Director, External Relations (Government Engagement)

About Future Fund

At the Future Fund, we’re for future minds – like yours. The new investors and creators who thrive on different thinking and doing it together. Those who glimpse opportunity before it strikes and step up every day to grab it.

The Future Fund is Australia's Sovereign Wealth Fund, managing over $340 billion across seven public asset funds with the same purpose: growing Australia’s future. We are a global investor and work closely with world leading investment organisations to access the best investment ideas.

Where others see challenges, we see more interesting investment experiences. Every person, every skillset, every mindset is an asset. We’ve got every future generation to consider, yet our approach to investing is incredibly pure: we think about it deeply, and daily. Ours is a culture where great people grow the future together, with the rare ability to work collaboratively, think freely, and make a real difference.

Are you Futureminded? Let’s create what’s next.

The Opportunity

This is a senior leadership role at the centre of the Future Fund’s relationship with government, helping shape how the organisation engages, informs and is accountable to Ministers, Parliament and central agencies.

As Director, External Relations (Government Engagement), you’ll lead strategic engagement across government, ensuring the Agency meets its accountability obligations while building trusted, constructive relationships grounded in professionalism and credibility. You’ll be a key adviser to the CEO, Chair, Board and senior executives on policy, parliamentary and government matters, supporting confident engagement in a complex and highly scrutinised environment.

This role suits an experienced government engagement or public affairs leader who thrives in complexity, enjoys operating at senior levels, and wants to contribute to an organisation with a clear public purpose. You’ll lead a small specialist team, collaborate closely across Corporate Affairs and the broader Agency, and play a critical role in protecting and strengthening the Future Fund’s standing with government.

Key Responsibilities

As Director, External Relations (Government Engagement), your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead day to day engagement with central agencies, including the Department of Finance and the Department of the Treasury, building strong, trusted relationships and ensuring the Agency is viewed as credible and professional

• Expand and deepen relationships with Ministers, Ministerial offices, Parliament and key government departments and agencies, including Specialist Investment Vehicles

• Develop and implement a structured program of government engagement to support the exchange of insights, build trust and strengthen the Agency’s reputation

• Prepare high quality briefings and presentations to support the Chair, CEO and senior executives in their engagement with government stakeholders, domestically and internationally

• Monitor the policy, legislative and regulatory environment, identifying issues and opportunities relevant to the Future Fund and advising on implications for the organisation

• Contribute insights to policy development, drawing on the Agency’s investment experience, market expertise and external networks

• Lead the preparation and coordination of critical accountability activities, including Senate Estimates, Parliamentary hearings and responses to Parliamentary Questions

• Support the organisation to meet government expectations, including obligations under the Statement of Intent and related accountability frameworks

• Work closely with Corporate Affairs colleagues to ensure consistent, aligned messaging into government and across external stakeholders

• Help lift organisational capability by sharing insights on government priorities, expectations and effective engagement approaches

• Provide leadership and direction to a small team, fostering accountability, collaboration, capability development and wellbeing

About You

We’re seeking a senior external relations or government engagement leader with strong judgement, credibility and experience operating in complex public sector or highly regulated environments.

You’re confident advising senior executives on sensitive and high profile matters, comfortable navigating ambiguity, and able to quickly synthesise complex information into clear, practical advice. You build trusted relationships, communicate with influence, and balance strategic thinking with hands on delivery.

You’re also an inclusive and collaborative leader who values partnership, invests in people, and creates a safe environment where teams can perform at their best.

You’ll bring:

• Extensive experience in government engagement, public affairs or a closely related field, ideally within financial services or similarly complex environments

• A strong understanding of government processes, policy development and public accountability

• Demonstrated experience leading engagement with Ministers, senior officials and parliamentary processes

• Proven ability to identify and manage policy, regulatory and reputational risks in dynamic political environments

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accessible briefings at short notice

• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work collaboratively across diverse internal and external groups

• Demonstrated people leadership experience, fostering accountability, inclusion and continuous improvement

• Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent professional experience

Please note that the opportunity is open to Australian citizens only.

We Are For Everyone

At Future Fund, we are better for our differences. Every person, every skillset, every mindset is an asset. We want everyone to feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. Which is why we’re looking for future minds like yours. Your past experiences help us expand our collective knowledge, add value and create something better. When doing your job means Australia has more money to invest in renewables, education, healthcare and medical breakthroughs – there’s a tangible impact to what we do. And we want you to be part of it.

Are you Futureminded? Learn more about us at our LinkedIn Life page.

The Future Fund acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which we live and work. We pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as we work to create meaningful change for reconciliation.

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