Queensland University of Technology

Head, Government and Public Affairs

Q: What is the Head, Government and Public Affairs?

This listing is for Head, Government and Public Affairs at Queensland University of Technology .

Q: Where is this role located?

The listed location is Brisbane City QLD, Australia .

Q: What is the salary?

The listed salary is A$145,985 – A$163,281 yearly .

Q: When do applications close?

Applications close on Sep 27, 2026 .

Closes: Sep 27, 2026

Salary: A$145,985 – A$163,281 per year

143

$145,985 to $163,281
Ongoing, full-time
Gardens Point (hybrid option available)
Reference number: 26445
Term: Full-time, ongoing
Remuneration: $172,761 to $193,229 pa (HEW10) (inclusive of $145,985 to $163,281 salary pa, 17% superannuation and 17.5% recreation leave loading)
Location: Gardens Point (hybrid option available)
Open to: Applicants who have ongoing full-time work rights in Australia. In support of our strategic priority of Indigenous Australian success, Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

Who are we looking for?

We are seeking a Head, Government and Public Affairs to join Communications and Government Relations, Engagement, Chancellery Division.

The Head, Government and Public Affairs supports the Director in developing QUT's government affairs practice, including the systems, protocols and relationships of a contemporary government affairs function, and maintains central visibility of government engagement across the university. The role develops and maintains relationships with government while coordinating multi-sector external engagement activities to meet strategic objectives. It is a direct contributor to positioning QUT as a trusted institutional partner to government in the areas where QUT's expertise is strongest and most closely aligned with government priorities, including Brisbane 2032. The position supports QUT's reputation management, stakeholder communications and policy advocacy across diverse audiences and sectors. The ideal applicant will have broad experience in both government relations and external stakeholder engagement, with demonstrated capability in political processes, policy development, relationship management and strategic communications. Knowledge of the Higher Education Sector and its complex stakeholder landscape would be highly regarded. The position provides strategic and operational support to the Director, Communications and Government Relations and senior leaders at the university, managing both government relations activities and broader external stakeholder relationships to advance QUT's strategic interests.

We’re offering this role as a hybrid position as part of QUT’s commitment to embracing the opportunities created by a more virtual and connected world.

About us

QUT is a major Australian university with a global outlook and a 'real world' focus. We are an ambitious and collaborative institution that seeks to equip our students and graduates with the skills they will need in an increasingly disrupted and challenged world.

The Engagement Portfolio strives to elevate QUTs profile through strategic and impactful communication and engagement. The Portfolio is integral to driving engagement, attracting students, and fostering partnerships across government, research, and industry on both national and international fronts. By leveraging innovative engagement, communication and marketing strategies, the Portfolio contributes to the university’s ongoing success and global recognition. The Portfolio includes: • Marketing and Student Recruitment • Communications and Government Relations • Alumni and Engagement.

What you need to succeed

Education, training and/or experience equivalent to completion of postgraduate qualifications in public policy, political science, communications, business, or related discipline.
Government relations experience at State and/or Commonwealth level, with understanding of policy development, parliamentary procedures, ministerial engagement, and the engagement-records and integrity-and-lobbying disciplines that underpin a contemporary government affairs function.
Knowledge of the Higher Education Sector including its regulatory environment, policy landscape, and stakeholder ecosystem, or demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire this knowledge.
Proven experience in external stakeholder engagement across multiple sectors including industry, professional bodies, and community organisations.
Excellent communication and relationship management skills with demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior government officials, industry leaders, and diverse stakeholder groups.
Strategic thinking and policy analysis capabilities with the ability to assess political environments, synthesize complex information, and develop strategic recommendations.
Experience in issues management and crisis communications with ability to coordinate responses across multiple stakeholder groups and maintain institutional reputation.
Strong project management and coordination skills with experience managing multiple stakeholder relationships and complex engagement activities simultaneously.
Demonstrated fluency with AI tools in analysis, monitoring and briefing workflows, or clear aptitude and appetite to build it.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and Indigenous Australian engagement.

Life at QUT

We're committed to building a culture that fosters connection between people and purpose. Beyond personal and professional fulfillment, a career at QUT offers:

A healthy work-life balance with a blend of on-campus and off-campus work arrangements for applicable positions.
Competitive remuneration with up to 17% superannuation and leave loading of 17.5%.
Generous parental leave including primary carer parental leave of up to 26 weeks (including 17% super).
Stay healthy with Fitness Passport and enjoy discounted rates on private health insurance.
Purchased Leave Scheme - up to 8 extra weeks.
Salary Packaging Scheme for additional superannuation contributions, vehicle leasing, and on-campus services such as childcare, parking, and gyms.
Numerous opportunities for professional development including leadership programs and workshops, and our study assistance scheme.
Commitment to our Indigenous Australian staff through initiatives such as the Indigenous Australian Staff Network, Cultural and Ceremonial Leave, Staff Development Workshops, and representation on university committees.

Explore more benefits of life at QUT.

Belong at QUT

We are guided by our values of Ambition, Integrity, Inclusiveness, Innovation, and Academic Freedom and our QUT Connections in our mission to inspire and shape the next generation of change-makers.

