Upon leaving school he gained employment in the insurance industry at the office of the Mutual Assurance Society of Victoria, that later amalgamated with the National Mutual Life Assurance Society in 1896.

At the time of amalgamation Stevens was appointed as the company's assistant secretary in its Queensland office.

[1] In 1901 he was elected Mayor of Lower Hutt, defeating the incumbent Edmund Percy Bunny.

Prime Minister Richard Seddon was loath to commit support, but was eventually convinced by Stevens to help.

[1] At the time of his death he was expected to stand in the 1914 election in the Hutt electorate for the Reform Party.