Secretariat Officer, Commonwealth-state Engagement

APS Level 6
- Canberra, ACT.
- $101,833 - $111,979

**About the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations**
We are committed to empowering futures, ensuring rights and enriching lives. We support people to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future as we ourselves strive to be a model employer.

We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees. We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or re-training to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.

With us your work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. Whether you're engaging in policy development, program implementation, or direct support services, your efforts will have a tangible impact on job seekers, employees and the economy by giving them a framework to build a future anchored and realised through employment.

**Please note, this opportunity is for Ongoing APS employees only.**

**Please discuss the possibility of release with your manager before applying.**

**The Role**
The Commonwealth-State Engagement Section is established to facilitate strong intergovernmental relationships and support the delivery of high-quality support to the Minister, Deputy Secretary and senior SES of the Skills & Training Group in advancing the Government’s ambitious skills reform agenda with state and territory governments.

The APS6 Secretariat Officer will provide high quality support and administration to assist the team to deliver excellence in governance and quality secretariat and logístical support for the Skills and Ministers Workforce Council (SWMC) and the Skills Senior Officials Network (SSON) as well as other associated meetings.

**Skills and Capabilities**
The Secretariat Officer is accountable, under limited direction, for providing professional and timely support and advice and acting as the key liaison between the division and other areas of the department to ensure the secretariat can deliver on its core functions.

They will provide high-level end-to-end secretariat support for the Skills and Workforce Ministers Council (SWMC), the Skills Senior Officials Network, and other associated committees and working groups, communicating effectively, and managing coordination and distribution of materials for meetings and out-of-session decisions, within tight timeframes.

Responsibilities of the APS Level 6 may include:

- Providing practical and timely support and advice on SWMC and SSON related matters, including managing and actioning requests for agenda and logístical information.
- Quality assuring meeting papers, out-of-session items, information circulars and decision documents to ensure alignment and consistency with established team processes, and strategically drafting meeting agendas and forward workplans and other relevant advice and information.
- Briefing senior members of the National Skills Reform Division on forthcoming intergovernmental priorities alongside other members of the Secretariat.
- Representing the department in engagement with other state/territory government officials at a range of levels, coordinating and collaborating to support officials and Ministers.
- Working effectively and harmoniously as part of the Secretariat team, managing competing priorities and requests, solving problems, and providing advice, training and support to others as required.
- Fostering cooperative and influential working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, understanding their needs and expectations, discussing issues thoughtfully and credibly to achieve cooperation, and delivering quality and effective outcomes.

We are seeking an individual with the following skills and capabilities:

- Demonstrated relevant experience in governance and secretariat support within the APS.
- High levels of organisation and coordination skills, and ability to work responsively within a fast-paced dynamic team.
- Well-developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to deliver meeting papers and governance documents as required.
- High level of interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact, engage and maintain relationships.

**The Opportunity**
This position is available to Ongoing APS employees as a temporary transfer at level and/or a temporary performance (Acting) opportunity for a period of 12 months.

**Eligibility**

**How to Apply**
Applicants are required to provide up to a one-page summary (no more than 500 words) that outlines skills, knowledge, and experience and why you should be considered for this vacancy. You should take into consideration the position overview (including any detailed position specific requirements) when drafting your response. Where possible include specific relevant examples of your work.

The APS work level standards accommodate the diversity of roles across the APS and are structured to clearly dif