The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is a Corporate Commonwealth Entity with a primary objective to improve the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies and increase the supply of renewable energy in Australia.

ARENA supports the Government's emissions reduction goals of 43% reduction in net emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050, through its focus on technology innovation and commercialisation to the benefit of Australia.

Joining ARENA will mean that you’ll have front row tickets to leading edge technology in the sector and you’ll join a Commonwealth Agency that isn’t bound by the rigidity of normal APS environments.

The Opportunity

There are 3 x APS6 Contract Manager vacancies available in the Portfolio Management Team.

This team supports program and grant round design, supports contract negotiation for new grants and provides ongoing contract management for active grants. These grants are all relating to exciting renewable energy technology projects.

These are labour hire contract positions commencing ASAP until 30 June 2026.

These roles offer the opportunity to be part of the clean energy transition in Australia and gain insights into the industry, research and government initiatives driving this change.

The Role

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Collaborating with ARENA teams to design and negotiate contracts (funding agreements).
• Managing contracts with grant recipients, assessing milestones, reviewing variation requests, and supporting the delegate to make appropriate decisions.
• Applying problem solving skills to provide effective and timely contracting solutions.
• Ensuring appropriate procurement actions are undertaken.
• Cultivating effective relationships with external stakeholders and maintain contemporary understanding of industry dynamics, needs and trends associated with renewable energy innovation and uptake.

The Ideal Person

The ideal person will have a background in contract negotiation and managing funding agreements including grants in a government environment.

You don’t need to be an expert in renewable energy or energy markets, but a keen interest in advancing an ambitious energy and climate agenda will be helpful.

You will also have:

• Knowledge of Australian Government contracting requirements, including the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines.
• Experience writing briefs to executives and delegates to provide advice on funding arrangements.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to present to and facilitate groups, and clearly communicate complex concepts in written form.
• Demonstrated experience and proficiency in stakeholder management and service delivery.
• Strong strategic thinking skills, especially in converting detailed information into coherent portfolio insights and recommended actions.

To be eligible for these roles, you must be an Australian citizen and be willing to undergo a police check.

Salary / Rate

• $60 - $65 per hour + 11.5% super (includes casual loading).
• Labour hire contract starting ASAP until 30 June 2026.
• Candidate must be located in Canberra or Sydney.

How to Apply

To apply online, please click on the appropriate link.

Alternatively, for a confidential discussion, please contact Liz Strachan on 02 6108 4878 quoting ref no. 20492.