SES Band 1 - General Manager, Commercial, Transactions & Procurement

Shape the commercial foundations of Australia's future high speed rail network.

• Senior executive role owning funding and financing, procurement and transactions, and commercial delivery for High Speed Rail.
• Lead major project procurements, tender processes and contract negotiations that secure value for money.
• Unlock new revenue through property, retail and commercial partnerships across the Newcastle to Sydney corridor.

About the High Speed Rail Authority

The Australian Government is planning a future high speed rail network to connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and regional communities across the east coast of Australia.

The High Speed Rail Authority (the Authority) is an independent corporate Commonwealth entity governed by an independent board, established to lead the development and delivery of high speed rail.

High speed rail will contribute to key Australian Government priorities, including increased economic productivity, new housing options, regional economic and tourism development, and net zero.

About the role

This role reports to the Executive General Manager, Commercial & Strategy and is responsible for leading the commercial functions that underpin strategic project delivery. During the Development Phase, you will own project funding and financing, procurement and transactions, commercial delivery and development, and secondary revenue opportunities, and oversee benefits realisation.

You will be the Authority's senior commercial leader, providing expert advice to the Executive and Board and making sure every major agreement delivers value for money and long-term viability.

What you will lead

• Funding and financing. Help develop strategies to fund and finance the project, including private financing and leasing, a regulated asset base and land value capture, and work across Commonwealth, state and local governments to put them into practice.
• Procurement and transactions. Develop and execute procurement strategies for major project contracts, oversee tender processes, lead contract negotiations and manage transactions to secure value for money through fair and compliant contractor selection.
• Commercial delivery and development. Manage commercial partnerships, joint ventures, contracts and external resources, and allocate commercial risk across agreements to protect long-term viability.
• Secondary revenue and retail. Develop ancillary revenue strategies, including property joint ventures, retail partnerships and leasing, and drive property development opportunities.
• Benefits realisation. Partner with the GM, Strategy, Sponsor & Governance on revenue strategies covering demand uptake, fare structures and commercial income.
• Leadership. Lead a high-performing team, embed the Authority's approach to risk management, and represent the Authority with government, industry and external partners.

About you

We are seeking a senior commercial executive with a track record of structuring, procuring and managing complex transactions on major infrastructure or mega-projects. Specifically, you bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in commercial, transactions or procurement roles on major infrastructure, transport or property programs.
• Expertise in creating and evaluating public and private financing options for mega-projects, including land value capture initiatives.
• Proven success managing end-to-end procurement of complex commercial engagements, from strategy through to tender, negotiation and award.
• Strength in evaluating commercial proposals, financial risk and risk allocation to support value-for-money decisions.
• Experience building commercial partnerships and joint ventures, and negotiating property, lease and retail arrangements that optimise long-term value.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to translate technical commercial advice into clear recommendations for the Executive and Board.
• Experience leading teams and managing budgets in a complex, high-scrutiny environment, and a commitment to the APS Values.
• Knowledge of Australian Government procurement requirements and Commonwealth governance frameworks will be considered an advantage.

Employment with the Authority is subject to the conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999. To be eligible, you must:

• Be an Australian citizen and hold a degree or equivalent working experience.
• Hold or be able to obtain a Baseline security clearance and satisfy a National Police Check (mandatory pre-employment screening).

RecruitAbility

The Authority is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and supporting the employment of people with disability.

As a participating agency in the APS RecruitAbility Scheme, the Authority will progress applicants with disability to a further stage of the recruitment process where they choose to opt into RecruitAbility and demonstrate that they meet the minimum requirements of the role.

If you would like to participate in RecruitAbility, please indicate this when submitting your application.

The Authority is committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates have an equitable opportunity to participate. Adjustments may include modifications to the recruitment process, accessible formats, specialist equipment, or other practical supports. If you require any adjustments, please include this information in your application or contact the nominated contact officer to discuss your needs.

For further information about the RecruitAbility Scheme, please visit the APS RecruitAbility Scheme Guide for Applicants.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Before preparing your application, please read APSC’s Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment. 

These principles are designed to support the responsible use of AI throughout the recruitment process, while ensuring fairness, transparency and the integrity of merit-based selection. They provide clear guidance on how AI may be used to assist with your application, as well as outlining the types of AI use that are not appropriate in APS recruitment processes. 

Candidates are expected to comply with these principles and maintain the authenticity and integrity of their application at all stages of the recruitment process.

Next steps

Applications close 11.59pm AEDT on Thursday 12 November 2026.

To apply, please submit your CV together with a suitability statement via this advertisement (a combined document is recommended).

A full position description is available to download at www.robertwalters.com.au/hsra.html or by request to the details below.