Are you a self-motivated and driven individual passionate about improving outcomes for First Nations peoples? Are you experienced in delivering programs and building strong stakeholder relationships through diverse methods? Does the opportunity to lead your own work appeal to you? The Principal Indigenous Program Officer might then be the role you are looking for.
We are looking for a Principal Indigenous Program Officer to join us in making a difference to people’s lives through vocational education and training, and employment programs. Join our North Queensland Office to help deliver this important work to empower Queenslanders now and into the future.

Job details

TARGETED VACANCY - First Nations Identified position

This is a designated First Nations Identified role. Under section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (QLD), it is a genuine occupational requirement for the incumbent to be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is one who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and either:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; or
• is accepted as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community in which they live.

The Principal Indigenous Project Officer for the North Queensland region drives employment and training outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. You'll collaborate with Indigenous communities, organisations, and industry to
identify opportunities that enhance training, apprenticeships and employment pathways.

About the role
As the Principal Indigenous Program Officer, you will
• Collaborate with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, organisations, registered training organisations, and industry to identify and create employment and training opportunities and outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres
Strait Islander people.
• Provide advice and contribute to the development of regional strategies aimed at increasing the attainment of training qualifications for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, including apprentices and trainees.
• Manage, monitor, and review projects, programs and systems that directly support the implementation of government priorities and programs, while fostering collaboration with industry and community stakeholders to focus on employment and training outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

What we are looking for
The position requires an applicant who has:
• High-level program and project management skills and knowledge of the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Queensland as it applies to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations.
• Highly developed skills in conceptual thinking, analysis, research, problemsolving and writing, with a focus on project development, delivery and coordination to support employment and training opportunities for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and organisations.
• Proven ability to build and sustain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations, to identify and address employment and training needs and opportunities.
• Well-developed planning and organisation skills, including the ability to meet expectations and deadlines by achieving business objectives, meeting performance targets and completing tasks accurately within set timeframes and accountability frameworks.
Enthusiastic attitude and drive to achieve great outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Refer to the Role Description for a full list of responsibilities and what we are looking for.

How to apply
To apply, please submit the below via the SmartJobs application page:
• Your current resume
• Provide a covering letter (of up to two pages) addressing the ‘What are we looking for' statements and telling us why you are interested in this role and outlining what your motivation is to join us.

Please ensure you refer to the Role Description 'Interested in applying' section for more information on what to include as part of your application.

We're committed to appointing the best-suited person for each role. This includes considering equity, diversity, respect, and inclusion needs within our agency. We believe that these elements are essential for the success of our team, and we
strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. If you require any reasonable adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to reach out to the designated contact for the vacancy.

Applications to remain current for 12 months

Job Ad Reference: QLD/676493/26

Closing Date: Friday, 13 February 2026

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Please ensure you download all attachments and follow the instructions on how to apply.

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• Applicant Information Package DTET 2025 (PDF, 783KB)
  
  
  676493 26 Role Description (Word, 303KB)