Principal Policy Advisor (Cranes)

About the role

Randstad is recruiting a Principal Policy Officer in Brisbane, Queensland, working as a contractor on a full-time basis. The role drives the reform and modernisation of crane road access, moving movements from manual, permit-dependent processes into automated, network-based pathways within the National Automated Access System. It sits in a matrix project environment and involves close work with the state government sector.

Key responsibilities

• Analyse historical permit data, notices and legislative frameworks to set enduring policy settings.
• Translate complex access requirements such as axle loadings, travel curfews, route restrictions and pilot or escort conditions into digital business rules for system implementation.
• Lead cross-agency consultations with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, local councils, industry peak bodies and regional road managers to resolve onboarding barriers.
• Deliver Ministerial briefings, risk assessments and release-readiness advice to support automated decision-making across State and local government road networks.

Required profile

• Prior experience transitioning vehicles from single-trip or period permits to pre-approved network access, national notices or automated pre-consents.
• Experience consulting with municipal engineers, asset managers or regional joint organisations on infrastructure or access issues.
• Ability to ensure every digital rule maps to a legislative power, regulatory instrument or defensible engineering standard.
• Ability to reconcile industry demand for instant network access with local council concerns over pavement wear, bridge health and public liability.

Required skills

• Navigating the Heavy Vehicle National Law, state transport acts and local road management regulations.
• Drafting enforceable access notices, gazette notices, permit conditions, guidelines and formal road manager delegations.
• Practical grasp of mass, dimension, swept path, axle spacing, bridge capacity formulas and Special Purpose Vehicle classifications.
• Assessing the legal risk of moving from manual assessment to automated consent.