Policy & Government Relations Manager

Manager, Policy & Government Relations

National Peak Body | Sydney or Brisbane

$150,000 – $160,000 + Super

Permanent Full-Time | Hybrid & Flexible Working

About the Organisation

Our client is a national peak body representing a specialised sector of the Australian building and construction industry. With a membership spanning sole traders through to large national businesses, the organisation exists to support its members, drive industry standards, and ensure the sector has a strong, credible voice in the policy and regulatory environments that shape its work.

The work this organisation does is consequential - the industry it represents plays a direct role in community safety outcomes across Australia. It is a purpose-driven environment with a collaborative national team and an active, engaged membership.

The Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, this is the organisation's national government relations function — a senior individual contributor role for someone who knows how to get things done in and around state government. The core of this role is relationship-led: building and maintaining trusted relationships with state politicians, ministerial advisers, and senior officials, and having the conversations that move the needle on the issues that matter to members.

The advocacy agenda is active and consequential right now. Queensland is in the midst of a regulatory framework reform that demands informed, proactive engagement. Following upcoming state elections, New South Wales is also expected to present significant activity. You will be the organisation's lead voice in those conversations — knowing who to approach, how to frame the ask, and how to build the relationships that produce real outcomes.

You will bring the political intelligence and relationship capital to make policy land. You understand how politicians think, what they respond to, and how to have a difficult conversation in a way that keeps the relationship intact and moves the organisation's position forward.

What You'll Be Doing

• Building and managing relationships with state politicians, ministerial advisers, and senior officials across NSW and Queensland — and developing relationships in other eastern states as the advocacy agenda requires.
• Representing the organisation in meetings with ministers and their offices, government agencies, parliamentary committees, and industry forums — making the case for member interests with confidence and credibility.
• Monitoring state-based legislative, regulatory, and political developments across relevant portfolios, providing the CEO with timely intelligence on emerging risks and opportunities.
• Supporting the CEO in translating policy positions into effective government engagement strategies — bringing the political nous to know how and when to deploy them.
• Identifying the right entry points into government — who to approach, through which channels, and at which stage of a policy or regulatory process.
• Building the organisation's profile and relationships across both sides of politics, maintaining credibility and effectiveness regardless of which party holds power.
• Coordinating engagement with allied peak bodies, industry partners, and other stakeholders to build coalitions around shared advocacy priorities.

What We're Looking For

Essential:

• Direct experience working in or alongside a state-level political office — as a ministerial adviser, senior adviser, chief of staff, or equivalent. You understand how politicians and their offices operate because you've worked inside that environment.
• Strong existing relationships across state government in NSW or Queensland, with the ability to build and activate networks at the ministerial and senior official level.
• The political acumen to navigate sensitive, contested environments with discretion — knowing when to push, when to hold back, and how to keep conversations productive when positions differ.
• Genuine comfort engaging directly with politicians and senior decision-makers — you're confident in a room with a minister and can hold your own in a difficult conversation.
• A bipartisan approach and a professional rather than political identity — you are effective across both sides of government and do not carry visible alignment to either.
• Strong verbal communication skills and the ability to translate complex issues into clear, compelling messages for a political audience.
• Currently based in Sydney or Brisbane.

Location & Flexibility

This role is open to candidates based in Sydney or Brisbane. Hybrid working arrangements are on offer, with the expectation of regular travel interstate and to Canberra as advocacy activities require.

What's on Offer

• A high-impact senior role with direct access to the CEO — your relationships and political intelligence will directly shape advocacy outcomes for a sector with real community safety consequences.
• An active, varied government relations agenda with genuine momentum across multiple jurisdictions.
• A collaborative, purpose-driven national team culture.
• Hybrid working and real flexibility in how you manage your time.