As part of our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, we proudly support our Indigenous Australians Employment Strategy, aiming for an Indigenous Australian workforce participation of 3.6%. We extend a warm invitation to Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander people to join us in pursuing a rewarding career at QUT.

We believe that diversity is our strength and are dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. We strongly encourage individuals from diverse cultures, ages, linguistic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities, and those who are living with disabilities to apply for positions at QUT.

At QUT, diversity is not just embraced—it's celebrated. See our commitment

How to Apply

Discover the possibilities that await with a career at QUT. If you're ready to embark on a journey of innovation and opportunity, we're excited to meet you.

Find out more about this position and submit your application by clicking 'Apply' or the link below.

View the job details at: Head, Government and Public Affairs

Job opens: 11-Sep-2026

Applications Close: 27-Sep-2026 at 11.30pm

Position Description

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Job details

Title: Head, Government and Public Affairs
Employer: Queensland University of Technology
Location: Brisbane City QLD, Australia
Published: Sep 25, 2026
Closes:: Sep 27, 2026
Job type: Full time, Staff / Administration
Field: Communications, Marketing, and Public Affairs
Salary: Salary: A$145,985 – A$163,281 per year

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Frequently Asked Questions

📋What is the Head, Government and Public Affairs?

This listing is for Head, Government and Public Affairs at Queensland University of Technology.

📍Where is this role located?

The listed location is Brisbane City QLD, Australia.

💰What is the salary?

The listed salary is A$145,985 – A$163,281 yearly.

📅When do applications close?

Applications close on Sep 27, 2026.

💼What type of appointment is this?

The listed type is Full time.

📝How do I apply?

Use the Apply Now button on this listing to submit your application.

Job Fulfilled

About the employer

Queensland University of Technology

4.0 Star Employer Ranking

AcademicJobs.com is the leading platform to explore QUT jobs, providing access to exciting career opportunities at one of Australia’s most innovative universities. Queensland University of Technology (QUT), located in Brisbane, is celebrated for its industry-focused research and academic excellence, making QUT uni jobs highly sought after by professionals worldwide. QUT careers offer a dynamic and collaborative environment for academics, researchers, and professional staff to excel. QUT university careers encompass a diverse range of disciplines, reflecting the university’s key areas of academic specialization, including science, technology, engineering, business, creative industries, and health. Employment QUT includes roles such as lecturers, research fellows, postdoctoral researchers, and administrative positions, accommodating various skill sets. For those pursuing QUT jobs Brisbane, the university’s modern campuses provide an inspiring workplace in a thriving, cosmopolitan city. QUT uni vacancies and job postings are prominently featured on AcademicJobs.com, where candidates can find opportunities in teaching, cutting-edge research, and professional services. Jobs at QUT span fields like robotics, digital media, and public health, aligning with the university’s mission to address real-world challenges. Each QUT vacancy represents a chance to contribute to impactful initiatives within a forward-thinking academic community. QUT Employment Opportunities are varied, with QUT job Opportunities ranging from academic faculty to technical and operational roles. A QUT Career offers the chance to join an institution that values innovation, inclusivity, and global engagement. QUT uni openings are frequently updated on AcademicJobs.com, ensuring access to the latest QUT vacancies. Jobs at QUT uni are ideal for those dedicated to advancing knowledge and societal progress. QUT job postings include positions in education, data science, and professional services such as IT and human resources. QUT Employment

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A policy inbox that won't wait

Higher education in Australia is not in a quiet patch. The Australian Universities Accord final report, handed to the federal government in February 2024, recommended new funding and regulatory arrangements that are still being worked through. The federal government has also tightened international education settings, and Queensland is preparing for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A Head of Government and Public Affairs at QUT will walk into every one of those conversations.

The role's positioning matters because university policy is being rewritten at both levels of government. It isn't a communications job with a government label. The successful candidate will be expected to read legislation, map stakeholders, brief senior executives, and keep QUT's position coherent across state and federal bureaucracies. The university wants someone who can be in the room when the details are being settled, not after an announcement has already been drafted.

The job page on QUT's recruitment portal sets out the scope: government strategy, policy advice, parliamentary engagement, and public affairs leadership. The successful candidate will own the university's government relationships rather than inherit a menu of decisions made elsewhere.

The core brief will include:

Tracking federal legislation on international education, research funding, university governance, and skills policy.
Running state-level engagement with Queensland ministers, departments, agencies, and regional stakeholders.
Coordinating submissions and appearances before parliamentary inquiries.
Advising QUT's executive on political risk before decisions are made public.

You can find the full position description and lodge an application through QUT's external recruitment portal. Don't treat the closing date as a suggestion. University panels often start shortlisting before the portal shuts, and late applications rarely recover that lost ground.

QUT's government relations function sits inside an external engagement portfolio, which is typical for a university that has to manage city, state, federal, and community stakeholders at once. The Head of Government and Public Affairs will have a team and will be expected to set its priorities, coach its output, and keep the Vice-Chancellor's office prepared for high-stakes meetings. That last part matters because university executives make quick decisions and poor briefs are remembered.

