Assistant Director, Integrated Planning

EL 1 - $120,290 - $129,379
- Australian Antarctic
- Hobart, TAS
- Coordinate and design future operational seasons for the Australian Antarctic Program.
- Rare opportunity to be part of a new team and integrated system to modernise our future planning processes.
- Office based with hybrid/flexible work options.

**Who we are**

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. As primary agency for Australia's Antarctic Program (AAP), the AAD is responsible for achieving the Australian Government's Antarctic goals. These goals are to:

- Maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance Australia's influence within it.
- Protect the Antarctic environment -understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system.
- Undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.

The AAD also has responsibility for administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.

The People and Culture Branch supports our people and plays a key role in coordinating the division’s cultural change program. The branch has a strong focus on supporting expeditioners (people who spend time working in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic) including recruitment and support, capability and training, the Polar Medicine Unit, organisational psychological services, and culture and leadership. Critical divisional services across integrated planning, media and communications, and risk and business continuity are also provided. This role vacancy is in the Integrated Planning team.

The Integrated Planning Section is responsible for building and delivering the Division's Integrated Planning Process (IPP). The IPP is a collaborative cross-branch function that designs future operational seasons on a 12-36-month horizon, ensuring delivery of the highest strategic priority activities and projects within finite operational resources and effort. The IPP is designed to deliver its work on a 12-month annual cycle. This cycle includes facilitating various meetings and workshops for cross-branch season design stakeholders, gathering inputs to analyse and inform future season design, and coalescing into the Integrated Planning Guidance (IPG) document to outline future season design requirements and initiate the Season Operations Planning Process (SOPP). This integrated approach enhances multi-year planning and situational awareness across the AAD, ensuring a comprehensive, consistent, and transparent approach to delivery of the Australian Antarctic Program.

**The Job**

This position requires a highly motivated and experienced professional who can manage complex planning processes, engage diverse stakeholders, and ensure the successful execution of the Integrated Planning Process within the AAD. The Assistant Director, Integrated Planning Section, will coordinate and administer the Integrated Planning Process (IPP), ensuring effective operational planning and decision-making.
Under broad direction, the primary duties of the role include:

- Coordinate the Integrated Planning Process (IPP): oversee the development, execution, and continuous improvement of the IPP, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and operational needs.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management: build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure their inputs are accurately integrated into the planning process. Foster collaboration and alignment to achieve successful planning outcomes.
- Data Analysis and Strategic Planning: conduct detailed analysis of stakeholder inputs and operational data to inform development of future operational plans for Antarctic seasons, together with strategic recommendations.
- Preparation of Planning Documentation: lead the preparation of key planning documents, including the Integrated Planning Forecast (IPF), Integrated Planning Guidance (IPG), and high-level correspondence such as DMC submissions, Head of Department (HoD) briefs, and executive reports.
- Post-IPP Analysis and Process Improvement: manage evaluations, incorporating feedback into future planning cycles to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

**Knowledge and Experience**
- Self-starter, able to undertake complex work with mínimal supervision and effectively manage competing priorities.
- Understanding of and ability to respond to and assist with priorities across various tasks within tight timeframes.
- Experience in and ability to work well as part of a small team in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
- Experienced working within a project management system to track and report on planning activities.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and SharePoint for document management and collaboration.

**Skills and Capabilities**
- Highly developed analytical, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to prepare clear, concise, and high-