Organisational Design SME | Product-Based Operating Model
* Contract Length: 3 – 6 Months
* Location: Canberra Preferred (Hybrid) | Interstate candidates considered where Canberra travel is workable
About The Position
Some roles are about maintaining an environment.
This one is about helping reshape it.
Our client which is a Government Department is looking to onboard an ‘Organisational Design Subject Matter Expert (SME)’ to help redesign their operations. This senior Organisational Design SME will lead a high-visibility advisory engagement focused on moving from a traditional functional structure to a product-based operating model.
This is not an implementation role.
It is a pure design and executive advisory engagement.
The organisation needs someone who can step into an ambiguous environment, make sense of how the business should define its products or service lines, design an organisational structure around them, and provide executive-level recommendations that can guide future decision-making.
You will be working directly with senior leadership and producing a board-quality Recommendation Report and executive briefing materials.
What The Engagement Involves
* Defining the organisation’s product or service groupings
* Designing a recommended organisational structure aligned to those products
* Identifying capability, accountability, and structural considerations
* Documenting risks, trade-offs, and transition challenges
* Producing executive-ready recommendation and briefing material
This role is suited to someone who has genuinely led organisational design work – not someone who has only supported it from the sidelines.
What They Are Looking For
* Strong organisational design or operating model consulting experience
* A background redesigning structures, functions, or service-line models
* Experience working directly with Executives, Boards, CEOs, Deputy Secretaries, or equivalent stakeholders
* Public sector consulting or government advisory exposure
* A track record producing recommendation reports, operating model reviews, or executive briefing packs
* Experience working through politically sensitive or ambiguous environments
Importantly, this role requires someone who understands product-based operating models in a government context – structuring around services or product families rather than traditional functional hierarchies.
This Role Is Probably For You If
* You enjoy bringing structure to ambiguity
* You are comfortable operating at executive level
* You can balance strategy with practical organisational realities
* You know how to navigate stakeholder sensitivity without losing momentum
* You are confident writing clear, defensible recommendations
* You prefer influence and advisory work over BAU delivery
This is the kind of engagement where strong operators stand out.
If your background aligns with organisational design, operating model advisory, and executive-facing public sector engagements, we’d be keen to speak further. You are also welcome to connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out directly via email at ***email_hidden*** for a confidential discussion.