About us

DHA was established in 1988 following passage of the Defence Housing Australia Act 1987 (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 our website or read our latest Annual Report.

About your team

The Governance and Communication Branch:

• instils and continually reinforces a corporate culture of acting lawfully, ethically and responsibly in accordance with DHA’s legislative requirements and overarching governance framework
• fosters relationships with and delivers quality service to DHA customers and stakeholders
• guides and influences risk-based decision-making throughout the organisation.

The work environment is dynamic, with a number of projects and initiatives being undertaken concurrently to improve the capability and performance of the organisation.

About the role

The Director, ESG and Sustainability provides enterprise leadership for the implementation, coordination and continuous improvement of DHA’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy and Framework. Working under broad direction, the role translates DHA’s strategic ESG objectives into enterprise implementation priorities, governance arrangements, reporting and capability uplift, and provides authoritative advice on complex and emerging ESG matters. 

The role integrates ESG considerations into business planning, risk management, performance reporting and organisational decision-making. It leads sustainability and climate-related reporting, strengthens ESG data governance, reporting capability and assurance arrangements, anticipates legislative and industry developments, and works through business owners to deliver shared enterprise outcomes. The role exercises a high degree of independence and judgement, manages ambiguity and competing priorities, and leads change to improve organisational ESG maturity.

Benefits for working at DHA include:

• 15.4% superannuation
• Generous leave entitlements, including 18 days personal leave and 20 days annual leave per year
• Work-life balance and flexible working options
• A positive workplace culture where you can bring your whole self to work
• Opportunities to broaden your industry knowledge and experience
• Career progression and opportunities
• A dedicated Employee Assistance Program for you and your family to access in times of need
• ADF partner employment conditions when posting to a new location

For information on DHA’s Employee Value Proposition, visit our website.

How to apply

To apply, click the Apply Now button below with your current resume and a 500-word pitch, addressing the requirements of the role.

For more information about the role, click View Candidate Information Pack button below.

Applications close: 11:55pm AEST Monday 16 November 2026. Any questions? Please contact Myah Jetter, Executive Assistant T: 02 6268 3865 E: myah.jetter@dha.gov.au     

Order of Merit

A merit pool will be established from this process which will be valid for 18 months from the date of advertising. This merit pool may be used throughout this period to fill similar positions in the event positions become vacant.

Inclusion and Diversity

DHA is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome applications from across our community including, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, ex-defence members, mature aged employees and carers.

RecruitAbility

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

Eligibility

Employment with DHA is conditional on successful applicants demonstrating that they are an Australian citizen and can obtain and maintain a security clearance at the required level.