Recruiter :
Ashleigh McMillan
Queensland Corrective Services is seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Manager Project Planning and Design to help drive organisational reform and deliver initiatives that make a real difference to community safety and rehabilitation outcomes.
About Queensland Corrective Services
Queensland Corrective Services is a government agency responsible for managing custodial facilities and supporting the supervision and rehabilitation of offenders across Queensland. With eleven high-security and six low-security correctional centres, along with 35 probation and parole offices and over 140 reporting locations, QCS plays a vital role in the criminal justice system.
The Transformation Office leads QCS’s reform agenda, ensuring initiatives are aligned with strategic priorities and deliver real public value. The office provides stewardship of the portfolio, offers strategic advice to the board, and is responsible for shaping the scope and feasibility of new initiatives—most of which are driven by mandated budget priorities. It serves as the “front door” for transformation, interfacing closely with the strategic policy team that supports budget submissions.
About the Role
The Manager Project Planning and Design plays a key role within the Strategic Transformation Group. The position was established to strengthen the front-end design of programs and ensure initiatives are investment-ready and positioned for successful delivery.
This role requires someone who can quickly extract operational insights and translate them into structured project proposals. This includes concept development, business case preparation, and aligning proposals with the broader strategic goals of the organisation. You will also contribute to benefits realisation, investment planning, workforce and resource modelling, and support a maturing portfolio management function.
Key responsibilities include:
• Scoping and shaping new initiatives through structured engagement and consultation
• Leading development of program briefs, concept papers, and business cases
• Translating operational input into fundable and deliverable proposals
• Supporting investment logic, workforce planning, and benefits management
• Advising stakeholders and senior leaders across QCS on planning feasibility and alignment
• Navigating the authorising environment of a large, complex public sector organisation
About You
You will be experienced in planning or strategy roles within complex or government environments. You are confident working with ambiguity and competing demands and bring strong discipline knowledge in strategic and portfolio management. You can sit with senior operational leaders, draw out their vision, and shape it into viable and budget-ready projects.
To be successful, you will demonstrate:
• Strong experience in strategic planning, business case development, or public sector transformation
• High-level communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• A practical understanding of investment planning and project governance
• Capacity to work independently with limited runway to bring others up to speed
• Comfort working in both conceptual and delivery-focused environments
• A collaborative mindset with a strong focus on outcomes and alignment to strategic goals
Why Join QCS
This is a high-impact role offering the chance to shape significant reform across Queensland’s corrective services. QCS offers flexible work arrangements including up to 50 percent in-office, a highly engaged executive team, and the opportunity to be part of a purpose-led organisation focused on behavioural change and community safety.
How to Apply
Submit your application via www.ontalent.com.au/qcs including a one to two-page cover letter and your resume.
For a confidential discussion, contact Celia Jones or Ashleigh McMillan on 07 3305 5800.
Queensland Corrective Services and OnTalent are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from all backgrounds.
About Queensland Corrective Services
Queensland Corrective Services is a government agency responsible for managing custodial facilities and supporting the supervision and rehabilitation of offenders across Queensland. With eleven high-security and six low-security correctional centres, along with 35 probation and parole offices and over 140 reporting locations, QCS plays a vital role in the criminal justice system.
The Transformation Office leads QCS’s reform agenda, ensuring initiatives are aligned with strategic priorities and deliver real public value. The office provides stewardship of the portfolio, offers strategic advice to the board, and is responsible for shaping the scope and feasibility of new initiatives—most of which are driven by mandated budget priorities. It serves as the “front door” for transformation, interfacing closely with the strategic policy team that supports budget submissions.
About the Role
The Manager Project Planning and Design plays a key role within the Strategic Transformation Group. The position was established to strengthen the front-end design of programs and ensure initiatives are investment-ready and positioned for successful delivery.
This role requires someone who can quickly extract operational insights and translate them into structured project proposals. This includes concept development, business case preparation, and aligning proposals with the broader strategic goals of the organisation. You will also contribute to benefits realisation, investment planning, workforce and resource modelling, and support a maturing portfolio management function.
Key responsibilities include:
• Scoping and shaping new initiatives through structured engagement and consultation
• Leading development of program briefs, concept papers, and business cases
• Translating operational input into fundable and deliverable proposals
• Supporting investment logic, workforce planning, and benefits management
• Advising stakeholders and senior leaders across QCS on planning feasibility and alignment
• Navigating the authorising environment of a large, complex public sector organisation
About You
You will be experienced in planning or strategy roles within complex or government environments. You are confident working with ambiguity and competing demands and bring strong discipline knowledge in strategic and portfolio management. You can sit with senior operational leaders, draw out their vision, and shape it into viable and budget-ready projects.
To be successful, you will demonstrate:
• Strong experience in strategic planning, business case development, or public sector transformation
• High-level communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• A practical understanding of investment planning and project governance
• Capacity to work independently with limited runway to bring others up to speed
• Comfort working in both conceptual and delivery-focused environments
• A collaborative mindset with a strong focus on outcomes and alignment to strategic goals
Why Join QCS
This is a high-impact role offering the chance to shape significant reform across Queensland’s corrective services. QCS offers flexible work arrangements including up to 50 percent in-office, a highly engaged executive team, and the opportunity to be part of a purpose-led organisation focused on behavioural change and community safety.
How to Apply
Submit your application via www.ontalent.com.au/qcs including a one to two-page cover letter and your resume.
For a confidential discussion, contact Celia Jones or Ashleigh McMillan on 07 3305 5800.
Queensland Corrective Services and OnTalent are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from all backgrounds.
