Executive Director, Aboriginal Policy, Treaty and Truth

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of business units within the Aboriginal Policy, Treaty and Truth division
• Fixed, Full-Time Opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
• SES Grade 2: $298,489 - $430,740 Total Renumeration Package.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking an Executive Director, Aboriginal Policy, Treaty and Truth

This is an Aboriginal Identified role: We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for this role, in accordance with the Special Measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 to apply for this role.

About the Business Unit

The Aboriginal Justice Group is committed to driving systemic change in the justice system, to deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians. The group works in close partnership with Victorian Aboriginal communities and is guided by principles of Aboriginal self-determination. The Executive Director leads three business units detailed below and provides high-quality advice on legislation, policy and programs to the Aboriginal Justice Group, broader department and government. Reporting to the Deputy Secretary, Aboriginal Justice, the Executive Director, Aboriginal Policy Treaty and Truth is responsible for strategic leadership of the Aboriginal Justice Policy Reform Unit (AJPRU), Treaty Readiness team, and the Aboriginal Workforce Unit (AWU).

The AJPRU drives structural and systemic transformation and coordinates efforts across the department to improve justice outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians through policy development, legislative reform, and genuine commitment to self-determination. The AJPRU has primary responsibility for coordinating the delivery of the Aboriginal Justice Group's law and policy reform agenda, driving proactive and responsive legislative and system reform opportunities across the department's justice portfolios.

The Treaty Readiness team coordinates the department's engagement in the Victorian Treaty process and responses to recommendations of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, working closely with the department of Premier and Cabinet, which leads the State's Treaty and Truth processes.

The AWU is responsible for the growth and development of the department's Aboriginal workforce including through delivery of the department's Aboriginal Workforce Strategy and associated programs. The AWU provides ongoing support to Aboriginal employees and manages a range of Aboriginal employment initiatives. The AWU leads the innovation of new programs and policies to strengthen career development and cultural diversity and inclusion across the department.

About the Role

The Executive Director will model and embed VPS values, cultural knowledge and adaptive ways of working. The Executive Director will require a combination of policy, program and project management expertise, a strong understanding of government, public administration and decision making within an evolving self-determination framework, effective stakeholder engagement, and effective briefing of the Secretary, Board of Management and DJCS Ministers, and Cabinet/relevant Cabinet Committees. The Executive Director also takes a proactive approach to embedding Aboriginal Justice considerations into departmental core business processes and facilitates system, legislative and policy reform.

Some of your duties will include:

• Executive leadership of the Aboriginal Policy Reform Unit, Treaty Readiness Team and Aboriginal Workforce Unit
• Provide advice on a range of legislative and policy reform initiatives to ensure the impact on Aboriginal communities are a key consideration in the development, to ensure an evidence-based approach to meeting the needs and aspiration of Aboriginal Victorians.
• Provide high-level, accurate, timely and strategic legislative and policy advice to support the Deputy Secretary, Secretary, Board of Management, portfolio Ministers and other stakeholders on Treaty and justice priorities for Aboriginal Victorians.
• Provide high quality and effective engagement with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus and other key Aboriginal stakeholders that enables self-determination and improved justice outcomes.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Excellent knowledge of Aboriginal culture and society and understanding of historical and contemporary issues relating to Aboriginal Victorians.
• Strong knowledge of, and demonstrated experience, working with Aboriginal communities and advisory groups, including sophisticated and culturally aware stakeholder engagement.
• A proven record and high-level knowledge of Aboriginal justice issues and effective solutions, including the Victorian treaty process (or engagement with comparable self-determined structures).
• Experience leading a team responding to a Royal Commission, Coronial Inquiry or other significant review/inquiry.
• Demonstrated success in building, managing and leading high performing multidisciplinary teams to deliver on signature initiatives and reforms, through effective program and project management.
• Experience in taking innovative approaches to complex problems, including effectively engaging with multiple stakeholders on solutions.

Qualifications/requirements

• A mandatory tertiary qualification in law is required for the role, due to the requirement to provide detailed advice on legislative and policy reforms. Note - that the candidate does not to be admitted to practice.
• Qualifications in Aboriginal Affairs or public sector management are also highly desirable

Aboriginal applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process and are encouraged to contact if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.

How to Apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.