Deputy Director-General, Sport and Racing

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Applications close midnight, Monday 9th March 2026

Overview

About the Department

The Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games is committed to supporting Queensland’s participation and success in sport and active recreation, and making more Queenslanders more active, more often.

We're investing in our community to enrich the Queensland way of life through sport and active recreation.

We’re also working to enable Queensland to deliver the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games on time and on budget.

Our Office of Racing is contributing to the growth and sustainability of the Queensland racing industry through oversight of Racing Queensland.

By joining the Queensland public sector, you will contribute to better outcomes for Queenslanders by implementing the policies, priorities, services or programs of the elected government.

Explore the 2032 Delivery Plan

As well as delivering a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2032 Delivery Plan takes advantage of the opportunity to connect Queensland by building the roads and infrastructure we need for the decades to come, all while we drive tourism and back our grassroots clubs.

Learn more

Our team – Sport and Racing

Sport and Racing delivers quality services by providing responsive and integrated support services for sport, recreation and racing opportunities for all Queenslanders. The team drives grassroots sport participation across the State through programs and services while also delivering the capital planning, build and maintenance program for the Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games (the Department). Ultimately the Department plays a key role in enabling Queensland’s Sport Strategy and delivering the Government’s commitments and priorities.

Sport and Racing supports and encourages participation and success in sport, active recreation and racing through delivery of:

Sport and recreation infrastructure facilitation and delivery
Operation of high-quality sport and recreation venues and precincts
Service delivery and community participation relating to sport, recreation and physical activity
Collaboration with industry stakeholders, state and national sporting organisations, local community groups, and relevant local government departments.
Policy frameworks shaped by research and analytics for sport, recreation and racing.
Performance pathways for elite and emerging athletes
Fair and equitable grant funding for individuals, sport and active recreation clubs, and state and national sporting organisations in collaboration with industry to support competition participation, infrastructure and infrastructure planning, and major events, including the 2032 Olympics
Training and accreditation programs and resources
Oversight of Racing Queensland and any future control bodies for approved codes of racing.

The key Acts governing services provided by Sport are the Major Sport Facilities Act 2001, Mt. Gravatt Showgrounds Act 1988, Recreation Areas Management Act 2006 and Sports Anti-Doping Act 2003. Specific to Racing, the role has oversight of legislation enabling the operation of the racing industry in Queensland – Racing Act 2002 and the Racing Regulation 2023, along with working in conjunction with other agencies responsible for the governance and administration of the racing industry in Queensland under the Racing Integrity Act 2016.

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About the Role

Deputy Director-General, Sport and Racing

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The Deputy Director-General Sport and Racing is a key leadership position that embeds a strong focus on driving grassroots sport participation across the State, enriching Queenslanders’ lives through long-term health, societal benefits including enhancing accessibility and commercial sustainability across the industry. It will support the strengthening of the integrity and sustainability of the racing industry, ensuring the long-term viability of all racing codes and venues. The Deputy Director-General provides strategic leadership for Sport and Racing, and is responsible for developing and delivering strategies, programs and initiatives to encourage active lifestyles and build the capacity of the sport, recreation and racing industries and provide coordinated performance pathways for emerging and elite athletes in the lead up to 2032 and beyond.

Reporting to the Director-General and as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the role leads and manages:

engagement and partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including industry, state and national sporting organisations, the racing community, local community groups, and local government to maximise the impact of investment and actions
development and delivery of evidence-based innovative programs and services that promote community sport, recreation, and physical activity, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity, to remove systemic barriers for all Queenslanders to achieve physical activity outcomes
identification, and where appropriate activation of opportunities delivering options for Queensland to host key sporting events and national training facilities, both pre and post the Olympic and Paralympic Games across the State
the development and oversight of policies, programs, initiatives, and services to encourage and enable equitable access to opportunities to be physically active, from community level to elite athletes
development, delivery and contract management of a suite of funding programs with local, state and national organisations to support community sport and active recreation needs
delivery of industry training and accreditation programs and resources to build capacity and capability across the sports, racing and recreation sector
the Department’s capital projects portfolio, valued at $40M annually along with oversight over $160M of capital grant program
delivery of high-quality infrastructure that supports the Department’s strategic priorities and meets the growing active lifestyle needs of Queenslanders
management of purpose-built sport and active recreation facilities, venues and precincts, including the Queensland Recreation Centres, including child safety responsibilities
the commercialisation of the assets within the control of the Department
delivery of government election commitments in relation to infrastructure and funding to support Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy for all Queenslanders.

Your opportunity

In this role you will:

Provide strategic leadership and expert advice to deliver the Department’s sport venues, infrastructure and services delivery objectives, ensuring alignment with government priorities and community needs.
Provide high quality advice, information and support to the Minister and the Director-General including representation of the Department at significant national, statewide and other forums.
Actively engage as part of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to strategic decisions that advance the interests of the Queenslanders, to facilitate the delivery of all portfolio objectives and Departmental strategic priorities.
Ensure the delivery of high-quality sport services at venues to Queensland in accordance with government priorities.
Build and mobilise collaborative partnerships with stakeholders, including all levels of government, sporting organisations and community groups, to achieve shared goals to unlock funding and collaboration opportunities.
Apply system-wide influence and advocacy for Sport and physical activity to be prioritised in strategic policy, direction and plans for the benefit of Queenslanders.
Drive commercial growth and develop new income streams.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement in program and service delivery, ensuring initiatives are evidence-based, outcomes-focused, and responsive to the needs of Queensland communities.
Oversee the planning, delivery, and maintenance of sport infrastructure projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to high-quality standards.
Lead the development and implementation of frameworks, processes, and reforms to expedite infrastructure delivery and improve outcomes.
Deliver on government election commitments including both infrastructure and program-related initiatives.
Influence sporting clubs with high value sport and recreation facilities in receipt of government investment to attain high quality sporting infrastructure solutions.
Drive sound governance, financial modelling, and procurement practices to support infrastructure investment decisions.
Contribute to a workplace culture based on values and behaviours, ensuring a positive work environment that is safe, healthy, diverse, respectful and inclusive.

This role requires travel including overnight stays. Some travel may be to remote communities.

What we are looking for

Appointments to the public sector are based on who is best suited for the role.

You will be assessed on your eligibility and suitability for employment, as well as the diversity of lived experience you bring to the role, team and department.

This role is identified as executive.

Building Queensland’s leaders of tomorrow, today.

Leadership Competencies for Queensland

How to Apply

To be considered, please provide the following information in your online application, for the assessment of your suitability:

A short (no more than two pages) statement focusing on how you align with the core accountabilities outlined.
Your current CV highlighting your relevant experience, qualifications, and achievements.
Our department values inclusion and diversity so please include information that will help us understand how you could contribute to our workforce diversity.

We are committed to supporting candidates who may require support or adjustments during the application stage as well as throughout the selection process.

If you need assistance with your application, or require any adjustment/s to actively participate in the recruitment process, please reach out to us. Luminary and the selection panel will work with you to ensure you receive the support or workplace adjustments you require at all stages of the recruitment process.

Apply Now

Applications close midnight, Monday 9th March 2026