Lead MS SQL Data Platform Administrator

• Location: Canberra, ACT – Onsite, 5 days per week
• Contract: 12 months + 2 x 12-month extension options
• Security Clearance: Active NV1 required

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Lead MS SQL Data Platform Administrator to join a Federal Government environment supporting critical database infrastructure and cloud modernisation initiatives.

This role offers the opportunity to work across complex Microsoft SQL Server environments, supporting the ongoing management, optimisation and migration of business-critical databases to modern cloud platforms.

Working within a specialist database management team, you will play a key role in maintaining reliable, secure and high-performing database services while supporting the transition from traditional on-premises infrastructure to Azure SQL.

This opportunity is well suited to an experienced SQL Database Administrator who enjoys hands-on technical work, troubleshooting complex environments and contributing to cloud transformation projects.

Key Duties

• Install, configure, administer and maintain Microsoft SQL Server databases, ensuring high availability, security and performance.
• Monitor and optimise database performance, replication and indexing, identifying and resolving technical bottlenecks.
• Design, implement and maintain database clustering, Always On Availability Groups, automated backups and disaster recovery solutions.
• Support database migration and modernisation initiatives across on-premises, Azure and AWS environments.
• Manage database security configurations, certificates and access controls.
• Administer and optimise SSAS, SSIS, SSRS and Power BI reporting environments.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex database performance and configuration issues across hybrid and cloud platforms.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation covering database configurations, changes, procedures and operational processes.

Skills and Experience Required

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• 7+ years’ experience in SQL Server database administration or a closely related role.
• Strong hands-on experience administering and supporting Microsoft SQL Server environments.
• Demonstrated experience with SQL Server Always On Availability Groups and Azure SQL Databases.
• Advanced SQL/T-SQL skills, including performance tuning, troubleshooting and optimisation.
• Strong PowerShell scripting skills to automate database administration and maintenance activities.
• Experience managing database availability, replication, backup and disaster recovery processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a proactive approach to database management.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a technical team.
• An active NV1 security clearance.

Highly Desirable

• Experience with Azure DevOps, Git and DevOps practices.
• Experience with SQL database development.
• Experience supporting database migration and modernisation activities within cloud environments.

Application Process

If you are an experienced SQL Server Database Administrator looking for an opportunity to contribute to a significant Federal Government cloud modernisation program, we encourage you to get in touch.

If you would like to apply, please contact Emma on 0480 804 408 or email emma.gibbons@talentinternational.com

For over 30 years Talent has been redefining the contracting experience with industry leading support, exclusive contractor benefits & a world-class digital platform ENGAGE to access it all. Apply today to see how we can elevate your career

Data Governance Specialist | NSW Government

Lead the design of an enterprise-wide Data Governance Framework and Operating Model

Major NSW Government organisation

Talent International is partnering with a major NSW Government organisation to recruit an experienced Data Governance Specialist to lead the design and establishment of an enterprise-wide Data Governance Framework and Operating Model.

This is a senior, strategic opportunity to work closely with executive stakeholders and business leaders, establishing practical and sustainable governance practices that improve how data is owned, managed and utilised across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of an Enterprise Data Governance Framework and Operating Model.

• Identify key data domains, strategic data assets and associated ownership and stewardship responsibilities.

• Develop governance structures, policies, standards, procedures and accountability models.

• Provide expert advice on data governance best practices and industry standards.

• Engage with executives, business leaders and stakeholders to build consensus and organisational buy-in.

• Develop recommendations for implementation, change management and capability uplift.

• Identify and manage governance-related risks and challenges.

• Establish practical governance arrangements that support consistent enterprise-wide data management.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated experience designing and establishing enterprise-wide Data Governance Frameworks and Operating Models.

• Strong understanding of data ownership, stewardship, governance structures and accountability models.

• Proven experience leading strategic data governance initiatives in large, complex organisations.

• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills, particularly working with senior executives.

• Ability to influence stakeholders, navigate competing priorities and build organisational consensus.

• Experience driving organisational change and supporting the adoption of new governance practices.

