As a senior political staffer, he will also be entitled to more than $53,000 in allowances.

Dr Hendy lost his New South Wales seat with a two-party preferred swing against him of 5.84 per cent, ending up on 47.09 per cent to Dr Kelly's 52.91 per cent.

After the September leadership spill, Mr Turnbull had made him an assistant minister for productivity and then finance, as well as assistant cabinet secretary.

Before becoming an MP in 2013, Dr Hendy worked as chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as chief-of-staff to former Liberal opposition leader Brendan Nelson. He completed a PhD at the University of Canberra in 2011, covering industrial relations and Australia's economic development.

The former MP is not the first Eden-Monaro political hopeful to be awarded a post in their leader's office. Dr Kelly, who held the seat from 2007 to 2013, was hired by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as a defence and security adviser before reclaiming the seat.