Associate Director Project Advisory & Evaluation
Play a pivotal role in evaluating infrastructure proposals, developing the National Planning & Assessment Framework, and providing project advice to the Australian Government.
- Hybrid flexible working arrangements, attractive paid leave provisions and professional development support offered
- Full time, permanent role available
- Salary: Base $140,000 - $150,000 plus employer's contribution to superannuation
- Applications closing: Monday, 13 January 2025, 5pm AEDT
- Please note, applications will not be monitored until the close date
Agency overview
Infrastructure Australia (IA) is an independent statutory body within the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio.
Our mandate establishes us as the Australian Government’s independent advisor on nationally significant infrastructure investment planning and project prioritisation. We are a high performing organisation with an engaged, collaborative and flexible culture, and we are held in high regard by our peers and stakeholders.
Our core values are fundamental to the way we work and are embedded across our products and processes.
Project Advisory & Evaluation Team overview
The Project Advisory & Evaluation team provides infrastructure investment planning and project prioritisation advice in the following areas:
- Provide guidance to proponents and stakeholders on best practice approaches to infrastructure planning and appraisal, primarily through the review and update of the Infrastructure Australia Assessment Framework. The Assessment Framework provides forward-thinking, practical and evidence-based advice on infrastructure development, assisting proponents to develop submissions to us and ensuring that rigorous planning and assessment underpins investment decisions.
- Develop and maintain the Infrastructure Priority List as a targeted list of nationally significant infrastructure proposals to guide government investment. This involves engaging with stakeholders on the development of their submissions and the origination of new proposals reflecting Infrastructure Australia’s own research and objectives.
- Conducting evaluations of nationally significant proposals across government jurisdictions that are seeking Australian Government funding, and providing advice on the quality and feasibility of those proposals on the basis of Strategic Fit, Societal Impact, and Deliverability (as set out in the Assessment Framework). This involves working collaboratively with proponents on the development of their proposals and providing advice to the Australian Government to support their Budget processes.
- Produce an Annual Budget Statement and an Annual Performance Statement to provide evidence-based analysis and advice to inform the Australian Government’s Budget processes.
- Conduct Post Completion Reviews of nationally significant infrastructure projects and programs to learn lessons and inform better practices in future infrastructure decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
The Associate Director is responsible for:
- Leading evaluations of Stage 1 (early stage), Stage 2 (options analysis) and Stage 3 (business case) proposals using the guidance set out in the Assessment Framework
- Leading engagement with government agencies on matters relating to proposal development and evaluation
- Managing the provision of project advice to inform Australian Government Budget processes
- Leading evaluation of complex economic analysis, review and advice.
- Building and maintaining senior level stakeholder relationships.
- Project managing the development of the National Planning & Assessment Framework to promote national consistency and coordination in infrastructure evaluations
- Leading the delivery of Infrastructure Australia’s Improving Investment Decisions Training Program
- Supporting the development of other products such as the Infrastructure Priority List, Annual Statements and post completion reviews.
Essential Requirements:
- Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline (e.g. Economics, Policy, Finance or Commerce) and relevant experience evaluating or interpreting complex economic analysis, including cost-benefit analysis, economic modelling and benefits realisation.
- At least 5 years’ experience in planning, evaluating and/or developing business cases for public infrastructure projects or policy.
- Demonstrated knowledge of infrastructure sectors and associated public policy issues across multiple sectors (e.g. transport, energy, communications, water and/or social infrastructure).
- Proven ability to understand and respond to strategic implications of economic analysis and ability to align detailed analysis to broader programs of work.
- Demonstrated understanding of government and the economic decision-making processes across different state and/or national governments.
- Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills, including an ability to translate economic concepts for a range of audiences.
- Proven ability to identify, cultivate and influence productive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders from a range of backgrounds.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate across functions to achieve shared organisational strategic goals.
- Ability to demonstrate and promote independence, transparency, collaboration, credibility and rigor in all that we do.
Benefits of working at Infrastructure Australia:
- Infrastructure Australia, a certified Family Inclusive Workplace, enhances your work-life wellbeing through flexible work, parental leave, and family care policies. Our family-friendly culture supports workforce participation, career development, and mental health, reducing work-life tension.
- Attractive leave provisions including 20 days paid annual leave, 15 days of paid Personal Leave, 18 weeks of Parental Leave for parents at full pay or 36 weeks at half pay (for eligible employees), and up to 3 additional days of paid leave when our offices close over the Christmas period.
- Professional Development support offered through extensive in-house training and external training/education support.
- We have a positive, collaborative, respectful, innovative, and inclusive culture evidenced by staff surveys which show that our employees feel empowered, autonomous, and proud to work here.
- At IA, we foster a safe and inclusive workplace where every individual can participate, learn and develop, and be their authentic self, regardless of age, cultural background, First Nations status, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, marital or family status, religious belief, or sexual orientation.
- IA is currently in the second phase, “Innovate,” of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), where we are implementing systemic change in our organisation to support reconciliation for First Nations Peoples. We are passionate about change and making progress towards better outcomes for First Nations Peoples.
How to apply
- Review the role description here Project Advisory & Evaluation
- Upload ONE document (Covering letter + Resume) via LinkedIn
- Closing Date: Monday, 13 January 2025, 5pm AEDT
- For any questions regarding the recruitment please reach out to Ellen Ryan at careers@infrastructureaustralia.gov.au
We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including First Nations Peoples, LGBTQI+, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
To find out more about our current and upcoming Job opportunities follow us on LinkedIn #InfrastructureAustralia
