Program Officer

APS 6 - $91,944 - $104,393 per annum plus superannuation
- Sustainability, Climate & Strategy Division
- Adelaide-SA, Brisbane-QLD, Canberra-ACT, Darwin-NT, Melbourne-VIC, Perth-WA, Sydney-NSW
- Develop, influence and deliver policy and programs to further support sustainability and productivity growth in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.
- Work in a diverse, hybrid team that cares about their work and one another, and values team culture.
- Location flexible, with flexible work options available.

**Who we are**
The Sustainable Agriculture Branch manages the sustainable agriculture component of the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT). The NHT was set up in 1997, the successor to the original National Landcare Program created in 1992 and is the Australian Government’s key investment platform for achieving its natural resource management, sustainable agriculture and environmental protection outcomes. Through the NHT, the Australian Government has invested $302.1 million in the five-year Climate-Smart Agriculture Program to support Australia’s agriculture sector to be positioned for climate-smart sustainable growth through best practice natural resource management, positive biodiversity and increased soil health. This will drive agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability by supporting farmers in the areas of emissions reduction, carbon and biodiversity markets, soil health, and protecting natural capital and biodiversity. The program works with farmers, the natural resource management sector, the Landcare movement, First Nations communities and many other stakeholders. The branch is also responsible for delivery of policies and programs under the National Soil Strategy, and more broadly supporting and driving soil policy both domestically and internationally. This includes investing $27.6 million for enhancing the Australian National Soil Information System to provide improved access, sharing and use of soil data and information and supporting a National Soil Monitoring Program to understand the condition and trends of soils nationally.

Multiple positions are available across both branches, specifically within the Sustainable Agriculture Programs Section and the International Partnerships and Adaptation Section.

**The Job**
Program Officers generally undertake work that is moderately complex in nature and will work under limited guidance. The duties of the roles include but are not limited to:

- For procured projects, managing contracts through assessing project proposals, invoices, output reports, outcome reports and annual reports.
- Regularly engaging with grantees and procured project partners.
- Liaising with internal and external stakeholders, for example the Community Grants Hub, and representing the work area in relation to program and project delivery.
- Assisting in the development of program documentation, such as ministerial submissions, grant opportunity guidelines, work orders and project trackers.
- Developing, shaping and influencing policy responses, taking into account whole of government considerations.
- Tailoring communication to diverse audiences on complex policy issues.
- Assisting with other ad-hoc tasks as required, such as the development of senate estimates briefings and responses to Ministerial correspondence.

**Please note**that the merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.

**What are we looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
- Experience in program and/or project management.
- Experience with stakeholder liaison/engagement.