• Strong communication, facilitation and documentation skills.

• Ability to translate governance best practices into practical, business-focused outcomes.

• Previous NSW Government or broader public sector experience will be highly regarded.

What’s on Offer

• Opportunity to shape enterprise-wide data governance practices.

• Work directly with senior executives and business leaders.

• Play a key role in establishing a sustainable Data Governance Framework and Operating Model.

• Contribute to a significant strategic initiative within a major NSW Government organisation.

How to Apply

If you’re an experienced Data Governance Specialist who has successfully designed and established enterprise-wide governance frameworks, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now or reach out to Talent International for a confidential discussion.

Workforce Planning & Analytics Specialists – EL1 / EL2

Our client is a large values-focused Federal Government Agency seeking experienced Workforce Planning & Analytics professionals across EL1 and EL2 levels to support the development of an enterprise workforce planning capability.

These roles work closely together, combining workforce analytics, financial and operational data, scenario modelling, reporting and strategic workforce planning to support evidence-based workforce decisions across a large and complex organisation.

ROLE DETAILS:

Positions:
EL1 – Workforce Data Analyst / Specialist
EL2 – Senior Enterprise Workforce Planning Specialist

Location: Richmond OR Geelong, VIC
Contract: 12 months, with extension potential
Hours: Hybrid – Full-time, 37.5hrs/week

Eligibility: Australian Citizenship mandatory

Applications Close: Tuesday 27 October

Rates:
EL1 – $602.55 per day + super
EL2 – $754.20 per day + super

ABOUT THE ROLES:

These opportunities sit within the same enterprise workforce planning function but have different areas of emphasis.

EL1 – Workforce Data Analyst / Specialist:

A hands-on analytics role responsible for building the evidence base behind workforce planning. You’ll collect, cleanse and reconcile workforce, financial and operational data, develop reports and visualisations, identify trends and support workforce scenario modelling.

EL2 – Senior Enterprise Workforce Planning Specialist:

A senior strategic role leading the Agency’s enterprise workforce planning approach. You’ll integrate workforce demand, supply, cost and funding information, develop workforce scenarios, establish planning frameworks and governance, and provide strategic advice to senior executives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Across the two roles, responsibilities will include:

• Analyse workforce demand, supply, workforce mix, vacancies, recruitment and cost information.
• Integrate workforce, financial and operational data to support planning decisions.
• Develop workforce scenarios, forecasts and evidence-based recommendations.
• Produce reporting, visualisations and executive workforce insights.
• Identify trends, risks, evidence gaps and emerging workforce pressures.
• Maintain workforce planning datasets, assumptions and reporting processes.
• Work with Finance, People & Culture, operational teams and data owners to validate findings.
• Support the development of sustainable workforce planning methodologies, tools and governance.

At EL2 level, you’ll also lead enterprise workforce planning methodology, influence senior leaders, establish governance frameworks and prepare executive advice on workforce risks, trade-offs and strategic decisions.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Experience in workforce planning, workforce analytics or strategic workforce management.
• Strong workforce and financial data analysis capability.
• Experience with workforce demand and supply analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling.
• Strong reporting, visualisation and analytical skills.
• Ability to translate complex workforce data into clear insights and recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Experience working across large and complex organisations highly regarded.
• Public sector workforce planning experience highly desirable.

EL1 candidates should bring stronger hands-on experience across data cleansing, reconciliation, datasets, reporting products and workforce analytics.

EL2 candidates should bring significant enterprise workforce planning experience, including workforce strategy, governance, methodology development and executive-level advice.

APPLY:

Submit your resume, or for further information please contact
Reece Prideaux – Talent International
reece.prideaux@talentinternational.com

For over 30 years Talent has been redefining the contracting experience with industry leading support, exclusive contractor benefits & a world-class digital platform ENGAGE to access it all. Apply today to see how we can elevate your career

• Contract until end of April 2027 – Government Agency
• Melbourne CBD Location – Hybrid Working Arrangement
• Databricks, Python, SQL and Azure

We are seeking a Data Engineer – Databricks to join a major data platform migration program. You will play a hands-on role in transitioning an existing SQL Server data warehouse and associated pipelines to a modern Databricks and Azure environment.

