Policy & Advocacy Lead

**Position Title**:Policy and Advocacy Lead

**Work Type**:Full-time

**Responsible to**:Campaign and Growth Director

**Classification**:Grade 5 - starting salary $125,336 (dependent on skills and experience) plus 16% super and a monthly RDO

**Location**:National Office, Melbourne

**Position Summary**

The Policy and Advocacy Lead will be responsible for delivering high-impact, policy-driven advocacy work - always putting our members first. The position requires a deep understanding of industrial relations, public policy processes, and the political landscape in Australia. This role will be key to maintaining our strong relationships with government, stakeholders, and allies. The Policy and Advocacy Lead will engage collaboratively across our union and ensure that ASU Branches and members are given appropriate support, advice and updates on our policy and advocacy work. This role is both strategic and hands-on and requires a strong commitment to union values.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Oversee the delivery of political engagement strategy, carrying out key day to day tasks and major milestone activities as required.
- Ensure the union’s voice is heard in public debates, legislative forums, and preparing submissions, policy papers and briefing notes when required.
- Ensure the union has the data, information and resources that it needs to be able to advocate on behalf of the membership as part of its policy and advocacy work.
- Under the direction of the national union leadership be a key point of contact for key stakeholders and allies to drive our policy and advocacy work.
- Oversee a calendar that ensures the union is aware of and represented at key government dates, inquiries or consultation roundtables, summits and other events. Represent the ASU in these forums, when required.
- Monitor emerging public policy issues and political developments relevant to the union’s sectors and membership.
- Under the direction of the national union leadership be a key point of contact for ASU branch officials and organisers so that their members are given appropriate support, advice and updates on our policy and advocacy work. Develop resources and tools to support Branches in communicating and advocating on policy issues.
- Be responsive to changes in strategic objectives or campaign plans and adapt as required - always look to make improvements or identifying gaps along the way.
- Continually investigate and develop alternate methods and systems that will elevate the ASU membership and advance their economic, social, political and industrial interests.
- Work collaboratively and proactively across the union supporting various campaigns and activities, always ensuring that policy and advocacy activities are captured in media, digital and other campaign activities.

**Selection Criteria**
- Strong working knowledge and understanding of the Australian political landscape, government systems and parliamentary processes.
- Strong working knowledge and understanding of the Australian industrial environment including the Fair Work Act.
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing policy or advocacy-based strategies and campaigns.
- Excellent written, oral communication and interpersonal skills. A strong communicator who is proactive in sharing information and updates, but also highly responsive to requests from out stakeholders.
- Experience managing competing priorities and multiple stakeholders with differing responsibilities and needs.
- Ability to work effectively across campaign, growth, industrial and political functions, and to be a team player.
- Ability to work to work independently; to set deadlines, multitask and prioritise workload in a busy environment - flexibility is a key requirement.
- A strong commitment to the principles of unionism, including an understanding of the ASU and its membership and a commitment to advocating on issues that will improve their working lives.
- Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, campaign tools and CMS systems that record membership and engagement activity.
- Able to undertake interstate travel as required.

Application closing date: 12:00PM Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

**Policy & Advocacy Lead**:
**ASU**:
**ASU**

**Job posted on**:July 2, 2025

**Applications close**:Wednesday 23rd July (12:00pm)

**Salary**:Grade 5 - starting salary $125,336 (dependent on skills and experience) plus 16% super and a monthly RDO