NEMA Director, Business Operations

Job Req ID

NEMA - 140409

Location

ACT 

 Employment Type

Ongoing, Full-time 

Classification

Executive Level 2 - $141,759.00 and $168,716.00 plus 15.4% super (part time pro-rata)

Contact Officer

Sandon Morrell at sandon.morrell@nema.gov.au or 0466 560 091  

Office Arrangements

Onsite  - Flexible working arrangements can be negotiated in accordance with our Enterprise Agreement and the operational requirements of the role.
 

Applications close on 26/11/2025 at 11:59pm AEDT (midnight) - Late applications will not be accepted.

About our opportunity

This process is being used to fill 1 immediate position.

Applicants suitable for the role but not offered the position for the current vacancy may be placed in a merit list or pool to fill similar vacancies for up to 18 months anywhere in ACT; NSW; NT; QLD; SA; TAS; VIC; WA.
 

About the National Emergency Management Agency:

The National Emergency Management Agency's work has a real impact on the lives of Australians, particularly those living in rural and regional areas.

The National Emergency Management Agency's guiding principle is “Locally led, locally understood and locally implemented” and we bring together local communities, government, non-government and key industry representatives to support disaster recovery and resilience across the country.

Your work will help people who are recovering from natural disasters and prepare them for the future.

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was established on 1 September 2022 as a single, accountable Commonwealth authority that delivers a whole-of-nation approach to reducing disaster risk, planning, preparing for, responding to and recovering from all hazards across the emergency management continuum. 
 
NEMA works closely with states and territories to deliver the best outcome for communities across Australia. To help communities respond and recover, while preparing Australia for future emergencies, we:

• Fund programs and initiatives, big and small, that help communities in times of emergency, as well as to recover and prepare, including through disaster recovery funding and the Disaster Ready Fund to help reduce the risk and impact of disasters
• Have officers located across Australia, working in partnership with states and territories to support disaster-affected communities to collectively build resilience, reduce risk and harm, and effectively respond to and recover from disasters
• Provide national leadership to share knowledge, situational awareness, and trends in disaster efforts to inform, guide and shape the national picture and decision-making at the Commonwealth, state and local government level – including through policy development and strategy to improve risk reduction, resilience and recovery
• Provide round-the-clock all-hazards monitoring and operational coordination for domestic and international emergencies, including supply chain disruptions, critical infrastructure outages, biosecurity risks and widespread cyber-attacks, and through supporting preparedness and response activities, including through the operationalisation of the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework.

 
For further information on NEMA’s purpose, vision and values, please see About us | NEMA 
 
Overview of the Branch and Section:
The Business Operations Section supports NEMA by providing enabling services related to property (including efficient vehicle utilisation), physical and personnel security, business continuity management, shared services and NEMA’s uniforms.

This includes:

• Working with the agency property services provider to maintain the agency’s accommodation arrangements
• Physical and personnel security in line with the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), including duties as the Agency Security Advisor and managing the Security Governance Committee
• Managing NEMA’s shared service arrangements with the Department of Home Affairs, including governance committees, issues management, service level standards and an annual review of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
• Vehicle fleet administration and management, including management of vehicle leases under the Whole of Australian Government Fleet Services Contract and the Fleet Shared Services Agreement
• Coordination of agency uniforms and stationery arrangements, including inventory and supplier management and ordering
• Administering the agency’s business continuity management framework
• Development, implementation and review of business operations policies and training activities which relate to property, security and business continuity.
   

About the role:
Reporting to the Chief Information and Chief Security Officer, the Director Business Operations works across our geographic footprint to lead a small but effective multi-disciplinary team in the areas of security, property, fleet vehicles, shared services and business continuity to deliver high-quality services which enable NEMA’s staff to efficiently perform their critical functions.
 
The Director Business Operations also performs the role of Agency Security Advisor, providing advice to the Chief Security Officer and managing the activities of the Security Governance Committee.
 
At times staff within NEMA may be required to work outside of standard business hours, particularly during the higher-risk weather season.

Our ideal candidate:
NEMA is looking for a leader who enjoys working with a small team in a fast-paced environment to deliver quality outcomes that make a difference across the agency.  The ideal candidate will be able to provide a small team with outstanding leadership, manage multiple priorities across the range of functions outlined above and balance effective governance with generating enterprise efficiencies.
 
