Executive Director

SES Band 2 equivalent

Canberra, Brisbane or Sydney

Ongoing contract | Full-time | Regular domestic travel

• Lead Australia’s maritime compliance and operational safety functions
• Oversee nationally significant regulatory operations in a complex, high-risk environment

About AMSA

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is Australia’s national maritime regulator and operational authority for maritime safety, search and rescue, and environmental protection. AMSA regulates domestic and international shipping in Australian waters, administers maritime safety legislation, coordinates national maritime incident response capability, and supports Australia’s international maritime obligations.

Operating in a complex, high‑risk and highly regulated environment, our people work as One AMSA, guided by the values of collaboration, accountability, inclusivity, innovation and respect. Learn more at amsa.gov.au.

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Director is a member of AMSA’s Executive Leadership Team with responsibility for maritime operations and compliance across Australia’s jurisdiction. The role sets strategic direction for the Division, leads multidisciplinary teams, and shapes a high-performing, accountable and values-led culture.

This role leads AMSA’s operational and compliance functions, including shipping regulation, inspections and port marine operations, ensuring domestic and international shipping operates in accordance with the relevant legislative and international framework. You will provide strategic advice to the CEO and Executive, engage with senior stakeholders across government and industry, oversee key contracts, and lead teams operating in a complex and high-risk environment.

The role may involve exercising delegated statutory powers in response to maritime incidents, including outside standard business hours.

Key Accountabilities

As a member of AMSA’s Executive Leadership Team, you will:

• Provide enterprise-wide leadership and strategic direction, ensuring alignment with One AMSA, regulatory independence, and accountability to Government and the Board.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships across government, industry and international stakeholders to strengthen regulatory confidence and compliance outcomes.
• Oversee financial, contractual and asset management to ensure strong governance, value for money, and efficient, digitally enabled service delivery focused on public value.
• Set the strategic direction for the Division, driving a culture that balances safety, performance, innovation and effective service delivery.
• Lead the development of AMSA’s compliance and regulatory approach, ensuring inspections and certification are risk-based, proportionate and internationally aligned.
• Ensure AMSA meets legal and operational obligations in maritime safety and compliance, delivering nationally consistent and responsive regulatory services aligned with emerging risks, technologies and industry change.

What We're Looking For

You will bring:

• Senior executive leadership experience in an equivalent role in maritime, shipping, or a similarly dynamic, high-pressure operating environment, with a strong record of delivering outcomes in complex settings.
• Deep understanding of maritime and shipping regulatory frameworks (international and national), including technical knowledge of inspections and port marine operations.
• Public sector experience overseeing strategic, financial and operational matters at scale, including identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies within the context of relevant legislation, policy, and ministerial direction.
• Proven capability in leading people and change, building high-performing teams, developing capability, and delivering organisational reform and system uplift.
• Strong stakeholder influence across government, industry and international partners, including in time-critical and sensitive contexts.
• Sound judgement, resilience and political acumen, with the ability to navigate contested environments and contribute to whole-of-agency governance.
• Relevant qualifications as specified in the Position Description

Please see the position description for further information.

How to Apply

To apply, visit the Careers at AMSA portal and click ‘Apply’ on the job listing before 11:55pm AEST Sunday 17 May 2026.

You will need to provide:

• A resume (maximum 3 pages)
• A cover letter (up to 600 words) outlining your suitability based on the key responsibilities and capabilities required for the role.

For further information about the role, contact Carolyn Nixon, HR Director on 0457 478 613 or Carolyn.nixon@amsa.gov.au.

For questions about the recruitment process, please contact recruitment@amsa.gov.au.  Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted, as AMSA recruitment is managed internally.

AMSA does not engage staff under the Public Service Act 1999. AMSA engages employees under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 and our remuneration arrangements are specific to AMSA.