Assistant Secretary, Defence Branch

Governance & Resource Management Group / Government & Defence Division / Defence Branch
- Ongoing, Full-time
- Canberra, ACT

**ABOUT THE GROUP**

Governance and Resource Management (G&RM) Group develops policy and advises on the resource management and governance frameworks for public sector agencies and superannuation arrangements for members of parliament and Commonwealth employees.

The group consolidates budget updates, prepares the appropriation bills and the Commonwealth’s monthly and annual consolidated financial statements, manages the Official Public Account, and provides accounting policy advice.

G&RM also provides policy leadership on grants administration, manages the Gateway assurance review process and advises the government on electoral policy. The group leads Commonwealth whole-of-government data policy and the work to continue developing Australia’s expanded Digital ID system. The Office of the National Data Commissioner also sits within the G&RM Group.

Government and Defence Division provides policy advice and financial analysis to Government on strategic Defence policy and acquisitions, intelligence issues, security, law and justice, foreign affairs, trade and overseas development assistance, immigration and border protection, territories, financial and economic regulation, revenue collection, superannuation and the central operations of the Executive government and the Parliament.

**ABOUT THE** OPPORTUNITY**

The Department is seeking a talented leader for the position of Assistant Secretary (SES Band 1), Defence Branch, Governance and Resource Management Group.

In this role you will lead Defence Branch in delivering high level policy and financial analysis, to support the Minister for Finance and Finance Executive on the Defence budget and funding, strategic defence policy, the Integrated Investment Program and capability investment proposals, Defence Operations, and Defence industry and innovation policy.

To be a strong contender for this important and challenging role you will need to be forward thinking, self-motivated, resilient and adept at building relationships in a complex and fast paced environment.

You will also contribute to and communicate the strategic direction of the Department.

Your strong leadership credentials and ability to engender trust and respect will be complemented by sound judgement, a strong focus on results, and the ability to solve complex issues.

You will actively promote the ongoing transformation of the Department, and drive and implement reform in a rapidly changing public sector environment.

In addition to this, you will:

- Determine and be accountable for objectives, priorities, resources and task allocation;
- Strengthen organisational capability, including through the management and leadership of people;
- Provide leadership and commitment to significant internal change programs and work alongside colleagues to build and maintain a whole-of-department strategic capability to provide advice on emerging priority issues;
- Formulate proposals and advice for Ministers / Secretary on policy and management issues which are the responsibility of the branch;
- Represent the Department in high-level discussions and negotiations with key stakeholders / outside organisations, and work closely with the Department’s Executive;
- Drive a positive workplace culture by designing and delivering approaches to embed desired behaviours across the organisation.

You will gain:

- Central agency experience helping Finance influence how the Government’s strategic policy priorities are developed and implemented across the Commonwealth
- A sophisticated understanding of the Machinery of Government, the Federal Budget and related processes
- Strategic policy and financial management/analysis skills
- An opportunity to cultivate strong working relationships with Ministers’ Offices and Commonwealth agencies to collectively deliver the Federal Budget and related outcomes
- Experience working within Finance’s leadership team.

This selection process will also be used to establish a merit pool that may be used to fill roles as they become available within the following 18-month period.

**DETAILED VACANCY INFORMATION**

For detailed information about this role, including the job specific capabilities, please refer to the downloadable vacancy pack, which can be accessed by clicking the hyperlink at the bottom of this page.

**ELIGIBILITY ADVICE & CANDIDATE NOTES**
- Under section 22(8) of the _Public Service Act 1999_, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.
- Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold the required security clearance level for the role as indicated in the downloadable job pack. All Finance staff are required to have a minimum baseline security clearance prior to commencemen