Key Responsibilities
Lead the migration of an existing SQL Server data warehouse and ETL environment into Databricks and Azure.

• Translate existing SQL warehouse structures, queries, stored procedures and ETL logic into scalable Databricks solutions.
• Build and develop Databricks notebooks, data pipelines and workflows using SQL and Python.
• Analyse existing SQL data and processes, identify migration requirements
• Support data validation, testing, optimisation and troubleshooting throughout the migration

Key Skills and Experience

• 10+ years of hands-on experience as a Data Engineer.
• Strong hands-on experience with Databricks, including data engineering, notebooks, workflows and pipelines.
• Advanced SQL skills, with proven experience working with data warehouses
• Strong Python development skills, particularly for building data pipelines
• Proven experience migrating SQL Server data warehouses, ETL processes or data platforms to Databricks or similar modern data platforms.

What’s in it for you:

• Contract until end of April 2027
• Government Agency
• Melbourne CBD/ Hybrid Working Arrangement

Apply now to secure an interview or contact Donal McCann on donal.mccann@talentinternational.com for a confidential discussion.

Our client is an iconic Australian organisation delivering a large enterprise transformation program and we’re seeking an experienced Program Cost Modeller to deliver a new, integrated and audit-defensible whole-of-program cost model through to completion.

---

What you’ll be doing

• Build an integrated, driver-based program cost model aligned to a revised delivery roadmap
• Translate scope, schedule, resourcing, supplier commitments and assumptions into a transparent cost + cashflow view
• Reconcile actuals, commitments, forecasts, suppliers and workforce plans into a controlled baseline
• Deliver business case-ready outputs, including inputs for the Investment Evaluation Model (IEM)
• Produce scenario and sensitivity modelling (timing, scope, sequencing, resourcing mix, supplier costs, contingency)
• Establish strong model governance: assumption register, source register, version control, QA checks and handover documentation

---

What you’ll bring

• Strong background in program/portfolio cost modelling within large, complex transformation or technology programs
• Demonstrated experience producing models for investment approval, business cases, funding decisions and executive governance
• Advanced skills in scenario modelling, cashflow forecasting, cost-to-complete/EAC and movement/bridge analysis
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills across Finance, Planning, Commercial and delivery teams
• A focus on transparency, traceability and auditability

For more information feel free to contact Ben Austin at ben.austin@talentinternational.com

For over 30 years Talent has been redefining the contracting experience with industry leading support, exclusive contractor benefits & a world-class digital platform ENGAGE to access it all. Apply today to see how we can elevate your career

Senior Applied AI Engineer

Join a major digital transformation initiative focused on improving complex operational planning and scheduling.

The role sits within a small, highly collaborative product team developing an AI-enabled decision-support platform that combines operational data, mathematical optimisation and agentic AI.

A big focus initially will be working closely with Data Engineers to get the underlying data models right, before helping build optimisation and AI capabilities that allow users to interrogate complex operational information using natural language.

Key areas include:

* Data modelling and analytical workflows
* Mathematical optimisation, planning and scheduling
* AWS Bedrock and AgentCore
* Agentic AI workflows and tool integrations
* Python and production-grade software engineering
* Natural language interfaces over operational data
* Building practical, user-facing decision-support products

This is not a traditional AI Engineering role focused purely on LLM architecture or prompt engineering. The team is looking for someone who understands how optimisation models, operational data and AI can work together to solve complex planning problems.

A strong product mindset will also be important. They want someone who can challenge assumptions, ask what will genuinely create value for users, and help keep the solution aligned to the broader product vision.

Must-have experience:
* AWS Bedrock and AgentCore
* Strong data modelling experience
* Python / software engineering capability
* Experience building enterprise AI solutions
* Ability to work across data, optimisation and application engineering

Experience in optimisation, scheduling, industrial environments, mining/resources or other complex operational settings would be highly regarded.

If this sounds aligned with your background, feel free to reach out for a confidential conversation.