Gazetted Vacancy

Ongoing & Non-ongoing National Office, Woden
- Executive Level 1 $110,255 - $125,152
- Alastair Banks 02 6146 2438

**About the Stream, Group or Branch**:
The Data and Evaluation Group is responsible for the Department of Social Services' analytic and data capability, and improving the evidence base for policy development. The Data Access Branch is responsible for producing high quality analysis and reporting products related to Australian Government social expenditure recipients, to support evidence based policy development and program management.

The positions are within the Branch’s Families and Child Support Data and Pensions and Rent Assistance Data sections. Your SAS programming, and Microsoft Excel skills, along with your understanding of the framework for Commonwealth income support, family assistance, child support and housing will assist the Data Access Branch to correctly extract, analyse, collate data and report on payments and services quickly and effectively.

You will be responsible for:

- interpreting requests for data (knowledge of how data is stored in Centrelink’s ISIS system would be highly regarded)
- using SAS and SQL, extracting data and information from Centrelink systems (extensive experience programming in SAS or SQL is required)
- importing data to, and manipulating data in, Microsoft Excel
- examining data, undertaking analysis, reporting and drawing accurate conclusions
- mentoring and developing junior staff
- liaising with policy areas to ensure they have appropriate involvement in developing commentary and reporting products related to their areas of expertise.

**Position Description**:
The EL1 level positions are in the Families and Child Support Data and Pensions and Rent Assistance Data sections who are responsible for preparing management information, analysis, reports and advice regarding pensions, housing and homelessness expenditure and beneficiaries as part of DSS’s role in managing Social Security, Family Tax Benefit and Child Support programs offered in partnership with Services Australia.

One of the principal responsibilities of the sections is the Department’s Housing Data Set which includes Commonwealth Rent Assistance and related housing data of income support payments and Family Tax Benefit recipients.

The successful applicant will have:

- strong analytical problem-solving skills
- demonstrated ability to plan and prepare high quality and timely written advice, briefings, and other material for a range of audiences
- strong written and verbal communication skills that enable you to deliver clear and concise messages, including responding to queries and drafting of key documents
- demonstrated ability to develop and maintain productive and collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- deep technical expertise in one or more languages such as SQL, SAS, R, Python or other closely related programming languages.

Desirable but not essential:

- extensive experience working with big data, including data compilation, automated editing, and data quality reporting.

**Eligibility / Additional Requirements**:
This recruitment process is being used to fill current and future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies. A merit pool of suitable applicants will be created which may be used to fill future vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

Non-ongoing vacancies will be offered for a period of up to 18 months with the possibility of extension (up to a total period of 3 years). Some of these non-ongoing vacancies may become ongoing in the next 18 months.

Should a position become ongoing then the merit pool established through this selection process may be used to fill the vacancy on an ongoing basis.To be eligible for employment with Department of Social Services (the department), you must be an Australian citizen. An applicant's suitability for employment with the Department will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This will include an identity and criminal history background check.

**Eligibility to obtain an Australian Government Security Clearance**:
The suitable applicant must also obtain and maintain a security clearance conducted by the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA).

Applicants also must be able to establish their background as checkable to be considered eligible for a security clearance. Any gaps or periods of time spent overseas for 12 or more months (cumulative) that cannot be verified by an Australian referee is deemed uncheckable, rendering the applicant ineligible for a security clearance. Background history must cover 5 / 10 years (Baseline / Negative Vet 1 or Negative Vet 2) of employment, education, residential, criminal history and anything else specified by the AGSVA. The suitable applicant must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information to fulfil this process.

**Type / Length of Vacancy**: Ongoing & Non-ongoing

**Contact Officer Name**: