What makes EL1 different
Executive Level 1 is the first rung of leadership in the APS. It sits between the "do the work" levels (APS1-6) and the "set the direction" levels (EL2 and SES). Panels assessing EL1 candidates are looking for a specific shift: from technical execution to strategic contribution.
This doesn't mean you stop doing technical work. It means you're expected to do that work with a broader perspective, understanding how your output fits into branch, division, and agency priorities.
The capabilities panels focus on
At EL1, panels weight these capabilities heavily:
Strategic thinking. Can you see beyond your immediate task? Do you understand how your work connects to the agency's strategic priorities? A strong EL1 candidate doesn't just deliver a brief. They identify the policy implications and flag risks the decision-maker needs to know about.
Leadership without authority. Most EL1 roles involve leading projects, workstreams, or small teams. But you're rarely a formal "manager" with hire/fire authority. Panels want to see that you can influence, motivate, and guide people through collaboration rather than positional power.
Managing complexity. APS6 work is often procedural. Follow the process, deliver the output. EL1 work involves ambiguity. You'll be asked to solve problems where the right answer isn't obvious, where stakeholders disagree, or where the timeline is unrealistic. Show the panel you can navigate this.
Stakeholder engagement at senior levels. At EL1, you're expected to interact confidently with SES-band officers, ministerial staff, and external partners. Your examples should include engagement at this level. Briefing a Deputy Secretary, presenting to a cross-agency committee, negotiating with a state government counterpart.
Choosing the right examples
The most common EL1 interview mistake is pitching examples at the wrong level. If your best example is about processing forms accurately, it demonstrates APS4-level capability, not EL1.
Choose examples that show:
- You identified a problem or opportunity before being asked to
- You influenced a decision or changed someone's mind
- You managed competing priorities across stakeholders
- You delivered an outcome with broader impact (beyond your team)
- You took accountability when something went wrong
Sample question areas
EL1 panels commonly ask about:
- A time you led a project or workstream. They want: your approach to planning, how you managed people, how you handled setbacks, what the outcome was.
- A time you managed a difficult stakeholder relationship. They want: the complexity, your strategy, how you adapted, what you achieved.
- A time you had to make a decision with incomplete information. They want: your reasoning process, how you managed risk, what happened.
- A time you influenced a senior leader or changed a direction. They want: what the stakes were, how you made your case, what evidence you used.
- A time you improved a process or identified an efficiency. They want: what you noticed, what you proposed, how you implemented it, what changed.
Interview delivery tips
- Lead with the level. Open your response by establishing the scope: "As the lead on a cross-branch policy review for the Deputy Secretary..." This immediately signals EL1-level work.
- Name the stakeholders. "I briefed the SES Band 1" carries more weight than "I briefed my manager." Include the classification or role title of the people you worked with.
- Show judgement, not just action. At EL1, the panel wants to know why you chose a particular approach, not just what you did. "I chose to escalate early because the timeline risk would affect the Minister's announcement" shows strategic judgement.
- Acknowledge trade-offs. Real EL1 work involves compromise. Mentioning what you considered but decided against shows mature thinking.