability. Our participation in APS RecruitAbility means we will progress an applicant with disability to a further stage in the recruitment process, where they opt into RecruitAbility and meet the minimum requirements for the vacancy.

The RecruitAbility minimum requirements are listed above under ‘inherent requirements for the role’.

You will be asked to indicate if you wish to opt into RecruitAbility in the application form. You must tick the 'opt in' box to participate in RecruitAbility. Simply declaring that you have a disability will not automatically include you.

We provide reasonable adjustments such as access, equipment or other practical support at relevant stages of the recruitment process. Please advise in the application form or get in touch with the contact officer if you need any adjustments made.

More information can be found at RecruitAbility scheme: A guide for applicants | Australian Public Service Commission.

Desirable requirements

• formal qualifications and / or relevant extensive experience in any of the following: investigations, audit, law, regulation, regulatory risk management, compliance
• familiarity with RVS legislation and legislative interpretation
• several years’ experience leading and conducting investigations in regulated environments
• familiarity with and demonstrated history of working with the CDPP.

Cultural capability requirement

The department believes every role contributes to cultural safety and that building staff cultural capability helps us deliver better policies, programs and services for First Nations people and the broader Australian community. Candidates will be required to demonstrate their willingness to develop their cultural capability as part of the assessment process. In making it a requirement across all roles in our department, we are taking a practical step in delivering our commitments under the Our Stories on Country Agreement and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2025–28.

As an EL1 you will be expected to

• Lead the integration of cultural considerations into work area outcomes.
• Build trusted relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders.
• Champion cultural capability within teams and challenges culturally unsafe practices.

About investigation roles for ex-police

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