EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESPONSE

Senior Executive Leadership Opportunity
Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
Location: Canberra
SES Band 2 equivalent| Attractive Remuneration Package

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is Australia’s national agency responsible for maritime safety, protection of the marine environment, and coordination of search and rescue across Australia’s oceans and waterways. Operating in a complex and high-risk environment, AMSA plays a vital role in safeguarding lives, the environment, and Australia’s maritime interests.

We are seeking a values-driven senior executive to join AMSA’s leadership team as Executive Director Response. This is a critical leadership role with strategic oversight of AMSA’s national incident response capability, including the AMSA Response Centre, maritime emergency preparedness, pollution prevention, and search and rescue operations.

Lead with Impact

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Executive Director Response leads a division that operates at the frontline of Australia’s maritime safety and emergency response framework. The successful candidate will bring outstanding strategic insight, exceptional leadership skills, and proven capability navigating complex stakeholder environments—demonstrating sound judgement and the ability to make timely decisions in dynamic settings, often with limited, incomplete, or conflicting information.

You will shape the direction of critical service delivery, provide authoritative strategic advice, and foster a high-performance culture across a multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed team. The role also requires oversight of complex, high-value procurement contracts and critical assets, managing significant budgets and ensuring effective performance monitoring in accordance with stringent quality, compliance, and governance standards.

What you will bring

To be successful in this role you will bring a demonstrated record of senior executive leadership in high-risk complex environments. You will have proven ability to lead organisational transformation, build capability, shape a positive and inclusive culture, and deliver strategic outcomes under pressure. Exceptional stakeholder management skills are essential, including the ability to influence and build trust across government, industry and international forums. The role requires strong judgement with the ability to balance competing priorities, quickly interpret complexity, assess risks and options, and make timely, well-informed decisions within a public sector context that demands the highest standards of governance and accountability. The ability to rapidly develop deep insight into the maritime sector—including its regulatory landscape, operational context and international conventions—will be key to success in the role.

Before applying, please obtain selection documentation by emailing AMSA.ED@amandaorourke.com.au quoting Reference Number 1165 in the subject line.

Applications close Friday 13 June 2025