General Manager Strategy & Engagement

Job no: 493842
Work type: Full Time
Location: Head Office, Canberra
Classification: Senior Executive Service Band 1

Defence Housing Australia (DHA) was established in 1988 following passage of the Defence Housing Australia Act 1987  (Cth)(DHA Act) to provide adequate and suitable housing for, and housing related services to, members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and their families. We remain committed to our purpose of providing housing, and housing related services, to ADF members and their families to support Defence’s operational needs.  

DHA manages an expanding portfolio of housing solutions and provides housing for over 17,200 ADF members and their families and administers rent allowance for more than 16,000 ADF members and their families in private rental accommodation. DHA provides housing related services advising on eligibility, providing posting support, and managing bookings and allocation services for all DHA provisioned housing and on-base accommodation to approximately 60,000 ADF members. 

To find out more about DHA, please refer to DHA.gov.au or read our latest Annual Report.  

The Role

The General Manager Strategy & Engagement (GM S&E) provides enterprise leadership to drive DHA’s transformation and change agenda while strengthening strategic engagement across the organisation. The role shapes corporate direction by translating strategic priorities into coordinated, organisation-wide initiatives that deliver sustainable outcomes.

The GM S&E leads enterprise transformation, strategic planning and performance frameworks, ensuring alignment between organisational objectives, government priorities and delivery activity. The role oversees portfolio-level governance, reform initiatives and cross-functional coordination to enable effective change and improved organisational maturity.

The GM S&E also leads strategic engagement with internal and external stakeholders, including government agencies and industry partners, to build alignment, collaboration and shared ownership of transformation outcomes. The role supports the Executive through high-quality strategic advice, assurance and stewardship of enterprise change.

The Strategy and Engagement Branch which provides enterprise leadership for planning, prioritisation and delivery of DHA’s transformation agenda, ensuring coordinated investment, effective governance and sustainable reform outcomes. There are four key teams within the Branch, including:

• Portfolio & Relations - Oversees portfolio governance, stakeholder engagement and benefits management to ensure initiatives are prioritised, coordinated and aligned with strategic objectives.
• Strategy & Planning - Leads strategic planning, policy alignment and forward-looking analysis to shape DHA’s technology, digital and transformation roadmap.
• Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) - Provides enterprise-wide project and program governance, assurance and delivery frameworks to support consistent and effective implementation of change initiatives.
• Reform - Leads organisational reform and complex change programs to strengthen capability, improve operating models and deliver long-term transformation outcomes.

All SES roles represent the Australian Public Service (APS) and government externally to stakeholders and are characterised by a high level of accountability for outcomes. How outcomes are delivered is equally as important as the outcome. The Secretaries’ Charter of Leadership Behaviours sets out the behaviours Secretaries expect of themselves and SES, and want to see in leaders at all levels of the APS.  The Charter focuses on behaviours that support modern systems leadership within the construct of the APS Values and Code of Conduct. These behaviours build on the Integrated Leadership System and APS Leadership Capability Framework.

Everyday Activities

Reporting to the Executive General Manager Strategy and Transformation, and operating as a key member of DHA’s senior executive cohort, the GM S&E provides strategic leadership and stewardship of key functions in alignment with DHA’s strategic objectives.

Key activities include:

• Provide strategic leadership as an active and influential member of the DHA Executive Leadership Team, contributing to whole‑of‑organisation strategy, governance and priority‑setting.
• Lead DHA’s enterprise transformation agenda, translating corporate strategy into coordinated initiatives that strengthen organisational capability, performance and long-term outcomes.
• Alignment Oversee enterprise strategic planning and performance frameworks, ensuring alignment between organisational objectives, government priorities and operational delivery.
• Provide leadership over portfolio governance, prioritisation and benefits realisation processes to support informed investment and sequencing of enterprise initiatives.
• Lead complex reform and change initiatives across DHA, embedding effective change management practices and supporting sustainable organisational improvement.
• Drive coordination across DHA business areas and senior leadership to enable coherent planning, integration and delivery of transformation initiatives.
• Lead strategic engagement with DHA senior leadership, the DHA Board, Defence and other key stakeholders to support collaboration, alignment and shared ownership of transformation outcomes.
• Provide high-quality strategic advice, analysis and assurance to the Executive, senior leadership and the Board to support effective decision-making and stewardship of enterprise change.
• Strengthen organisational capability, collaboration and change leadership across DHA, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and delivery discipline.
• Establish and maintain strong, productive relationships across DHA to enable integrated planning, cooperation and coordinated delivery of business outcomes.
• Represent DHA at senior-level cross-agency forums, working groups and committees, contributing to whole-of-government and sector-wide initiatives.
• Represent DHA at Senate Estimates, providing clear, evidenced-based insights and demonstrating transparent, accountable stewardship.
• Proactively engage with Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies, and non-government stakeholders, navigating complex and politically sensitive environments to advance DHA’s interests.
• Champion DHA-wide initiatives beyond the immediate function, contributing to organisational reform, improvement programs and leadership priorities.
• Partner closely with the Managing Director, Senior Executives and the Board to identify and pursue financial strategies that support DHA’s long-term sustainability and strategic direction.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements

