Principal Advisor

Your Opportunity

The Principal Advisor reports to the Director of the Government Relations and Social Policy unit within the First Nations Strategy and Partnerships division.

We are looking for someone with strong policy development and analysis experience, who can lead a high-performing team of policy professionals to coordinate departmental and whole-of-government processes to improve educational outcomes for First Nations students, including contributing to the Closing the Gap agenda.

You will have exceptional writing skills, stakeholder engagement experience, and leadership qualities.

Your Role

Responsibilities include:
Lead and manage complex policy projects to ensure the strategic goals and objectives of the department and the government are achieved, including conducting policy analysis, research, development and evaluation of policy options and preparation of policy advice.
Prepare submissions, briefs, ministerial and departmental correspondence including responses to, and development of, Cabinet Submissions and policy advice for the Minister, the Director-General and Senior Executives within the department.
Monitor emergent educational, economic or social issues impacting First Nations peoples, identify opportunities, anticipate risks and issues, and provide evidence informed, strategic advice to Senior Executives within the department.
Employ strong project governance, including robust planning, scheduling, risk management, delivery and reporting of milestones to internal and external stakeholders.
Lead and manage a small team of direct reports and provide direction, guidance and leadership to staff, manage their work performance and provide appropriate feedback.

About You:
You are able to communicate effectively with First Nations peoples and you have knowledge of both cultures and societies from a historical and contemporary perspective.
You recognise and articulate the interests of First Nations peoples and you are able to consult in accordance with cultural protocols if required.

Mandatory Requirements for and Identified Role:
It is a genuine occupational requirement for Identified roles that the position be filled by an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander person as set out in Section 7 of the Anti Discrimination Act 1991 for the purposes contained in Section 25 of that Act.

Verification of Aboriginality and/or Torres Strait Island heritage

For administrative purposes, in relation to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified role, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person is a person who identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person and is either:
of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent;
accepted as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community in which he or she lives.

By definition a person who is not an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cannot be employed (on any basis) to perform the duties of an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identified role.

Applicants to this position may have to provide confirmation of their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage. Requesting proof of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage from applicants helps to make sure that this intention is honoured.

Interested? To Apply:
Attach a brief resume including contact details for 2 referees (referees should have an understanding of your relevant work history)
Attach a 2-page written statement in response to the attached role description.

We welcome all applicants to share any support needed to ensure our recruitment process is inclusive.

Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department.

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.

When working in regulated employment an employee must have a current Working with Children Clearance (blue card) issued by Blue Card Services.

Salary rate shown is reflective of full-time (1.0 FTE).

The Department of Education is a family inclusive workplace. Click here to find out more about our Inclusion and Diversity strategies.
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