El 1 - Freedom of Information (Foi) Assistant

$115,899 - $130,733 (pro-rata for part-time vacancies) + up to 15.4% Superannuation
- Russell - ACT

**The Role**
As EL 1 Assistant Director within the Freedom of Information (FOI) case management, or FOI Review teams, you will work with considerable independence, and be accountable to perform and achieve complex management and coordination of FOI requests, or Review matters as part of a high-profile team, working directly with senior stakeholders across Defence and the Commonwealth.

As an Assistant Director within the FOI teams, you will possess, or be able to quickly develop extensive knowledge of relevant legislative frameworks, government decision-making and Defence’s mission and policy requirements.

Assistant Directors within the FOI teams perform an important leadership role. You will be responsible for supporting senior decision-makers to develop case-management strategies, based on high level decision making and judgement, for both your own matters, and those of your direct reports. You will provide strategic FOI advice to senior management and stakeholders across all Groups and Services. Depending on which team you work to, you will also lead on the development of administrative decisions, submissions, or litigation strategy and development of evidence.

Your daily tasks can be expected to incorporate:

- Autonomy to lead on a broad, complex portfolio including public-facing FOI matters;
- Mentorship and strategic guidance to junior staff members;
- Direct engagement with FOI applicants (including members of the public, media and parliamentarians);
- Direct engagement with senior decision-makers across Defence, and the Commonwealth, on issues of public importance;
- Leading on FOI consultations as the public face of the Department, including with private sector, and key stakeholders across the Commonwealth;
- Drafting of complex administrative decisions, submissions or evidence;
- Assessment and preparation of sensitive material for potential disclosure under the FOI Act;
- Develop a strong understanding of Defence and government priorities; and
- Train and support colleagues across Defence to develop their knowledge of the FOI Act.

**About our Team**
The FOI Directorate is within the Ministerial & Executive Coordination & Communication division and operates in a fast paced, exciting environment. The FOI team is a small and collaborative group who are responsible for administrating the FOI Act in Defence, this includes processing, reviews and providing practical and solution-focused advice on all aspects of FOI in a collaborative and supportive manner.

Due to the nature of the work, there are opportunities to work closely with the Defence leadership, including members of the Senior Executive and members of the Australian Defence Force on a range of topics relevant to the FOI requests Defence receives.

You will demonstrate some, or all of the following characteristics:

- Experienced with stakeholder management, comfortable engaging and collaborating with a variety of stakeholders while building and maintaining strong interpersonal relationships.
- Have a positive and inclusive approach to working as part of a team in a large and complex organisation.
- A leader with experience developing individuals, you are comfortable providing coaching and mentoring your team.
- Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- You thrive in a fast-paced environment, and maintain an ability to consistently deliver outcomes under pressure and statutory timeframes.
- Experience working with significant autonomy, ideally within coordination or case management roles, to prioritise and deliver multiple complex tasks within difficult timeframes.
- You enjoy making things happen and learning as part of what you do.
- Strong leadership skills, the ability to plan, lead, and manage resources and achieve strategic outcomes. Effective people management skills are essential.