Legislative Policy & Reform - Assistant Director

Chandler Macleod is recruiting on behalf of our Federal Government client for an experienced Legislative Policy & Reform Assistant Director to join a high-performing team responsible for leading complex legislative and regulatory reform initiatives within the disability sector.
This is an exciting opportunity for a policy professional with strong Federal Government experience to contribute to significant policy and legislative reforms that support regulatory and safeguarding outcomes across Australia.

About the Role As the Legislative Policy & Reform Assistant Director, you will provide strategic policy, legislative and regulatory advice while leading the development and implementation of reform initiatives. You will work closely with senior executives, government agencies and key stakeholders to shape policy outcomes and drive legislative change.

The successful candidate will lead complex policy projects, prepare high-quality executive materials and contribute to cross-government reform programs in a dynamic and high-profile environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, review and reform of legislation, regulations and policy frameworks.
• Provide strategic advice on emerging regulatory, safeguarding and operational issues.
• Prepare high-quality briefs, submissions, executive papers, correspondence and Cabinet-related materials.
• Develop consultation strategies and coordinate stakeholder engagement activities.
• Manage complex policy and legislative reform projects.
• Support cross-agency and intergovernmental reform initiatives.
• Identify legislative, regulatory and operational risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Support the implementation of policy and legislative reforms through governance and change management activities.
• Build productive relationships with Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies, disability sector stakeholders and internal business areas.

What We're Looking For To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:
Essential Experience

• Strong policy development experience within the Australian Federal Government.
• Experience developing legislative policy and providing legislative or regulatory advice.
• Proven ability to prepare briefs, submissions, ministerial correspondence and executive materials.
• Experience engaging and consulting with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Strong written communication, analytical and project management skills.

Highly Desirable

• Experience leading or contributing to legislative reform programs.
• Understanding of regulatory environments and government decision-making processes.
• Experience supporting policy implementation and change management activities.

Key Deliverables The successful contractor will:

• Deliver high-quality policy and legislative advice to senior decision-makers.
• Lead or contribute to legislative and regulatory reform projects.
• Develop policy positions, drafting instructions and reform implementation strategies.
• Coordinate stakeholder consultation and engagement activities.
• Provide governance and executive support through briefing materials and committee papers.
• Manage project milestones, risks and reporting requirements.

Why Apply?

• Long-term contract through to October 2027.
• Potential 12-month contract extension.
• Flexible location arrangements across multiple capital cities.
• Hybrid working arrangements available, subject to operational requirements.
• Opportunity to contribute to nationally significant policy and legislative reform initiatives.

If you are an experienced Federal Government policy professional with expertise in legislative policy and reform, we would love to hear from you.



At Chandler Macleod, we are committed to fostering a diverse workforce where everyone is welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, neurodiverse, people living with a disability and the LGBTIQA+ community.

You can read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion at https://www.chandlermacleod.com/diversity-and-inclusion.