The GM S&E will bring senior executive experience in strategy, policy and transformation within complex, commercially oriented public sector environments, with a demonstrated capacity to operate as a trusted strategic adviser at Executive and Board level. You will have:

• Significant leadership experience in strategy, transformation, reform or enterprise change roles within a complex organisation.
• Demonstrated experience working with senior executives and boards to deliver strategic outcomes.
• Proven experience engaging with Defence or Defence-related stakeholders in a partnership or client environment.
• Ability to provide clear, evidence-based advice and assurance at executive and board level.
• Experience in a government, Defence, infrastructure, housing or regulated environment, or the ability to translate experience to these environments.
• Experience establishing or overseeing enterprise portfolio management, reform programs or performance frameworks.
• Proven record in leading significant programs, initiatives or reforms in complex, sensitive and operationally diverse environments, while managing organisational risk and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Strong personal integrity, resilience and leadership credibility, with a clear commitment to the APS Values, Code of Conduct and ethical stewardship of public resources.
• Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise-level strategy, transformation or reform initiatives within a complex organisational environment. The ability to translate strategic direction into practical, coordinated actions.
• Proven experience leading complex change initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities, with a strong focus on delivery, benefits realisation and organisational impact.
• Highly developed ability to engage and influence senior leaders, Board members, Defence stakeholders and external partners.
• Experience building effective relationships across organisational and institutional boundaries.
• Strong understanding of governance, portfolio management and performance monitoring in a public sector or regulated context.
• Demonstrated sound judgement and enterprise-level thinking, with the ability to manage complexity, interdependencies and risk.
• Tertiary qualifications in public policy, business, management, organisational change or a related discipline are highly desirable.
• Extensive experience building and sustaining productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders across government, industry and the non-government sector, including in politically sensitive environments.
• Demonstrated success in leading high-performing, geographically dispersed and multidisciplinary teams, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, continuous improvement and professional excellence.

Essential Capabilities

 Shapes strategic thinking:

• Focusses strategically.
• Inspires a sense of purpose and strategic direction.
• Harnesses information and opportunities.
• Shows judgement, intelligence and common sense.

Achieves results:

• Builds organisational capability and responsiveness.
• Marshals professional expertise.
• Steers and implements change and deals with uncertainty.
• Ensures closure and delivers on intended results.
• Manages information and records.
• Engages with technology.

Cultivates productive working relationships:

• Nurtures internal and external relationships.
• Facilitates cooperation and partnerships.
• Values individual differences and diversity.
• Guides, mentors and develops people.

Displays personal drive and integrity:

• Demonstrates public service professionalism and probity.
• Exemplifies the ‘DRIVE’ Secretaries' Charter of Leadership Behaviours.
• Promotes, manages and upholds the APS Values, Code of Conduct and Employment Principles, including Stewardship.
• Engages with risk and shows personal courage.
• Commits to action.
• Displays resilience.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and commitment to personal development.

Communicates with influence:

• Communicates clearly and with influence.
• Listens, understands and adapts to the audience.
• Negotiates persuasively.

Technical Proficiency:

• Demonstrated capacity to focus on business improvement and organisational sustainability.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead and drive transformational change to achieve strategic objectives.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership in the delivery of property services.

Eligibility Requirements

Employment with DHA is subject to the following conditions:

• Australian Citizenship.
• Security Clearance – The occupant of this position must obtain and retain an AGSVA security clearance to the specified level.
• Probation - A probation period will apply to any new ongoing engagement to the Australian Public Service.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy.

Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability. This initiative/program is only applicable where the successful applicant will be employed under the Public Service Act 1999. Similar conditions may apply when employed under other Acts. 

Merit Pool Creation

Applicants suitable for the role but not offered the position for the current vacancy, may be placed in a merit list or pool. If the applicant agrees, the results may be shared with other Australian Public Service (APS) agencies for filling similar roles. Applicants may be offered a future role, without the need to reapply. A merit list or pool may be used for up to 18 months. This merit list or pool may be used to fill other vacancies anywhere in Australia.

For more information please go to APSC's website -The APS Merit Principle.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted through Beaumont & Beaumont’s online recruitment system: http://beaumontandbeaumont.com.au/11670

Your application should include:

• A written pitch of up to 1000 words which outlines your skills and experience and how they align to the advertised role
• An up-to-date CV

Before applying, please review the Candidate Information Pack and selection criteria. If you have further questions after reviewing the materials or if you need assistance with the application process, please contact Beaumont & Beaumont on (02) 6126 4500 or via DHA@beaumontandbeaumont.com.au

All enquiries will be kept in strict confidence.

Please note, applications close 11:30 PM AEDT Sunday 8 March 2026.

View Candidate Pack