Assistant Director Climate Policy

EL 1 - $112,294 - $120,780 per annum plus superannuation
- Portfolio Strategy and Climate Policy Division
- Canberra, ACT,Other
- Create and incorporate cross-cutting climate policy and Indigenous issues for agriculture, fisheries and forestry as part of an agile and innovative team by utilising your professional policy knowledge and expert technical skills Collaborate with industry, community and government stakeholders, in particular Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, to better understand and support their aspirations and commitment to reduce emissions and adapt to a variable and changing climate. Canberra based, with location and flexible work options by negotiation._

**Who we are**
The Portfolio Strategy and Climate Policy Division helps build the strategic policy capability of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry portfolio by facilitating creative problem solving, new ways of working, policy development on cross-cutting uses and data capability to drive the achievement of the department’s purpose, objectives, and priorities. We develop strategic products with a portfolio-wide lens considering whole-of-government priorities for the Executive Board, Leadership Team, and our Minister.

Climate Policy is a cross-cutting issue which impacts every facet of the department’s business, our portfolio industries and stakeholders. The Climate Policy teams support the Minister, Secretary and Executive Leadership Team on delivering overarching climate policy for the portfolio. We work within the department, across portfolios and with industry to build understanding, engagement and action on climate change.

**The Job**
Key duties include:

- Utilising professional policy knowledge and expert technical skills to engaging in complex problem solving and issues management as well as coordinate and develop detailed or sensitive policies that impact on strategic, political or operational outcomes for DAFF, including designing and leading consultation.
- Collaborating with key industry and community stakeholders, in particular Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, to better understand and support their aspirations and commitment to reduce emissions and adapt to a variable and changing climate, in order to balance productivity, profitability, people and sustainability.
- Maintaining strong internal stakeholder networks through coordination with business areas across the department and convene strategic discussions for the Executive Leadership Team and senior executives to align policy development objectives and emerging priorities related to DAFF’s climate policy agenda.
- Building visibility of the whole-of-government climate policy agenda and contribute to advance DAFF’s and Australia’s long-term policy interests by representing and explaining the views of DAFF at cross-agency meetings and other forums.

**Skills and capabilities**
We are looking for people with the following skills and capabilities:

- Ability to lead and manage a small team to increase capacity and team outcomes, develop and review work plans, monitor team progress, and follow through to deliver quality outcomes.
- Aptitude in setting priorities and objectives for the work area for short term tasks and strategic planning for longer-term initiatives, maintain team cohesion and ensure quality of outputs.
- Adept at working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders by building rapport and actively managing relationships, in particular with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
- Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including an ability to present complex information such as briefing papers, speeches and discussion papers in a clear, succinct and easily understood format and represent the climate policy branch or agency at meetings, conferences and seminars.
- Capacity to generate innovative ideas, approaches and strategies that provide solutions to problems.
- Ability to research, analyse and consider different issues and viewpoints to propose solutions including identification of opportunities and mitigation of risks.
- Commitment to continuous improvement and a demonstrated ability to implement and respond positively to change and model the way for other staff.
- Capability to work flexibly, independently and meet multiple, competing, priorities to achieve work targets and critical deadlines and produce consistently high-quality outputs.

**Knowledge and experience**
We are looking for people with knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

- Understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and an ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with First Nations.
- Domestic and/or international climate change policy development and analysis with a detailed understanding and consideration of sensitive organisational and political issues.
- Agricultural, fisheries and forestry systems with a focus on transitioni