The broader sector context is unavoidable. Universities Australia, the sector's peak body, tracks the policy changes more carefully than any individual campus can, and its public submissions are worth reading before you apply. The federal Department of Education's higher education page is also a practical starting point because it carries the legislation and ministerial announcements that shape this role's work.

For Brisbane specifically, the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games have moved beyond bid hype and into delivery. State agencies are planning precincts, transport links, workforce programs, and venue legacy commitments. QUT's government affairs head will be expected to keep the university in those conversations, especially where research capability and graduate supply can be positioned as part of the legacy. For QUT, that is a direct reputational and commercial issue, not boosterism.

International education remains the most volatile file. Australia's universities have lived through two years of visa processing changes and legislative attempts to cap international student commencements. A government affairs head who cannot explain QUT's position on that file, in detail, to a sceptical departmental official will not last long. Research funding is the other constant; it comes through block grants, competitive research schemes, industry partnerships, and infrastructure-linked funding, all of which have state and federal dimensions.

None of this calls for a traditional lobbyist who just knows people. QUT needs someone who can switch from a minister's office to a departmental brief to a public issues meeting to an industry roundtable without changing the message. Public sector experience helps, but so does time inside a university, a peak body, a hospital and health service, a major infrastructure agency, or a state-owned corporation. The common thread is evidence-based advocacy and the ability to write quickly under pressure.

If you're applying, start with the position description, not your network. The selection criteria will tell you which relationships QUT values most, and the language of the ad will tell you how much independence the role actually has. Map each criterion to a recent example and keep the examples specific: a bill you tracked, a submission you wrote, a minister's office you briefed, or a crisis you managed.

Here's what to do this week:

Read the position description line by line and map each requirement to a concrete example from the last three years.
Call one person who has worked with QUT's external engagement team and ask how decisions actually get made.
Draft a one-page brief on a current federal policy issue QUT is likely watching, then test whether it reads like a government affairs document rather than a press release.
Submit your application before the closing date, because complete early applications create fewer follow-up questions.

Book one hour tomorrow to read the full position description and write your first paragraph against the mandate, not the title.

Frequently Asked Questions

🏛What does QUT's Head of Government and Public Affairs do?

The role leads QUT's government relations and public affairs work. The successful candidate will shape policy positions, manage relationships with state and federal ministers and officials, prepare submissions and parliamentary materials, and advise the Vice-Chancellor. It is a strategic leadership position rather than a routine communications role.

🧭Who does the role report to?

The exact reporting line is set out in the job description. In practice, a role with this title at a university of QUT's size usually sits within external engagement or corporate affairs and reports to a senior executive who is close to the Vice-Chancellor. Confirm the detail in the official listing before you apply.

📍Where is the position based?

QUT's two main campuses are at Gardens Point in Brisbane's city centre and Kelvin Grove, about two kilometres north. The role is Brisbane-based, though expect regular travel between state and federal offices. The listing will confirm any hybrid working arrangements.

💼What experience is QUT looking for?

QUT will want a strong record in government relations, public policy, public affairs, or a related field. That could come from state or federal government, a university, an industry association, or a large public-facing organisation. You'll need to show you can brief senior leaders, manage political risk, and write quickly under pressure.

📄How do I apply for the role?

Apply through QUT's external recruitment portal linked in the official job listing. Prepare a current CV and a response that addresses each selection criterion with a specific, recent example. Submit before the closing date shown on the portal, because late applications may not be considered.

📅What is the closing date for applications?

The closing date is listed on QUT's recruitment page. Check the official portal directly rather than relying on third-party summaries, because closing dates can be extended or adjusted.

📊What policy issues will the successful candidate face?

International student settings, research funding, university governance, state skills and training, and Brisbane 2032 legacy planning are all live issues. The role will need to track federal education legislation on the Department of Education's higher education page and Queensland policy at the same time.

🌏Does this role focus more on federal or state government?

Both. QUT operates in a federal system, so the head of government affairs must work Canberra and Brisbane. Some months federal higher education reform will dominate; other months state skills funding and infrastructure will take more time.

💰What salary can a Head of Government and Public Affairs expect at QUT?

QUT doesn't publish a set salary in the job advertisement. Senior university leadership roles of this type are usually negotiated and include superannuation and other benefits. Read the position description and, if necessary, ask the recruitment contact for the classification or salary range.

🚀Why is QUT hiring this role now?

The appointment comes at a time when university policy is being reshaped by the Australian Universities Accord and by tighter international education settings. Brisbane's 2032 planning adds a state-level reason for QUT to strengthen its government and public affairs leadership.

🔄Is public affairs the same as government relations?

Not quite. Government relations is about ministers, departments, parliamentary committees, and advisers. Public affairs includes external communications, issues management, and reputation. This role combines both, so you need to be able to move between policy detail and public positioning.

👥Can international applicants apply?

QUT will state any work rights requirements in the job listing. If you hold Australian work rights or an eligible visa, you can apply. When the listing is silent, contact QUT's recruitment team before you invest time in an application.