Director Programs and Partnerships, Agriculture, NRM and Aboriginal Outcomes
Director Programs and Partnerships, Agriculture, NRM and Aboriginal Outcomes role at NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Summary
Local Land Services (LLS), part of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), is seeking an experienced executive to lead the delivery of core statewide programs in agriculture, natural resource management (including Landcare), Aboriginal outcomes, and travelling stock reserves. As Director Programs and Partnerships, you will oversee program delivery under the LLS State Strategic Plan, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and impact across NSW. This role is central to strengthening agricultural productivity, enhancing natural capital, supporting Aboriginal communities, and building collaborative partnerships with government, industry, and communities.
About the role
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you will provide guidance and leadership to Principal Program Managers, ensuring programs are delivered consistently and effectively across the state. This includes overseeing the Landcare Enabling Program, the Natural Capital program, and ensuring Aboriginal communities are engaged in all aspects of LLS, including negotiation of outcomes through Indigenous Land Use Agreements.
You will drive proactive and collaborative partnerships with government and industry stakeholders, manage program interdependencies, and monitor performance against key indicators. A critical aspect of the role is ensuring risks and issues are identified, communicated, and mitigated, while maintaining program governance, reporting, and review frameworks. You will provide centralised coordination and subject matter expertise across LLS’s 11 delivery regions, ensuring state‑wide consistency and capability.
Operating with a high level of autonomy, you will oversee up to seven direct reports and manage significant resources. You will be expected to balance diverse stakeholder interests, resolve contentious issues under tight time‑frames, and provide expert advice to the CEO, Ministerial offices, and senior executives. This is a role that demands strategic insight, operational excellence, and the ability to foster collaboration across government, industry, Aboriginal communities, and regional stakeholders.
About you
You are a strategic leader with extensive knowledge of program and project management, proven executive‑level leadership skills, and a solid record of building partnerships across government, industry, and Aboriginal communities. Your career reflects a consistent ability to manage sensitive and high‑stakes programs, navigate political and financial complexities, and deliver outcomes that strengthen agricultural productivity, natural resource management, and Aboriginal engagement.
You bring experience in leading state‑wide programs, supported by strong communication skills to articulate complex concepts and influence diverse audiences. You are adept at negotiating, resolving conflicts, and building consensus, with the ability to anticipate and manage risks in dynamic and challenging environments. Your leadership style inspires and motivates teams, fosters collaboration, and builds capability across the organisation.
You act with integrity, uphold the values of the NSW public sector, and demonstrate resilience, accountability, and a commitment to public value. You are highly skilled in stakeholder engagement, program governance, and risk management, and you thrive in roles that require both strategic vision and operational delivery. Above all, you are motivated by a commitment to strengthening NSW’s agricultural, environmental, and Aboriginal outcomes for the benefit of communities and industries across the state.
Base pay range
A$239,000.00/yr - A$264,000.00/yr
To apply
Please submit an updated CV and cover letter outlining your relevant experience.
For further information
Contact Lesley Cox on or Additionally, please view the Role Description.
Additional Information
The successful applicant may be required to undergo a police check, health assessment and other assessments as required.
A recruitment pool may be created for ongoing and temporary roles of the same role or role type that may become available for filling over the next eighteen months.
Diversity and inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are core values of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is a workplace where everyone is able to contribute and participate to their full potential, and we are proud to have a team that reflects the richness and complexity of the regional NSW communities we serve.
If you require adjustments in completing your application, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, require information in an alternative format, or otherwise participating in the recruitment process, please let us know so we can assist. Send an email to or contact the hiring manager listed below for a confidential discussion.
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