Reporting to the Assistant Director-General, Strategic Policy and Legislation, lead a skilled team of staff to deliver a significant justice policy and legislation agenda. The Executive Director also leads engagement and negotiation with central agencies and across statutory offices, to enable the collaborative delivery of Justice Portfolio’s policy priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership in the development and implementation of justice policy and legislation, including proposals relating to election and other public commitments, ensuring it is contemporary and relevant.

• Engage with key internal and external stakeholders, including central agencies, other states and territories, business and industry representatives, key client groups and the community to develop and deliver on Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG) priorities and develop policy and legislation across government.

• Lead the effective management of priorities relating to criminal law policy and criminal justice reform, and the delivery of government outcomes in civil law or justice related child safety and domestic and family violence policy and other independent taskforces/review in line with relevant legislation, policies, and delegated authority.

• Monitor trends and developments through the collation and analysis of statistical data and research to provide high level advice to the Attorney-General, senior departmental officers and other key stakeholders on relevant policy issues.

• Provide strategic oversight, direction and leadership for the provision of legislative projects relating to human rights and anti-discrimination and in response to implementing recommendations for significant legislative policy reform aimed at creating a stronger justice system.

• Provide leadership to develop and manage a highly capable and talented workforce to build a constructive workplace culture in which employees are highly engaged and empowered to their full potential. 

What we are looking for

• A proven record of leadership success in a large and complex organisation with exceptional leadership capabilities.

• Possesses extensive experience in leading the development, implementation and monitoring of strategic policy and legislation.

• Exercises strong judgement and strategic acumen, with the ability to identify emerging issues and think innovatively beyond conventional norms.

• Efficiently navigates and manages highly complex stakeholder engagement and relationships, strategy and policy implementation, and service delivery.

• Demonstrates expertise and experience in working with stakeholders to enhance outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

• Possesses a comprehensive understanding of navigating complex public administration policies and systems.

• Displays significant levels of autonomy and delegation, allowing for flexibility in adapting plans and policies as needed.

• Demonstrates expertise in driving reforms and continuous improvements in service delivery.

• Maintains an optimistic outlook and foster a workplace culture where all individuals share a personal responsibility for promoting the physical and psychological health and safety of others.

• Drives a culture of respect and inclusivity across the organisation, prioritising service delivery that considers diverse needs.

Leadership stream — We lead ourselves or we lead others

We are all leaders in the Queensland public sector, regardless of role or classification level. We apply the Leadership Competencies for Queensland (LCQ) framework to outline the expected behaviours and competencies in the workplace for all roles. This role has been identified as an Executive - Leading The Function.

Working relationships

Reports to: Assistant Director General, Strategic Policy and Legislation

Direct reports: 6

Proactively promote, build and maintain positive and effective relationships across the department’s senior and executive leadership teams, the Office of the Director-General, and the Minister’s Office. This role also collaborates with senior stakeholders across the sector, and external entities.

The team and the branch

The Strategic Policy and Legislation Branch is one of six branches in the Justice Policy and Reform Division. The branch consists of approximately 60 employees including four civil law and two criminal law teams.

Qualifications and conditions

While there are no mandatory qualifications, a degree in law from a recognised tertiary institution or admission as a barrister or solicitor would be well regarded.

Candidate information pack

View the advertised role and learn of the requirements and attributes of our ideal candidate for Executive Director Strategic Policy and Legislation. Get the full position description here in our executive recruitment pack.