Between 1985 and 1988 McGoldrick was Australia's Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.[4] He took up an appointment as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia in 1988.[5] His posting in Riyadh until 1991 included the duration of the Gulf War.[6][7] In 1989 McGoldrick took part in negotiations regarding the live export trade after Saudi Arabia rejected five shiploads of Australian live sheep.[8]