Our participants, Our people, Our purpose

Currently, there are around 4.3 million Australians with a disability. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) implements the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which is one of the biggest social reforms in the country since Medicare. As an Agency, we support more than 600,000 participants with a significant and permanent disability, and the families and carers of those living with disability. For many Australians, this will be the first time they receive the disability support they need. The NDIA is designed to enhance the quality of life and increase economic and social participation for people with disability and will mean a peace of mind for every Australian.

A new role awaits

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding career opportunity opportunity delivering engagement and co-design for the NDIA? The Co-Design and Engagement Division has various EL1 Assistant Director opportunities across multiple locations nationwide.

We’re looking for candidates who are passionate about engaging and working with the disability community to design and implement reform and supporting the broader community to navigate changes.

As part of the EL1 Assistant Director Co-Design and Engagement application process, candidates will be asked to select their preferred Branch as outlined below.

The Engagement and Inclusion Branch is responsible for community engagement, working with national disability sector organisations, and designing and delivering Scheme inclusion strategies. The Branch also provides secretariat support to the Independent Advisory Council and NDIA advisory groups. Teams work to ensure community, sector and participants are able to navigate changes to the NDIS and engage with the Agency to inform reforms to the NDIS.

The Co-Design Branch is responsible for leading and supporting co-design and engagement on significant policy reforms and priorities for the Agency in line with the Government and disability sector’s joint statement on co-design. The Branch also has a key role in building the capability required to successfully co-design NDIS policy outcomes with participants, the community and disability sector, through the development of resources, methods, advice and training.

The Strategic Change Branch plays a key role in managing changes across various features, projects and initiatives to ensure they strengthen the NDIS. The branch get involved early in the project lifecycle, working closely with the team and stakeholders to create strategic change plans, assess impacts, and manage risks. By engaging with stakeholders, communicating effectively, and coordinating deliverables, we help ensure smooth transitions and promote a culture of continuous improvement.

Where you can add value

As Assistant Director Co-Design, Engagement or Change, you will be responsible for initiating, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.

Duties will be different for roles in the Strategic Change Branch, Co-design Branch and Engagement and Inclusion Branch. This may include but are not limited to:

• Leading a team delivering accessible, timely, innovative, efficient and evidence-based co-design and engagement strategies, plans, content and activities.
• Driving the development, implementation and monitoring of targeted engagement strategies that align to the NDIA’s Engagement Framework, NDIA Corporate Plan, branch and divisional business plans.
• Developing and delivering plans that help the Agency engage with people with disability and other community stakeholders.
• Developing change strategies for complex programs of work and taking stakeholders on the journey.

Enough about us, let’s talk about you

What we’re looking for in our ideal candidates:

• Experience leading a diverse team particularly through changing environments
• Demonstrated experience initiating, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders
• Experience designing and delivering innovative and evidence based change, co-design and/or engagement strategies, plans, content and activities
• Experience driving the development, implementation and monitoring of targeted engagement or change strategies that align to business objectives
• Proven strategic and critical thinking ability to provide specialist advice to business areas on best practice change management or co-design, consultation and engagement approaches
• Ability to coach and build capability of team and business areas to understand and implement co-design, engagement and change management approaches
• Demonstrated written communication abilities with experience preparing reports, briefing papers, Ministerial correspondence, and discussion papers for review by Senior Executives
• Experience in managing advisory or reference groups and providing inclusive and accessible secretariat support.
• Have strong project management experience focused on delivering results by working across multiple teams.
• Work well under pressure, can balance competing priorities and are proactive, adaptable, and committed to team success

Your NDIA Experience

We work as one team. We are accepting, diverse and driven. We take a shared approach to making progress. We welcome and support each other and encourage different ideas, insights and opinions. We empower and enable each other to be our best. We collaborate, connect and work together to create a workplace that makes us proud. And while we're based far and wide across the country, we make sure nobody feels they are out on their own.

• You will work for a socially inclusive and culturally diverse workplace, that is making a meaningful impact to the lives of more than 600,000 Australians.
• Access to higher superannuation and above market leave entitlements
• Competitive remuneration and working conditions that support a positive work life balance

While this role is ideally performed from Deakin ACT, Newcastle and Surry Hills NSW, Brisbane and Chermside QLD, Adelaide SA, Hobart TAS, Geelong and Richmond VIC, and Perth WA, remote working arrangements may be considered. We intend to fill this role in an ongoing capacity, however non-ongoing roles up to 12 months with the possibility of extension may be offered.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a pre-employment National Police History check, Worker Screening check and/or Working with Children Check (where required) and provide evidence of Australian Citizenship.

Applications for this role close 11.30pm, Tuesday 8 April 2025 AEST

If you have any questions, please contact Brooke Anderson on 0436 652 072 or email [email protected]

With the exception of personal details, applications can NOT be edited or updated once submitted for consideration. Please make sure you are completely satisfied with your entire application before submitting.

NDIA is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from People with Disability (PwD), First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, Mature age workers, as well as young workers and supporting an inter-generational workforce and supporting gender equity and families. NDIA will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfil the inherent requirements of the role. If you require an adjustment to be made during the recruitment process (including alternate formats of the application form) or have an enquiry about the support provided, please contact DFP Recruitment on 1300 138 337 [email protected].

RecruitAbility applies to this position: The RecruitAbility scheme supports people with disability applying for jobs in the Australian Public Service (APS) by giving you a better opportunity to put forward your skills and experience during the selection process.

There are certain roles within the National Disability Insurance that may require mandatory vaccination, subject to government order or directive. Evidence may be required prior to commencement.