Executive General Manager, Commercial & Strategy

Lead commercial strategy and project sponsorship for Australia's first high speed rail network.

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 – Line 1 connects Newcastle to Sydney 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 funding now committed to progress Line 1, HSRA are forming an executive 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, regional economic and tourism development and contributing to net zero. 

About the role 

The purpose of this role during the Development Phase is to drive desired project commercial outcomes and benefit realisation as outlined in the business case. 

As program sponsor, the role oversees project strategy, procurement, commercial risk, representation of the project to external stakeholders, and the broadening of revenue and pricing models. 

What you'll lead 

• Lead the commercial workstream for advisers, ECI and construction contracts, and own commercial risk allocation across the project. 

• Build commercial partnerships with industry stakeholders to unlock growth opportunities, and lead and manage commercial contracts and transactions to support delivery objectives. 

• Work closely with the CFO on the most appropriate funding and financing strategy. 

• Lead the design and implementation of project governance frameworks and change control as part of the development of the Project Sponsor Process. 

• Own the development and updating of business cases that articulate strategic intent, resource implications and projected benefits to inform decision-making at executive and ministerial levels. 

• Provide commercial oversight and governance for high-value procurements critical to project success. 

About you 

We are seeking a senior commercial executive with the expertise to drive project commercial outcomes and benefits realisation across a major infrastructure program.

Specifically, you bring: 

• Project sponsorship expertise — detecting emerging risks and challenges early in the project lifecycle, evaluating multiple options, and developing innovative, realistic solutions to complex problems. 

• Procurement and transactions experience — leading strategy, interpreting and negotiating complex contract terms, and securing optimal value, with understanding of Australian Government procurement requirements. 

• Project governance leadership — establishing and maintaining robust governance frameworks to ensure project oversight and accountability. 

• Commercial delivery and development capability — identifying mutual value opportunities, building commercial partnerships, negotiating commercial contracts, and identifying and allocating commercial risk. 

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). 

Next Steps

Applications closed on Thursday 28th May at 5pm AEST.

To apply, please submit your CV together with a suitability statement to our recruitment partners, Robert Walters, via email to HSRAExecutive@robertwalters.com.au

A full position description is available to download on www.robertwalters.com.au/hsra.html or via request at HSRAExecutive@robertwalters.com.au

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.