About the Position WEHI is transforming how our professional services empower and enable scientists to deliver world‑leading medical research now and into the future. Following a holistic review and redesign across our professional services portfolios, we are now focused on strengthening our critical capabilities, aligning our structures and systems with strategic priorities, and empowering our people to do what they do best.
The Director, Government Relations & Public Policy is responsible for leading WEHI's strategic engagement with Commonwealth and State governments to protect and grow the Institute's public funding base, influence policy settings relevant to medical research, and ensure WEHI's scientific priorities are aligned with government agendas and opportunities. As a senior strategic leader, this role provides policy intelligence, funding strategy alignment, and stewardship of key institutional relationships to position WEHI as a trusted advisor, a national research asset, and a credible and proactive partner to government. Working closely with the Executive, including the Director, COS, COO and senior scientific leaders, the role will design and execute a coordinated and disciplined government relations and public policy strategy that strengthens long‑term funding, anticipates and mitigates policy and funding risk, and ensures WEHI's advocacy is authoritative, timely and institutionally aligned.
Selection Criteria Knowledge and Skills:
Significant senior experience in government relations, public policy, ministerial advisory, or senior public service roles.
Deep understanding of Australian government funding mechanisms and budget processes.
Demonstrated success influencing complex funding or policy outcomes.
Strong strategic thinking and political judgement.
Excellent written communication skills, including preparation of ministerial briefings and submissions.
Ability to operate with discretion, credibility and authority at executive level.
Highly Desirable
Experience in medical research, health, higher education, innovation or science policy.
Established networks within Commonwealth and/or Victorian government.
Experience in organisations reliant on competitive public funding.
Understanding of governance obligations within large not‑for‑profit entities.
The full Key Selection Criteria can be found in the position description here.
How to Apply Please apply by uploading your CV, cover letter and a statement addressing the key selection criteria.
General enquiries can be directed to Pauline Mooney on recruitment@wehi.edu.au
WEHI - Brighter together WEHI is where the world's brightest minds collaborate and innovate to make discoveries that will help us to live healthier for longer. Our medical researchers have been serving the community for more than 100 years. We bring together people with different skills and experience who are committed to long‑term discovery. Our teams of researchers are committed to solving the most complex health problems, making transformative discoveries for cancer, infectious and immune diseases, developmental disorders and healthy ageing. WEHI is a place where people are able to shine. People who are inquisitive, who are committed, who are passionate. People who want to make a difference. And we are committed to ensuring they have the tools to flourish, personally and professionally. We are a community of researchers, students and professional service staff who work towards achieving discoveries that improve human health. We are driven by collaboration, curiosity and creativity. We are committed to making a positive difference to the lives of people in Australia and around the world. We are WEHI. We are brighter together.
WEHI's commitment to diversity and inclusion At WEHI we strive to foster a flexible working environment that encourages individual differences and promotes collaboration and creativity. We recognise that talent does not sit within a single identifiable group in our society and that WEHI's ability to shape contemporary scientific thinking and deliver leading professional services relies on a diversity of thought within our organisation. Our action to promote gender equality has been recognised with an Athena SWAN Bronze Award from Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) and we offer a range of support for women researchers.
Our commitment to celebrating diversity and addressing inequities is further demonstrated through our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, Gender Action Plan, Reconciliation Action Plan and our WE‑Pride network for LGBTQIA+ staff and students. We actively encourage applications from people with a disability, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people and people with diverse genders and sexualities. Should you require support during the recruitment process due to special needs or consideration, please contact the People and Culture team.
WEHI's commitment to Indigenous employment WEHI is working to create a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be engaged at the scientific frontier, making exciting discoveries and decisions about the future of health in this country, and part of a leading professional services workforce supporting the realisation of these discoveries. We are committed to creating a culturally safe workplace and offering career development and leadership opportunities to First Nations staff and students. We strongly encourage any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.
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