Experience across all responsibilities is not required, however candidates must be able to demonstrate proficiency and experience in one or more of security, property, shared services and business continuity, and be able to demonstrate their ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of other functions.

The successful candidate will be self-driven and seek to support the key outcomes of the organisation.
 
We encourage applications from First Nations people, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature age people and people from other diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing a working environment that values diversity and inclusion and supports staff to reach their full potential.
 

Specific duties/responsibilities:

• Stakeholder management - provide high level strategic advice to senior management, and day-to-day operational advice and promotion of best practice property, security and business continuity services; develop and maintain internal and external relationships with stakeholders, by working collaboratively and providing high level support including managing the resolution of issues
• Security - lead the implementation of the PSPF in collaboration with the Chief Security Officer, including management of the agency’s security plan to manage enterprise security risks and fostering a positive security culture to realise optimal security maturity; manage physical and personnel security activities in the context of overarching shared services arrangements
• Facilities, accommodation and fleet - oversee the management of NEMA's facilities and accommodation by effectively managing the property portfolio, leases, budgets and routine maintenance, responding to building emergencies; oversee the management and provision of guidance for the approved fleet of NEMA vehicles 
• Shared services management - lead and administer the agency’s shared services arrangements with the Department of Home Affairs, who provide a range of corporate services to NEMA; this includes an annual review of the MoU, ongoing service standard monitoring and issues management
• Business continuity management - lead and administer the agency’s business continuity management framework, continuous improvement ensuring best practice; support and maintain governance arrangements for the Major Incident Response Committee
• Leadership and management - provide outstanding leadership to a small team, and plan and oversee workforce and people management within the work area, ensuring effective resourcing within budget; maintain an inclusive and supportive culture, maximising the benefits of a diverse workforce, and deliver high performance outcomes while adhering to relevant legislation, instruments and policies
• Service delivery - manage the delivery of high-quality services from a property, security and business continuity perspective that support NEMA’s functions, identify innovative solutions and recognise opportunities for continuous improvement in the quality and efficiency of enabling services

Role requirements/qualifications:

• Knowledge and practical experience in leading property, security and/or business continuity functions in a government environment and relevant legislative requirements
• Highly developed interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to negotiate and communicate with influence, and the capacity to provide expert advice on a range of matters to senior executives
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and exercise sound judgement, and to undertake and manage complex projects to completion
• Experience navigating organisational changes whilst driving continuous business improvements, including identifying innovative solutions to deliver efficiency
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a geographically dispersed multidisciplinary team to deliver critical corporate service functions
• The ability to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 2 level security clearance is required for this role
   

Applicant response:
As part of your application, you will be required to prepare a one-page response document (minimum 11pt font in MSWord or PDF format), which you will upload in the next section.

Please ensure you read the instructions carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.

Please prepare a one-page Applicant Response in relation to the advertised role, outlining:

• How your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role, with a focus on Integrity, Leadership and Delivery
• Why you are interested in the role and what you can offer us
• Any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

How to apply:

Prior to preparing your response it is recommended you review the Work Level Standards relevant to the classification you are applying to. It may also be useful to refer to the Integrated Leadership System information relevant to the classification. You are required to submit your application in the online recruitment system (ourPeople).

As part of your application, you will need to provide:

• Your CV
• Your Applicant Response document
• Details of two referees
• Include your full name and the Requisition Number - 140409 in the footer of any documents being uploaded.

Eligibility and Specific Conditions of Employment

To be eligible to work with the NEMA you must:

• Be an Australian Citizen
• Fulfil the Agency's minimum requirements by satisfactorily answering all screening questions during the application process and successfully undergo a National Police Check
• Obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 2 (AGSVA) security clearance
• Satisfy a probation period (if applicable)
• Undergo a health assessment (if applicable).
   

Technical Assistance

If you are experiencing problems submitting your application online, please email the nature of the issues you are experiencing to Recruitment (recruitment@homeaffairs.gov.au) including screen captures if necessary. A response will be sent during business hours.

Notes

Remuneration: The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package, including salary, superannuation benefits and flexible working conditions appropriate to the level of the position.

If you have identified as having a disability, please indicate whether you require any support throughout the selection process. For further information please contact Recruitment: recruitment@homeaffairs.gov.au.