Australia's foreign spy agency is undergoing a tech reboot

Australia’s foreign espionage service is scouring the market for two new technology chiefs to lead the agency through a secretive but "major" technology-enabled business transformation.

The Australian Secret Intelligence Service maintains a statutory right to keep its finances, staffing and operations under wraps, but two new job ads have offered a rare sneak peek into IT changes within the organisation.

ASIS, which falls into the foreign affairs and trade portfolio, has put out two recruitment ads to hire a pair of assistant directors general to take the reins of its refreshed business strategy.

A successful candidate for the first position will head the spy agency’s IT-enabled “business change program” in the role of assistant director general for its future business model.

They will need to address the risks associated with change management, integrate the business changes into existing operational strategies, and make sure ASIS stays within “government and legislative requirements”.

ASIS said the new organisational approach will be “fundamental to the success of the service in delivering its unique product for the Australian government”.

The new chief will need to maintain a top level security clearance for the duration of the five-year contract on offer.

The future business boss will likely work hand in hand with an assistant director general assigned to information management and technology, the second role ASIS is looking to fill.

The back office-focused role will support the foreign spy agency’s technology needs and make sure its activities stay within the strict privacy and data sharing parameters set by Australian and international law.

At the same time the executive will also be expected to lead a “large stream” of IT modernisation work that will take place within the future business change program.

“This ‘dual role’ requires careful management and prioritisation to realise strategic objectives while simultaneously managing ICT service delivery in an operational environment,” the job ad states.

Both new executives will take up seats on the ASIS senior leadership team, based out of its Canberra headquarters.