Deputy Director-General, Regional Delivery and Regulatory Services

• Lead the transition to a new seven-region delivery network
• Shape regional growth, biosecurity and regulatory outcomes
• Deliver locally tailored solutions across diverse Queensland regions

Queensland's regions are diverse, economically significant and critical to the state's future prosperity. Ensuring government services, regulatory activities and industry support reflect those regional differences is becoming increasingly important.

At the same time, the Department of Primary Industries is undertaking a significant organisational redesign. Through extensive consultation and collaboration with stakeholders across the state, this evolution is reshaping how the department delivers services, engages with customers and supports regional communities.

The Deputy Director-General, Regional Delivery and Regulatory Services will be at the forefront of that transformation.

The Opportunity

This newly created executive leadership role brings together regional delivery, regulatory services and biosecurity functions into a single statewide portfolio focused on delivering better outcomes for industry, communities and customers.

Leading a multidisciplinary group spanning agriculture, fisheries, forestry and biosecurity, you will be responsible for operational leadership across Queensland's expanding regional delivery network and the implementation of regulatory services that protect and support the state's primary industries.

A key focus of the role will be leading the transition from three regional areas to a new seven-region operating model aligned to the department's Prosper 2050 vision. This represents a fundamentally different approach to service delivery, placing greater authority, accountability and decision-making closer to the communities and industries being served.

With responsibility for an operational budget of approximately $73 million, you will help ensure government priorities translate into practical, locally relevant outcomes across some of the most diverse economic and geographic regions in Australia.

As a member of the DPI Leadership Board, you will contribute to the broader strategic direction of the department while helping establish the foundations of a new regional operating model.

The department welcomes applications from executive leaders across Queensland. This role will be based in a regional location in Queensland. Candidates from regional Queensland are encouraged to apply.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will be measured through the department's ability to deliver services that are regionally informed, locally responsive and strategically aligned.

You will:

• Lead the implementation of a statewide seven-region delivery model.
• Drive consistent service delivery while enabling local flexibility.
• Strengthen relationships between government, industry and communities.
• Deliver the Prosper 2050 regional agenda across Queensland.
• Lead critical biosecurity, compliance and regulatory functions.
• Oversee programs managing animal, plant and invasive species risks.
• Support preparedness and response activities across complex biosecurity environments.
• Improve customer experience through contemporary service delivery approaches.
• Build organisational capability across geographically dispersed teams.

A particular challenge and opportunity will be balancing statewide consistency with local responsiveness, recognising that the needs and priorities of Far North Queensland, Wide Bay, South East Queensland and other regions are rarely identical.

About You

You are a seasoned executive who understands that successful regional delivery requires more than simply decentralising services.

You bring the ability to translate strategy into action, empower local leadership and create operating models that respond to the realities of different communities, industries and markets.

You may come from government, industry, infrastructure, regulatory, biosecurity, natural resources or another complex service delivery environment. Regardless of background, you will have demonstrated success leading large operational portfolios, influencing across diverse stakeholder groups and delivering outcomes through others.

You will be recognised for your ability to:

• Lead large, geographically dispersed workforces.
• Navigate complex stakeholder and community environments.
• Drive operational performance and accountability.
• Build trusted partnerships across government and industry.
• Lead through ambiguity, change and transformation.
• Balance strategic priorities with practical delivery.
• Regional Queensland candidates are strongly encouraged to apply

Most importantly, you understand the value of regional leadership and believe that better outcomes are achieved when solutions are designed with, not simply for, local communities.

Why This Role Matters

Few executive opportunities offer such a direct connection between strategy, service delivery and community impact.

This role sits at the intersection of regional development, biosecurity, regulation and industry support. It will shape how the department engages with Queensland's regions, responds to local opportunities and challenges, and delivers services where they matter most.

It is an opportunity to help build a genuinely regionally empowered organisation while contributing to the long-term prosperity, resilience and sustainability of Queensland's primary industries.

Please note that this position is for a contract period of up to five years.
  
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Confidential inquiries to:
Kerry Larkin, Senior Associate, Luminary, on ************

Applications close: Midnight, Monday 12 October 2026

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