Policy & Coordination Officers

Governance & Resource Management Group / Digital ID & Data Policy Division / Data Policy and Assurance Branch
- APS 5 ($85,836 - $96,313), APS 6 ($94,434 - $115,254) | Ongoing & Non-ongoing | Full-time & Part-time
- Canberra, ACT

**ABOUT THE BRANCH & TEAM**

The Data Policy and Assurance Branch leads and supports whole-of-government data initiatives to inform policy and service delivery and optimise use of government resources. We provide policy advice to the Minister for Finance. We coordinate decisions and actions across Commonwealth agencies and with state and territory governments to use data and digital opportunities to greatest effect.

The **Data Policy Team** is a policy unit providing advice on Australia’s data settings. This is a small team which collaborates with data experts in other agencies, policy experts and the Minister’s Office to align data-driven policies and brings together longer-term horizon scans to highlight new areas for potential policy reform.

It also provides secretariat support for several senior officials’ groups, including the Deputy Secretaries Data Group, chaired by Deputy Secretary, Governance and Resource Management Group.

The Data Policy team is seeking skilled policy officers to assist with this work. A qualification in data is **not** required for this role.

The **Intergovernmental Strategy Team** is responsible for driving better data sharing between the Commonwealth and states and territories. The team negotiates with stakeholders in states and territories as well as across the Commonwealth to ensure data is shared appropriately between levels of government, and all governments are able to make well informed policy decisions that produce the best outcomes for Australians.

The Intergovernmental Strategy team supports the Commonwealth Minister for Finance in her role as Chair of the Commonwealth-State Data and Digital Ministers' Meeting. It also supports associated meetings of data and digital senior officials and these meetings combined form the basis for data governance across the federation. The team also support the Secretary of the Department of Finance in her role as co-Chair of the Secretaries Digital and Data Committee.

The Intergovernmental Strategy team requires generalists with strong interpersonal, stakeholder and project management skills. Experience in Commonwealth-state relations would be favourably considered but not mandatory.

The **Assurance Reviews Unit (ARU)** is responsible for commissioning and coordinating Cabinet-mandated Assurance Reviews (Gateway Reviews and Implementation Readiness Assessments). Assurance Reviews are in place to strengthen the oversight and governance of major projects/programs and assist Non‑Corporate Commonwealth Entities (NCEs) to deliver major projects/programs successfully.

The ARU Team is currently modernising business processes, frameworks, and systems, and it is expected that all roles will contribute to improvement activities. The ARU Team does not perform the work of an Assurance Review, but it is involved in all coordination and commission functions associated with Assurance Reviews.

**ABOUT THE** OPPORTUNITY**

This is an exciting opportunity to assist in designing and implementing strategic policy across a whole of government area. Improving the management and use of data will transform delivery of government services and significantly improve information available to inform policy advice. We deliver outcomes by working with the Finance Minister’s Office, departmental senior executives and senior officials across the APS and state and territory agencies.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the Government’s forward data agenda, including through Budget and MYEFO processes.
- Develop policy advice on using and sharing data, including supporting the APS Reform Agenda.
- Support a range of whole-of-APS initiatives to help improve how government manages and uses its data for policy and service delivery.
- Work closely with state and territory government entities to deliver national data and digital priorities.
- Engage with a wide variety of stakeholders, both internal and external to government.
- Assist with high profile secretariat work to support senior officials and Ministers.
- Work closely with Commonwealth entities to provide advice, guidance and administrative support.

**DETAILED VACANCY INFORMATION**

For detailed information about these roles, including the job specific capabilities, please refer to the downloadable vacancy pack, which can be accessed by clicking the hyperlink at the bottom of this page.

**ELIGIBILITY ADVICE & CANDIDATE NOTES**
- Under section 22(8) of the _Public Service Act 1999_, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.
- Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold the required se