Head of Domestic Engagement – Government & International Relations

Export Finance Australia (EFA) is Australia’s export credit agency.   For almost 70 years, Export Finance Australia has helped Australian businesses grow and succeed internationally with finance to secure opportunities, expand into new markets and diversify their presence. We support critical minerals and defence sectors, finance projects that strengthen economic resilience and advance net zero, and back Australian investment in sustainable infrastructure. 

Working with banks, other Government agencies and international partners, we back Australia’s exporters, supply chain businesses and industries, contributing to a more stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific while advancing Australia’s trade, investment and economic security objectives. 

Due to our continued growth we are seeking to appoint a Head of Domestic Engagement to our high performing Government & International Relations team.

Reporting to the General Manager, Government and International Relations (GIR), the Head of Government and International Relations – Domestic Lead is accountable for leading EFA’s domestic government engagement strategy and providing senior-level oversight of EFA’s global and domestic stakeholder engagement in support of key domestic mandates. This includes shaping and coordinating EFA’s approach to the National Interest Account (NIA) transaction consideration for Critical Minerals, Strategic Reserve and Defence mandates, supporting EFA activities under the Future Made in Australia agenda, and leading engagement on related policy consultations. 

This is a growing portfolio with increased complexity. The role works closely with the General Manager, Executive and broader GIR team to influence and coordinate EFA’s strategic engagement and advocacy across Government Departments, Ministerial Offices and international counterparts to enable delivery of EFA’s commercial and strategic objectives.

You will bring a demonstrated track record of leading complex government and stakeholder engagement programs, building trusted senior relationships with ministerial and departmental stakeholders, the broader Commonwealth ecosystem, industry and international counterparts in relation to EFA’s domestic mandates. 

Your new role

Location: Sydney / Canberra
Role Type: Full-time, Permanent

About you

• Lead and be accountable for EFA’s engagement with the Australian Government on domestic National Interest Account transactions and policy consultations related to domestic mandates, including Defence, Critical Minerals, Future Made in Australia and other policy areas as required.
• Lead enhanced engagement with key Export Credit Agency (ECAs) partners and financiers in support of EFA’s commercial and strategic objectives, including providing senior advice and briefing support for the MD&CEO’s international and domestic engagement program.
• Provide strategic advice to the business on trade, energy transition, industry and infrastructure policy initiatives that may impact or enhance EFA’s mandates and operations and lead collaborative engagement with other SIV agencies to support coordinated communication and ongoing relationships.
• Establish and maintain trusted senior relationships with key government stakeholders including DFAT, Prime Minister & Cabinet, Treasury, Finance, Defence, DISR and key ministerial offices, including the offices of the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Minister for Finance and others as required.
• Lead activity that protects and strengthens EFA’s reputation and supports a clear, credible and consistent organisational position with government and external stakeholders.
• Oversee the organisation’s engagement with and accountability to the Parliament, including coordination of Senate Estimates hearings, legislative reviews and amendments, parliamentary questions on notice and parliamentary briefings as required.
• Lead monitoring of the policy, media, political and parliamentary landscape, working closely with the business and government to prepare high-quality advice, briefings and collateral to support senior engagement.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications

The Candidate

The successful candidate will bring a demonstrated track record of leading complex government and stakeholder engagement programs, building trusted senior relationships with ministerial and departmental stakeholders, the broader Commonwealth ecosystem, industry and international counterparts in relation to EFA’s domestic mandates. 

Experience and Skills

• Minimum 10+ years’ experience in government relations, international relations, policy, issues management or a related discipline, with demonstrated experience leading senior stakeholder engagement and advising executive-level stakeholders, preferably in finance, government, infrastructure or a similar environment.
• Established senior relationships across government and a proven ability to navigate complex government, policy and parliamentary channels to achieve organisational outcomes.
• High-level strategic policy, political judgement and issues management capability.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Highly developed advocacy, communication, stakeholder engagement, negotiation and influencing skills, including the ability to brief and advise senior executives.
• People leadership capability, including the ability to set direction, prioritise work, coach team members and build capability within a small specialist team.
• Understanding of finance, domestic industrial and strategic priorities and geopolitics (all highly desirable).
• Exceptional judgement, discretion and the ability to rapidly interpret, synthesise and anticipate policy developments in Australia and internationally.
• Superior analytical skills to articulate complex issues, enabling the organisation’s understanding and response.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Relevant tertiary qualifications and or extensive knowledge of Government, policy frameworks and processes i.e. the ‘machinery’ of government gained in government or consulting to government.

Even if you haven’t ticked every box but this role resonates with you, don't rule yourself out just yet, we'd love to hear from you!

Our benefits and culture

We are small enough to have an impact, BIG enough to make a world of difference and it starts with our people.

We support flexible working and pride ourselves in fostering a culture that is inclusive, diverse and collaborative. We are proud to be certified as a 2025 Great Place to Work for a fifth consecutive year, recognised on the 2023 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work list and listed as one of Australia’s Best Workplaces for Women in 2025. 

In line with our commitment to our people, we have a comprehensive array of benefits available to our employees:

• Generous leave provisions (e.g. Annual Wellbeing day) and leave purchase opportunities
• 18 weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers
• Thorough induction onboarding program
• Fitness Passport along with other Health & Wellbeing initiatives
• Gender affirmation leave
• Income Protection Insurance
• Community volunteering
• and many more!

Our headquarters is based in Sydney CBD, and we have a national presence across Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

Eligibility

Australian Citizenship - To be eligible to apply for this position, applicants must hold Australian Citizenship at the time of application.

Security Clearance - To be eligible to apply for this position, applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 2.

How to apply

Applications close: 20 October 2026.  

Interviews will occur in parallel, so please apply ASAP.
Enquiries: Careers@exportfinance.gov.au      
  
To apply, please email your CV to Careers@exportfinance.gov.au      

By choosing to apply, you agree to the recruitment privacy policy.

We invite and welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from diverse cultural backgrounds, people with disability and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

If you are a candidate with a disability, let us know how we can provide you with additional support.

About us

Export Finance Australia is Australia’s export credit agency.  

The reason our people join us, stay with us and grow with us is because they wholeheartedly believe in our purpose. They can see the impact we create for our customers.

We are a highly purpose-driven organisation. We seek to create an inclusive culture that values our customers and employees. Our people are expected to champion this and play a key role in achieving those outcomes. In working towards our strategy, our people display our IMPACT leadership behaviours of Frank & Fearless, Dexterous & Agile and Careful & Diligent

For more information about us, please refer to our website. 

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be considered on this occasion.