Assistant Director Salary Guide

Assistant Director positions are classified as Executive Level 1 (EL1) within the APS framework. Directors are classified as Executive Level 2 (EL2).

For the 2025–26 financial year, the base salary range for an EL1 Assistant Director is $120,750 to $143,200, depending on the agency Enterprise Agreement.

All APS Assistant Directors receive a 15.4% employer superannuation contribution paid on top of their base salary.

No, EL1 employees are salaried professional staff. Under APS Enterprise Agreements, they do not receive cash overtime payments. Extra hours are instead compensated through Time Off In Lieu (TOIL).

EL1 staff can negotiate TOIL with their manager to take paid time off in lieu of working significant extra hours, such as during critical policy or budget cycles.

An APS 6 is a senior practitioner or operational team leader working under general supervision. An EL1 is a middle manager or senior policy advisor with strategic ownership, greater autonomy, and financial delegations.

Most federal agencies have 4 to 5 increment steps in the EL1 salary band. Advancement occurs annually based on a satisfactory performance evaluation.

Yes, during the job offer stage, candidates can negotiate starting at a higher salary step (up to the maximum of the band) based on external experience or skills.

IFAs are written agreements that modify standard Enterprise Agreement clauses. At the EL1 level, IFAs are used to pay salary loadings to attract specialized technical, financial, or legal experts.

No, cash performance bonuses have been phased out across almost all federal departments in favor of structured base salary reviews and career progression.

EL1 employees are generally entitled to economy class for official domestic flights, but may receive business class for long flights or international travel depending on agency policy.

No. Motor vehicle allowances or executive cars are reserved for Senior Executive Service (SES) officers.

Generally no, unless the employee has significant other income. Division 293 tax applies at combined income and super contributions over $250,000. Most EL1 total packages sit below this threshold.

Financial delegations vary by agency but typical EL1 delegation limits range from $10,000 to $50,000 for approving operational expenditure under the PGPA Act.

Yes, EL1 staff typically hold delegations to approve leave, sign performance agreements, and participate in recruitment panels for APS 1-6 staff.

The ILS is a capability framework defining leadership behaviors expected at each level, including EL1, which focuses on strategic focus and relationship management.

Progression is not automatic. It requires applying for a vacant EL1 position through a competitive, merit-based recruitment process.

Successful EL1 candidates typically have 6 to 8 years of professional or relevant public sector experience, demonstrating strong strategic and management skills.

Interviews assess strategic alignment, relationship management, personal drive, program delivery, and cognitive capability.

Yes, lateral recruitment is common for candidates demonstrating equivalent leadership, project delivery, or technical capabilities.

Yes, most EAs support flexible working hours, including hybrid work-from-home arrangements and flextime systems, subject to manager approval.

The standard policy across major departments is a hybrid model, typically allowing 2 to 3 days of work-from-home per week.

Yes, compressed hours (e.g., 9-day fortnights) can be negotiated under flexible work provisions in many agency Enterprise Agreements.

The standard entitlement is 20 days of paid annual leave per year, accumulating progressively.

Purchased leave allows staff to purchase 1 to 4 weeks of extra leave per year, financed through fortnightly salary deductions.

Yes, APS agencies offer generous paid parental leave (typically 14 to 18 weeks) for primary and secondary caregivers.

Approved students can negotiate paid study leave (typically 3 to 5 hours per week) and financial reimbursement for course fees.

New ongoing employees typically undergo a 6-month probationary period during which performance and conduct are assessed.

Reviews occur annually under the agency’s Individual Performance Management Scheme, assessing performance against agreed workplans.

Salaries increase annually in line with the percentage increases negotiated under the active agency Enterprise Agreement.

Staff working in designated remote or regional localities receive regional allowances to compensate for living costs.

Yes, most EL1 roles require a security clearance (Baseline or NV1) processed by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency.

No. Branches are managed by SES Band 1 Assistant Secretaries. EL1 managers direct specific sections or teams within a branch.

Yes, many EL1 staff are members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which represents their interests in EA bargaining.

Accrued annual and sick leave balances transfer with you under portability of entitlements provisions in the Public Service Act.

Standard full-time hours are 37.5 to 38 hours per week, depending on the agency Enterprise Agreement.

The merit selection process from advertising to job offer typically takes 2 to 4 months.

Yes, after 10 years of continuous service in the APS or recognized public sector entities, staff accrue 3 months of paid long service leave.

Since EL1 staff do not receive overtime pay, weekend work is generally compensated with standard TOIL hours rather than penalty rates.

Yes, part-time work arrangements can be requested and approved based on operational requirements.

Managers requiring mobile access for work duties are generally provided with a government-funded smartphone.

There is no mandatory retirement age. Staff can access their superannuation benefits upon reaching preservation age.

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act regulates public resources. EL1 staff must comply with it when managing budgets.

Yes, pre-tax salary sacrificing is permitted up to the annual concessional contributions cap ($30,000).

Demotion can occur as a sanction under the APS Code of Conduct or due to structured underperformance procedures.

No, base salaries are set by agency EAs and are national, meaning the same agency pays the same rate in Canberra, Sydney, or Brisbane.

Higher earners without private health cover face an additional surcharge of 1.0% to 1.5% of their taxable income.

Yes, staff receive standard overnight travel allowances to cover accommodation, meals, and incidentals.

Yes, progressing to EL2 requires demonstrating strategic capability and applying for open Director vacancies.

A framework outlining core skills (leadership, digital, strategic, policy) required at each classification, including EL1.

HELP debt indexation does not change the compulsory repayment rate, but it increases the overall debt balance, meaning repayments continue for longer.

Yes, under super choice legislation, APS staff can nominate their own fund, though PSSap remains the default choice.