Head of Policy and Transition – Digital Trust Service

This position is based in the Austroads TCA Melbourne office.

The Head of Policy and Transition – DTS is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and driving the policy, governance, and transition strategies that enable successful jurisdictional adoption and sustainable operation of the Digital Trust Service.
This role provides strategic direction, ensures national policy alignment, guides implementation readiness, and leads the frameworks required for harmonised adoption across government, industry and community.
The position oversees policy development, transitional planning, stakeholder alignment and risk/issue governance to ensure the DTS evolves, scales and integrates effectively within the broader mobility and digital identity ecosystem.

Major responsibilities/accountabilities

The role is responsible for:

• Leading the development of DTS policy frameworks, governance models and national operating principles.
• Ensuring alignment between DTS policy, legislative considerations, privacy requirements, organisation requirements and member agency needs.
• Shaping strategic narratives and policy positions that support national uptake of DTS capabilities.
• Providing expert policy advice to senior executives, member agencies and program governance forums.
• Designing and leading the transition framework for DTS, including jurisdictional readiness pathways.
• Developing adoption guidance, readiness artefacts, and decision support materials for jurisdictions and relying parties.
• Overseeing the development of transition models that ensure consistency, compliance and operational clarity.
• Working closely with delivery and technical teams to ensure policy and transition requirements are embedded in program planning
• Leading executive level, strategic engagement with external stakeholders to promote and advance the use of DTS Capabilities.
• Facilitating workshops, briefings, and consultations with External Stakeholder representatives to gather input and share progress.
• Negotiating and resolving conflicts diplomatically to maintain productive relationships.
• Driving cross-functional collaboration to ensure stakeholder needs are met.
• Monitoring progress against agreed outcomes and reporting on performance to program teams.
• Escalating risks and issues that may impact delivery, with mitigation strategies.
• Building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with external stakeholders across government, industry, and community sectors.
• Acting as a primary point of contact for stakeholder engagement, ensuring timely and effective communication.
• Collaborating with internal teams to align stakeholder needs with program and project delivery.
• Exercising diligence when making decisions, adhering to the requirements outlined in the Delegations of Authority.
• Contributing to continuous improvement, identifying ways to enhance value for our members and the public.
• Maintaining and adhere to Quality Systems processes and procedures associated with the role.
• Other duties as directed.

Qualifications, knowledge, and experience

The Head of Policy and Transition – DTS will possess:

• Proven experience as a Head of Policy and Transition within large-scale, multi-year programs and/or organisations.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, particularly with government and external partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex information and to tailor messaging to meet specific stakeholder needs.
• Familiarity with digital identity, data privacy, or technology transformation programs is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to operate within a structured communications, branding and style framework.
• Change management and stakeholder certification (e.g., PROSCI, ADKAR, IAP2) is a plus.
• Highly proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• High level of proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Acrobat to produce communications materials.
• Experience working with content management systems for websites and other communication applications would be highly regarded.

Personal qualities

The incumbent will need to present a professional image and build a strong relationship across the enterprise. Specifically, the role requires:

• Strong interpersonal skills, including within and across project and operational teams.
• Well-developed relationship management, communication, consultation, and negotiation skills.
• Sound judgment, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Comfort working in an environment which is constantly evolving.
• Ability to work autonomously while fostering collaboration and engaging others in shared goals.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and learning.

View a copy of the position description

For more information or to express interest in this role, please contact Maria McGrath, Human Resources Manager.