SES Recruitment Guide

Overview

The role of the Senior Executive Service (SES) is vital in shaping the Australian Public Service (APS). To reflect this, the legislation details the important function that the SES plays in providing APS wide ethical and strategic leadership of the highest quality that contributes to an effective and cohesive APS. A high performing public service requires recruitment of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those who may bring valuable private sector experience.

The APS needs SES employees who exemplify leadership behaviours as set out in the APS Values and the Secretaries’ Charter of Leadership Behaviours and with broad and readily transferable skills in order to deploy staff flexibly in response to government priorities.

It is essential for agencies to have clear guidance in managing effective end-to-end SES recruitment processes and to understand the key legislative and policy differences from running other APS recruitment processes.

The guide has been prepared for Human Resources (HR) practitioners undertaking SES recruitment activities. It is also relevant for hiring managers, selection panel members and others involved in SES recruitment and selection activities.

The document provides guidance on transparent merit-based recruitment processes to support the integrity of SES selection decisions and outlines the additional legislated requirements that must be undertaken when recruiting for SES vacancies.

Agencies may also have their own internal recruitment policies and procedures that outline how recruitment process will be undertaken in their agency, in the context of their agency’s operating environment and workforce strategy. The guide should be used in conjunction with an agency’s internal recruitment and HR policies and must be considered in line with recruitment policy and relevant legislation.

Download the SES Recruitment guide.

Related resources

A series of recruitment-related factsheets, case studies and templates are available to support your agency in strengthening its recruitment practices.

Further information

Further information on the agency responsibilities in SES recruitment is available in Circular 2025/06: The Commissioner’s role in SES Recruitment.

HR practitioners seeking more information on SES recruitment can contact the Employment Policy team via employmentpolicy@apsc.gov.au or call the advice line on (02) 6202 3857.