Head of Australian Federal Government Relations

About the Role

BHP is looking for an exceptional Government Relations professional and leader to join the team in the role of Head of Australian Federal Government Relations. 

In this critical role, you will lead and have the ultimate responsibility for the engagement with the Australian Federal Government, supporting executive engagement with Australia’s diplomatic representatives in other jurisdictions as well as engagement with foreign representatives to Australia.

As the Head of Australian Federal Government Relations, you will be accountable for:

• Providing regular advice to and working closely with all members of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to inform our business decisions and to facilitate and support engagement with senior government officials and policy makers.
• Proactively manage direct political engagement for the ELT (and Chairman) to assist their achievement of agreed commercial and policy objectives.
• Coordinating BHP’s participation in public debates and policy forums including Parliamentary Inquiries and submissions, including through a close working relationship with our communications and media teams.
• Providing secretariat support to BHP’s Board representatives at Business Council of Australia (BCA), Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) and other peak bodies as required.
• Coordinating the development and implementation of an integrated Australian political engagement plan across all operating jurisdictions (including national and state level), ensuring best practice, consistency of approach and alignment towards clear commercial priorities. 
• Overseeing a team of deep subject matter experts and providing direction for and day-to-day management, including planning, budgeting and people development.
• Establishing direction and Chair the operation of a country wide Government Relations ‘Practice Group’ that brings together all relevant CA team members who engage with Governments at Federal, state and local levels in Australia - to drive the enhancement of culture and capability across the business.
• Acting as a key strategic advisor on Government Relations and political engagement to BHP’s most senior leaders.

• Overseeing BHP’s relationship with the Australian Government, the Opposition, and minor parties, members of the cross bench and agencies of Government.
• Representing BHP at external forums and relevant industry meetings.
• Driving engagement with political leaders and Government agencies to ensure BHP’s views are incorporated into regulatory and legislative considerations.
• Ensuring BHP’s prominent and positive contribution in Australia is maintained and enhanced through planned and regular engagement of Government officials by senior BHP representatives.
• Identification of opportunities to influence and seek to have BHP’s position and operating context inform relevant Government decisions or inquiries that could have an impact on our current or future operations and fiscal arrangements.

In this role, you will be located in Melbourne. 

About You

You will be seasoned professional with extensive experience working with Government and policy makers at senior levels, as well as expertise in managing political risk and government engagement, with a deep knowledge of how government policy process can be used to support the achievement of commercial outcomes. It is crucial you have an understanding of operational, strategic and emerging risks and impacts, and are able to anticipate emerging trends.

As a natural relationship builder, you are readily able to engage, negotiate and influence with the most senior levels of business and external stakeholders to drive change, along with being comfortable at externally representing at a national Government level.  Due to your depth of experience, you have exceptional decision making and judgement skills which are particularly valuable in highly complex and ambiguous situations.   Additionally, you are seen as a person with high levels of integrity, utilising discretion in dealing with sensitive issues and possess well developed issue management skills.

With proven success in leading highly competent and experienced teams, you are able to drive a high performance and inclusive culture, whilst continuing to provide mentoring and coaching to bring the best out of people.   

A tertiary qualification in politics, economics, communications, business or a related field is required.