Assistant Secretary, Communication

SES Band 1
- Canberra, ACT

**About the Department of Education**
We contribute to Australia's economic prosperity and social wellbeing by creating opportunities and driving better outcomes through access to quality education and learning.

**The Role**
**_Are you as passionate about what education can deliver as we are? Do you have a vision for how communications can support education? Can you see the opportunities to drive great outcomes through access to quality education and learning?_**

If so, there is an immediate vacancy for an **Assistant Secretary (AS), Communication**, in the People, Parliamentary and Communications Division in the Corporate and Enabling Services Group, National Office Canberra.

As Assistant Secretary, Communication (SES Band 1), you will lead and build a team responsible for a broad range of communication services from traditional media, speechwriting and social media through strategic communications and communications products, to corporate communications and communications delivery capabilities. The department uses our various channels to inform, promote and encourage public participation, and respond to inquiries on a broad range of education topics

You will be a member of the department’s senior executive and will work closely with our policy and programme areas to advise and support their work and inform the Australian community about the range of programmes and initiatives. You will provide high level advice and support to the Ministers and to the department’s Executive and will drive our communication strategies.

To be a strong contender for this challenging and rewarding position, you will have an excellent understanding of strategic communications in support of broader government objectives and of internal communications that support the culture of our department, our people, and our operations. You will have a strong reputation for relationship building and maintaining networks across organisations.

You will be an outstanding leader with a record of achievement in the communication field and have a broad understanding of government policy, its implementation and the effective and creative role communications can play in support. You will think strategically and creatively in implementing communication programmes in a complex, challenging and time critical environment. Your reputation for leading teams that deliver excellence in customer service will be complemented by well-honed conceptual and analytical ability, excellent representational and relationship management skills, sound judgement, drive and initiative.

**Duties and Responsibilities**
We are seeking an established and inspiring senior leader from the public, private and/or community sectors to join the Department of Education, with:

- An exceptional results orientation, resilience and a positive approach to issues resolution both proactively and responsively
- Exceptional judgement and awareness of the broader environment
- The proven skills to build trust
- Strong internal and strategic communication skills
- Skilful communication with personal presence
- Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills, both internally and externally
- A strong commitment to customer service
- A desire and proven ability to deliver to a high level of quality
- An ability to manage multiple high profile issues simultaneously and in a timely manner
- The ability to identify and assess emerging issues; and
- Strong people management and leadership skills, particularly in respect of a flexible and multi-skilled workforce.

**Qualifications and Education**
Relevant tertiary qualifications will be favourably regarded.

**How to Apply**
Applicants are required to provide up to a two-page summary (no more than
**1,000**
**words**) that outlines skills, knowledge, and experience and why you should be considered for this vacancy. You should take into consideration the position overview (including any detailed position specific requirements) when drafting your response. Where possible include specific relevant examples of your work.

The APS work level standards accommodate the diversity of roles across the APS and are structured to clearly differentiate between the work expected (i.e. responsibilities and duties) at each classification level.

In the eRecruit (the department’s online recruitment system) you will also need to:

- upload a Curriculum Vitae
- provide contact details for 2 Referees.

**Eligibility**

**Citizenship** - to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.

**Negative Vetting Level 1 **security clearance.