Gaz - El1 - Act - Assistant Director

**Contact**:Andrei Seeto **Phone**: 02 6264 1610
**Period of Vacancy**:Ongoing
**Number of Vacancies**: Several

**Who can apply**:
Please note this opportunity is available to current Australian Public Service employees and all eligible members of the community.

**About the Department of Home Affairs**:
Be part of something bigger: contribute to building a secure Australia that is prosperous, open and united.
Join a connected team of professionals, where you can be your authentic self; grow your career while making time for all parts of your life.

The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for centrally coordinated strategy and policy leadership in relation to domestic national security arrangements, law enforcement, emergency management, counter-terrorism, social cohesion, the protection of our sovereignty, the integrity of our border and the resilience of our national infrastructure.

The Australian Border Force, an operationally independent body within the Department of Home Affairs, is Australia's frontline border law enforcement agency and Australia's customs service. The Australian Border Force's mission is to protect Australia's border and facilitate the legitimate movement of people and goods across it

**Overview of the Branch and Section**:
The Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion Programs Branch leads the whole of government coordination of Australia’s social cohesion policy, in support of the Australian Government’s priority of strengthening Australia’s social cohesion and multicultural society. The Branch also leads research programs; strategic partnerships with key stakeholders from Commonwealth, State and Territory and Local governments, and with the non-government and community sectors; and community grants programs. The Branch contributes to the work of the Social Cohesion and Multicultural Affairs Division, which is responsible for, among other things, coordinating national engagement with multicultural communities; and delivering communications programs to promote Australia’s social cohesion.

**About the role**:
The Multicultural Affairs and Social Cohesion Programs Branch is recruiting for existing and potential future policy, research, stakeholder partnership, and grants programs positions in Canberra. The recruitment process will also establish a merit list, from which we may fill future vacancies in the Branch.
Officers develop and implement innovative, evidence-based policies that support delivery of the Government’s social cohesion policies and programs. They may:

- analyse research data, including from the Australian Cohesion Index, to identify trends and inform policy development
- draft ministerial and departmental briefings, correspondence, and new policy proposals
- draft briefing to support high-level working groups and senior level dialogues
- contribute to advice regarding engagement with partner organisations or government agencies
- support ministerial meetings and meetings of the Australian Multicultural Council
- implement and manage grants programs to strengthen social cohesion and inclusion.

Policy and program officers collaborate closely with a wide range of areas in the Department that are supporting Australia’s social cohesion.
- be able to resolve complex and sensitive policy and technical issues
- be able to make decisions and provide advice based on sound judgement, risk evaluation, high level analytical and problem-solving skills, your own expertise and an awareness of the broader environment
- have excellent written and verbal communication skills, and be able to explain technical and complex issues in plain English
- be able to develop and build relationships, work collaboratively and negotiate outcomes with internal and external stakeholders
- have experience managing, developing and supporting staff
- have experience managing strategic direction and competing priorities to achieve timely results

**Specific duties/responsibilities**:
Depending on the role, the successful applicants may be required to:

- identify, provide and coordinate advice on current and emerging policy issues, including via ministerial submissions and Cabinet submissions
- provide support for Commonwealth - State ministerial councils and ministerial advisory councils
- contribute to the design and delivery of research programs
- contribute to the design and delivery of grants programs
- monitor implementation of existing programs/policies and initiate reviews and/or evaluation to inform future policy development
- establish and maintain productive working relationships with a range of policy, programs, community engagement, communications, legal, financial and other colleagues within the department and across government
- manage contracts and funding agreements with service providers in accordance with procurement, grant, financial and legal guidelines.

**Applicant response**:
Please prepare a **one-page** Applicant Response in relation to the advertised role,