Job Opportunities in Australia

• Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin
• Applications close 6 October 2024

About the Department

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector.

The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people’s lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.

If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia’s future.

Please see the APSC’s APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.

About the team

The Strategic Policy Division provides strategic advice to ministers, the department’s executive and policy partners to support the delivery of priorities for the portfolio as a whole. We do this by building connections, identifying emerging issues and strategic opportunities, and influencing policy agendas. Our responsibilities include:

• driving the portfolio’s Budget strategy and processes,
• delivering the department’s business planning, performance reporting and corporate publications,
• undertaking key strategic projects for the portfolio and building policy capability across the department,
• providing an influential voice on whole-of-government matters to inform the portfolio’s current and future direction,
• supporting ministerial, cabinet, parliamentary and senior executive governance and processes.

There are 5 sections in the Ministerial and Executive Enabling Branch :

• Governance Secretariat Section – this team works closely with the department’s senior executives to support the department’s Executive Board and its sub-committees
• Ministerial and Cabinet Liaison Section – this team supports our ministers and their offices through strategic, staffing and administrative support, as well as facilitating the portfolio’s Cabinet business
• Parliamentary Services Section – provides advice, support and liaison between the department, portfolio agencies and our Ministers’ offices and is responsible for managing the department’s many day-to-day parliamentary and portfolio co-ordination functions
• Portfolio Appointments Advice Section – this team provides advice to the department to support ministerial appointments to the portfolio's boards and committees and other government appointments
• Planning and Reporting Section – this team leads delivery of department’s Corporate Plan, Annual Report and annual performance statements, supporting our performance measurement and reporting under the Commonwealth performance framework.

The opportunity

We seek candidates at the APS5, APS6 and EL1 levels to fill current, expected and emerging vacancies across the Ministerial and Executive Enabling Branch.
These are good opportunities to gain insights into and experience working with high-level strategic and corporate matters in a major federal government department. You will contribute to driving Australia’s forward agenda for industry, science, technology and the resources sector. Your work will have a significant impact - the branch and the division have a high profile across the department and with the department’s executive and ministers’ offices. You will develop an in-depth understanding of the portfolio with these roles.
This recruitment will be used to fill current vacancies as well as establish a merit pool for a period of 18 months to fill positions that may emerge in the Strategic Policy Division only.

Our ideal candidate

We welcome applications from candidates with diverse experience and professional and educational backgrounds who can demonstrate strengths in the following areas:

• Think and act strategically – demonstrate strategic approaches and the ability to use initiative and sound judgement to achieve results;
• Analytical capability – proven ability to effectively use information and data to identify and analyse complex issues and develop sound options and approaches;
• Written and verbal communication – use highly developed written and verbal communication to present messages and positions clearly, convincingly and in a manner tailored to the audience;
• Collaboration – demonstrate excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills, and have a track record of leveraging these skills to achieve results with a diversity of stakeholders; the ability to work in a team environment as well as autonomously;
• Planning and organising – proven ability to balance a range of tasks of varying priority and meet competing deadlines while remaining flexible and adaptable;
• Achieves results – show initiative, take responsibility and is focussed on outcomes; a passion for continuously improvement and expanding team knowledge;
• High performance – a commitment to high standards of performance with fine attention to detail.

Candidates will demonstrate characteristics from the APSC’s Integrated Leadership System (ILS) that commensurate with the APS-level of their application.
Relevant experience and specialised skills-set will be taken into consideration when matching individuals to specific roles.
For parliamentary and Cabinet specific roles, experience using a document management system such as ‘Digital First’, Cab Net+ and/or PDMS, as well as a working knowledge of ministerial and parliamentary systems and processes, or an appetite to develop these skills quickly, would be desirable.
Our department has a commitment to inclusion and diversity, with an ambition of being the best possible place to work. This reflects the importance we place on our people and on creating a workplace culture where every one of us is valued and respected for our contribution. Our ideal candidate adds to this culture and our workplace in their own way.

People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are encouraged to apply.

What you will do

Responsibilities vary according to the role and team. Potential activities include:

• Assist with the development of the portfolio’s Budget strategy and approach by supporting your team’s engagement with departmental executive, ministers’ offices and areas across the department
• Draft and coordinate strategic documents and briefs on a wide variety of cross-cutting topics
• Drive and have ownership over key subject areas or workstreams within complex team projects that are of strategic importance to the whole portfolio

At the APS 5 level you may:

• Have accountability for tasks and decisions.
• Identify problems or issues and resolve or establish treatments to mitigate the issues.
• Perform objective and systematic research and analysis to obtain accurate conclusions based on evidence.
• Collaborate and build relationships with a range of stakeholders to identify opportunities, achieve outcomes and facilitate cooperation.

In addition to the above, at the APS 6 level you may:

• Work with independence, subject to limited direction to deliver quality outcomes.
• Supervise, mentor, and assist in the professional development of more junior staff.
• Provide accurate and specialised advice including anticipating problems and contributing to issues management.
• Undertake work that is complex in nature.

In addition to the above, at the Executive Level 1 level you may:

• Consider and effectively manage competing priorities and strategic directions when achieving team planning and project outcomes in line with agency goals and objectives.
• Manage employees performing diverse tasks to ensure quality outputs.
• Develop, implement, and monitor work plans that provide strategic direction.

Eligibility

To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.

Positions require a Baseline security clearance and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Notes

These roles are offered across all locations and the department offers flexible work opportunities for many roles. While we have team members working in Canberra, remotely, and from state offices, it should be noted that some positions in the division are Canberra and office based to meet operational requirements .

Application information

Your application must not contain any classified or sensitive information. This includes in your application responses, CV and any other documents. The selection panel may not consider applications containing classified information.

Please provide a pitch explaining how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role and why you are the best candidate for the position. Your pitch can contain no more than 500 words and should align to the key duties listed above.

Please complete your application online and provide your current CV with your application. (CVs must be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format).

Accessible application documentation is available in other formats on request. Please contact recruitment@industry.gov.au or (02) 6276 1235 if you require assistance with your application.

Please refer to our Applying for a position information for additional information on how to apply.

Contact Information

For more information regarding this opportunity, please contact Jikon Lai on 02 6243 7511 or via email on jikon.lai@industry.gov.au

How to apply: