Chief Operating Officer (COO)

About this role

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is Australia's primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety. As an independent regulator, trusted scientific adviser and service provider, ARPANSA protects people and the environment through world-leading regulation, research, policy, scientific services and national partnerships. With approximately 180 employees, ARPANSA is a highly respected, purpose-driven organisation where scientific excellence underpins everything it does. Its people are united by a shared commitment to protecting the Australian community, creating a collaborative culture where expertise is valued, relationships matter, and individuals are empowered to make a genuine impact. Based in Yallambie, Victoria, the agency offers flexible working alongside a connected, collegiate environment that encourages collaboration and innovation. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer is a critical member of the Executive Group, leading the agency's corporate services portfolio across Finance, Human Resources, Digital Technology, and Facilities & Engineering. In doing so, you will ensure the organisation has the people, systems, governance and infrastructure required to deliver on its national purpose. This is an opportunity to shape the future of a highly respected scientific agency. Working closely with the CEO and Executive, you will lead strategic and digital transformation, strengthen organisational capability, modernise systems and processes, and develop practical roadmaps that position the agency for long-term success. Balancing strategic thinking with operational excellence, you will bring clarity to complexity, foster strong executive partnerships, and build confidence across the organisation while leading a multidisciplinary team through a period of continued evolution. You are an accomplished executive with a track record of leading complex corporate services functions within government or similarly sophisticated organisations. You have successfully delivered organisational and digital transformation, combining strategic vision with hands-on execution to modernise systems, strengthen governance and build sustainable organisational capability. Your experience spans one or more corporate services disciplines—such as finance, digital technology, human resources or facilities—and you understand how these functions work together to enable organisational performance. Equally important is your ability to build trusted relationships across technically complex environments. You lead with authenticity, curiosity and sound judgement, earning credibility through collaboration and a pragmatic approach to problem solving. As a trusted adviser to the CEO, you are confident navigating ambiguity, addressing complex challenges and providing clear, considered advice that supports informed decision-making. Calm under pressure and focused on outcomes, you bring people together, develop capability and create practical pathways that deliver lasting organisational impact. This is a rare opportunity to apply your executive leadership experience in an organisation with genuine purpose, helping shape the future of Australia's national authority for radiation protection and nuclear safety while contributing to outcomes that benefit every Australian.