Executive Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Force

The Role

An opportunity is available for an experienced administrative professional to perform the role of Executive Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Force. As the Executive Assistant, you will play a pivotal and trusted role within a combined Australian Defence Force/Public Service team to provide executive administrative support to the Chief of the Defence Force. The Executive Assistant deals directly with the Chief of Staff to effectively manage the CDF’s schedule. This includes managing his diary and commitments, email correspondence, tasking across the department, and the preparation of papers for meetings and administrative support as required for meetings.

Our Ideal Candidate

This is more than a purely administrative role. The position requires exceptional organisational and interpersonal skills with an ability to thrive in a busy and demanding office environment. You will have a demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders at all levels and excel at building and maintaining key stakeholder relationships. You will engage with very senior people from across the military, public and private sector, with ministers, parliamentarians and their offices.

You will also need to be autonomous and comfortable working independently, exercising strong judgement to proactively resolve issues and anticipate the Chief of the Defence Force’s requirements. You will require a strong attention to detail and be prepared to methodically work through all the administrative detail around the Chief of the Defence Force’s commitments to ensure all meetings are seamlessly conducted. 

Candidates will need to be self-aware, with a positive attitude, demonstrating humility, teamwork and respect for a diversity of ideas and perspectives of others. You will work collaboratively as a colleague and leader within the Chief of the Defence Force’s Office team, with the offices of the Secretary of Defence and other Defence military and public service leaders, as well as across the public sector more broadly. You will be a leader and mentor for the executive assistant cohort in the Defence portfolio, managing routine Executive Assistant networking events during your tenure.

The Chief of the Defence Force’s Office is a fast-paced environment, requiring professionalism, resilience, proactivity and responsiveness. You will be trusted to handle and protect highly sensitive information during your tenure with discretion and there will be occasions of out of hours work.

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at “Negative Vetting Level 2”.

The Department of Defence employs around 18,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees. Defence APS employees work in a wide variety of critical roles, Australia wide, enabling our three services Navy, Army and Air Force, to do their job. Defence has a range of Australian Public Service (APS) career opportunities that offer interesting, challenging, and unique work. Our workforce includes administrative support, accountants, intelligence analysts, engineers, policy advisors, graphic designers, lawyers, social workers, IT specialists and contract managers to name a few. We offer a rewarding career that includes professional development, work-life balance, recognition, a flexible and supportive work environment and a diverse workforce. To find out more about a career with Defence please visit https://www.defence.gov.au/jobs-careers