Principal Program Officer (Community Housing)

Role overview

Queensland Government is seeking a highly capable Principal Program Officer (AO7) to join the Contract Management team in Brisbane. This permanent, flexible full-time position focuses on helping deliver Queensland’s social and affordable housing priorities through strong contract management, capital grant project delivery, and funding reform work. The role is intended to support the growth of community-owned and community-managed housing so more Queenslanders can access safe and affordable homes.

In this leadership role, you will work across housing projects and partnerships that have a direct impact on housing supply and community outcomes. The position suits someone who can manage stakeholder relationships, work through complex issues, and turn analysis into practical solutions.

Key duties

• Manage negotiations with community housing providers, oversee performance and compliance under funding agreements, and represent the State’s interests.
• Lead high-level projects that support the capital grant program and help ensure successful delivery.
• Carry out detailed business analysis and prepare reports to address emerging issues and respond to information requests.
• Maintain accurate data and support high-quality data collection for reporting and decision-making.
• Prepare proposals, project plans, briefing papers, and other advice to support strategy and resolve complex matters.
• Provide financial, contractual, and policy guidance for market-based proposals aimed at increasing social and affordable housing development.
• Develop and maintain professional networks with community housing providers, government agencies, financiers, and not-for-profit organisations.
• Support and implement funding reforms aligned with the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027 and responsive to the needs of diverse communities and client groups.

What success looks like

Your contribution will help strengthen Queensland’s housing system by improving processes, building partnerships, and delivering projects that expand access to secure, sustainable, and affordable housing. The work supports better long-term outcomes for individuals and families who need housing assistance.

Candidate profile

The department is looking for someone with strong knowledge of the community housing sector and the ability to deliver results in a collaborative, fast-moving environment. You should be organised, self-directed, comfortable managing multiple priorities, and able to meet deadlines consistently. The role also calls for confidence in contract negotiation, compliance oversight, performance management, risk analysis, and evidence-based decision-making.

You will need to communicate clearly in both written and spoken form, influence stakeholders effectively, and work well with internal and external partners. The ability to share knowledge, build team capability, and contribute to continuous improvement is also important.

Additional information

Applicants should refer to the role description and applicant guide for details on how to apply, the recruitment process, and employee benefits. Applications will remain active for 12 months. The occupational group for this position is Community Care.