General Manager - Product & Operations

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.

The Newcastle to Sydney High Speed Rail project will connect the two cities in around one hour on a dedicated high speed railway. From the Central Coast it will take around 30 minutes to get to Newcastle or to Sydney. With the project now in the Development Phase, the Authority is building the leadership team to develop and deliver this generational program.

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

About the role

The General Manager, Product & Operations provides strategic leadership for the development of customer, operational and maintenance frameworks for High Speed Rail, ensuring integrated, customer focused and sustainable service outcomes.

The role leads operational planning, demand forecasting, stakeholder engagement, policy alignment and procurement strategies to support the successful delivery of the Newcastle to Sydney High Speed Rail project, while ensuring compliance, innovation and operational excellence.

What you'll lead

• Lead the development of customer, operations and maintenance requirements, with robust documentation to guide project execution.
• Lead the ongoing refinement of the high speed rail product within the National High Speed Rail Network, incorporating industry insight into effective service design for Stage 1 Development.
• Oversee customer research, demand forecasting and operational modelling, and coordinate service impact analysis so projects align with forecast passenger behaviour and infrastructure needs.
• Lead the development of customer service standards, integrating technology, accessibility and efficiency improvements into project execution.
• Refine procurement and operational strategies so they meet customer experience objectives, stakeholder expectations and regulatory compliance, and drive the integration of technical solutions that enhance service delivery.
• Lead operations and customer inputs into the ECI procurement process, including technical evaluations and adviser onboarding, and oversee contract management of advisory services against project milestones.
• Provide high level strategic advice on transport policy frameworks, prepare briefing papers and strategic reports, and lead regulatory compliance frameworks aligned to transport industry standards.
• Manage financial budgets and risk assessment processes, and anticipate future requirements, adapting project frameworks to political, strategic and operational demands.

About you

We are seeking a senior transport operations and customer executive with the technical depth to define a service that does not yet exist in Australia. Specifically, you bring:

• Strong knowledge of transport operations, particularly high speed rail systems and their integration into broader network strategies.
• Expertise in demand forecasting, including interpreting passenger behaviours and travel preferences to inform project planning.
• Strategic leadership in customer experience design, ensuring service models align with market expectations and industry best practice.
• High level proficiency in procurement strategy, including preparation, evaluation and contract management for operational and maintenance services.
• The ability to oversee and manage technical advisory services, ensuring outputs meet project requirements and regulatory standards.
• A deep understanding of policy frameworks and accreditation standards related to transport operations and infrastructure projects.
• The credibility to represent the Authority in policy forums, research initiatives and international best practice discussions.

Eligibility

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 & hold a degree or equivalent working experience.
• Hold or be able to obtain a Baseline security clearance & satisfy a National Police check (mandatory pre-employment screening).

RecruitAbility

The High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) 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, HSRA 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.

HSRA 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 for the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), 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 on Tuesday 6^th Oct 11.59pm AEDT.

To apply, please submit your CV together with a suitability statement via this advertisement.

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

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are encouraged to apply.
To apply please click apply or call Jane Lowney on (07) 3032 2252 for a confidential discussion.