DIRECTOR, RESEARCH

Key Focus Areas Australian critical infrastructure organisation Lead strategic research and development Champion a culture of innovation About the organisation .au Domain Administration Limited (auDA) is Australia’s country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) administrator and self‑regulatory policy body, which oversees the operation and management framework of the .au domain of the internet. auDA is a community‑based not‑for‑profit public company limited by guarantee, which is endorsed by the Australian Government and has an agreement with the global Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to manage the .au ccTLD. auDA’s role is to provide a safe, secure and operational namespace for more than 20 million Australian internet users. Under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth), auDA has been declared as the entity that is critical to the administration of the Australian Domain Name System. About the role The Director, Research & Development is a newly created position reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. This role will play a pivotal part in leading auDA’s research and development programme, and coordinating the delivery of the ‘Innovation’ strategic objective to utilise new technologies and new approaches to ensure the financial sustainability of auDA as a self‑funded not‑for‑profit organisation, and to improve the utility of .au. The appointee will explore and develop solutions such as an online identity service linked to .au domain names, privacy protections for registrants, the use of AI to augment domain integrity, and internal productivity enhancement tools and new ways of working. Critical to success will be being instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation. Supporting auDA’s commitment to driving positive public impact, the role oversees the grant programmes designed to advance new knowledge and support digital inclusion. Contributing to positively shaping the ecosystem in which auDA operates, the Director will invest in building strategic partnerships with research institutions and industry partners, and engage with global peers. About you A highly effective leader in research management and commercially viable product development, including leadership in digital R&D, you have ideally been gained in innovation‑centred or platform‑based companies. This may include technology‑enabled utilities, SaaS, fintech, software product development, internet infrastructure or similar organisations. Your technical fluency covers DNS architecture and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Underpinning your proactive approach to identifying new and viable digital service opportunities is your ability to use data‑driven analysis to translate research findings into practical solutions. Possessing exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, you are effective in articulating complex technical concepts to diverse audiences as well as navigating multi‑stakeholder environments. A champion of innovation and naturally a cross‑organisational collaborator, you have contributed significantly to building culture and enthusiasm for new ways of working. You relish the opportunity to apply your deep expertise, commercial mindset and outstanding people skills in protecting and advancing this critical asset for all Australians. How to apply Click ‘Apply’ to submit your CV. For more information prior to application, please contact David Pleydell at SHK via email on , quoting reference . Direct and third‑party applications will be forwarded to SHK. #J-18808-Ljbffr