Director, Government Relations & Public Policy page is loaded## Director, Government Relations & Public Policylocations: Parkville, Victoria, Australiatime type: Full timeposted on: Posted 2 Days Agojob requisition id: JR4378**Job Title**Director, Government Relations & Public Policy**Job Description**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. We are now recruiting a variety of newly established positions to help shape and embed these new ways of working**.****About the Position**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.**How to Apply** Please apply by uploading your CV, cover letter and a statement addressing the key selection criteria.The full Key Selection Criteria can be found in the position description .General enquiries can be directed to Pauline Mooney on recruitment@wehi.edu.au**Application Closing Date:** Wednesday 20 May 2026**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. 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**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.#J-18808-Ljbffr