2026 - Executive Level 2 - Director, Safeguards Regulation Policy and Strategy

Applications close at 11:30pm AEST, Sunday 7 June 2026.

Join a growing team with a genuine impact on preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction.

The Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) is a specialist office within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade that contributes directly to Australia's foreign, security and regulatory priorities. We have built a reputation for non-proliferation excellence over 50 years of effective treaty implementation, robust domestic regulation and support for regional partners.

As Australia's national authority for nuclear and chemical non-proliferation treaties, ASNO's effectiveness as an independent regulator matters — to Australians, to industry, government and to the international non-proliferation community. In this role, you will help shape how ASNO sets strategic direction, manages regulatory policy and risk and delivers its functions in an increasingly complex environment.

The Opportunity:

As Director, Safeguards Regulation and Strategy, you will operate at an organisation-wide level — strengthening ASNO's regulatory governance, strategic planning and decision-making frameworks, and ensuring ASNO remains a credible, independent and robust regulator.

Working closely with the Director General and senior leadership team, you will strengthen how ASNO implements strategic direction, manages regulatory risk and delivers its functions as Australia's national authority for nuclear and chemical non-proliferation treaties. You will drive ASNO's continued effectiveness as a credible, independent regulator — supporting sound decision-making, strengthening regulatory governance frameworks and ensuring alignment with the Government's regulatory reform agenda.

You will also shape how ASNO presents itself domestically and internationally, leading strategic communications that reinforce ASNO's reputation as a trusted, authoritative voice in global non-proliferation. Working alongside ASNO's scientific and technical teams, you will support risk-based regulatory delivery across compliance, inspection and reporting functions, while contributing to the long-term capability, partnerships and regulatory stewardship that keeps ASNO at the forefront of non-proliferation excellence.

The Role:

Your key duties may include:

• Providing authoritative strategic advice to the Director General and senior leadership on regulatory governance, risk and performance
• Leading and strengthening ASNO's regulatory policy, strategy and governance frameworks, including alignment with the Government's regulatory reform agenda
• Coordinating regulatory delivery across safeguards, inspection, compliance and reporting functions, supporting sound and timely decision-making
• Translating complex technical and scientific work into clear briefs, advice and communications for ministers, senior executives and stakeholders
• Shaping ASNO's strategic communications and engagement to strengthen its reputation as a credible, authoritative voice domestically and internationally
• Supporting strategic and corporate planning, workforce capability and organisational performance

Our Ideal Candidate:

At ASNO, we value people who are motivated by purpose, comfortable in a highly specialised environment, and bring curiosity to complex and evolving challenges. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and high-performing workplace and support staff through targeted training and development.

You will also have the following skills and capabilities:

• Demonstrated experience leading regulatory policy, governance or strategy in a scientific, technical or similarly complex public sector environment
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgement in complex, sensitive or high-risk situations and advise senior decision-makers on options, risks and priorities
• Highly developed science communication skills, including the ability to translate technical and scientific topics for non-scientific audiences
• Strong coordination skills, with experience working across multiple technical and corporate teams to deliver coherent organisational outcomes
• Experience engaging with ministers' offices, central agencies, international partners or regulated industries

We recognise that candidates may not meet every capability listed and encourage applications from people who can demonstrate transferable skills, potential and a willingness to learn.