Senior Evidence Management Officer

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced evidence professional to join the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman's (OFWO) Evidence Management Team within the Criminal Investigations Branch. This is a new team, and you will have the opportunity to shape the culture and work practices of the area.

We are looking to fill an APS Level 6 (APS6) Senior Evidence Management Officer vacancy. Full-time and part-time hours and hybrid work arrangements are available. Offers will be based on candidate performance and operational requirements.

About the OFWO

The Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman (OFWO) is an independent statutory office established by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Fair Work Act). Our functions outline the responsibilities we have as set by the Fair Work Act and other legislation to achieve our purpose:

• provide education, assistance, advice and guidance to employers, employees, outworkers, outworker entities and organisations
• promote and monitor compliance with workplace laws
• inquire into and investigate breaches of the Fair Work Act
• take appropriate enforcement action
• perform our statutory functions efficiently, effectively, economically and ethically.

What our employees say about us

We are one of the most engaged and high performing agencies in Australia; consistently scoring above average on employee engagement and wellbeing when surveyed against other APS agencies.

What we offer you

• We provide a diverse, inclusive and supportive work environment with access to:
• Great training and development opportunities
• Generous leave and flexible working arrangements
• Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a free counselling service for you and your family
• A competitive salary, plus 15.4% superannuation
• Rewards and recognition initiatives

We Value Diversity

OFWO has been accredited as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace since 2011. We are also members of the Australian Network on Disability and Pride in Diversity. We encourage and welcome applications from First Nations people, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and mature age people.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for employment with the OFWO you must be an Australian citizen.
• The successful candidate must hold a current Australian Government Security Clearance (AGSVA) or be willing to undergo and obtain a Baseline security clearance.

A range of other conditions may be required depending on the role you are applying for.

About the Team

The Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB) was established in response to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023, which introduced a criminal offence for employers intentionally failing to pay employee entitlements. The OFWO is responsible for investigating contraventions of the offence and referring matters to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) or the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The CIB is responsible for establishing the systems, processes, capabilities and policies required to effectively operate as a dual civil and criminal regulator.

The Evidence Management Team within the CIB is responsible for overseeing and supporting the proper collection, processing, documentation, analysis and preservation of evidence to a criminal standard of proof throughout an investigation. This includes the delivery of briefs of evidence and support during prosecutions.

This is a high-profile area with interest from the Australian public and stakeholder groups both within and external to the OFWO. You will need to be comfortable working in an environment with a high level of scrutiny.

Typical Duties

Reporting to the Director of the Evidence Management Team, the duties of this role includes (however, are not limited to):

• provide expertise and leadership to team members and investigation teams on evidence management practices and techniques
• work closely with investigation teams to develop and implement efficient evidence review strategies ensuring the appropriate use of technology
• implement electronic evidence systems and related technologies to ensure consistency, efficiency and quality including the use of automation
• assist with preparation, compilation and reproduction of evidentiary material for criminal briefs and disclosure using eDiscovery platforms and related technologies
• develop and implement evidence management policies and procedures that can be used to establish guidelines/practice notes and ensure team compliance
• develop and undertake educational activities to investigation teams, stakeholders and external parties on evidence management practices and services
• foster and maintain relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to create and maintain a collaborative working environment
• undertake evidence processing tasks including preparation of hard copy and electronic evidence, data import/export, and electronic file remediation using early case assessment and litigation support tools
• perform evidence management tasks including processing, importing/exporting, filtering and remediation, whilst ensuring quality assurance and compliance with established procedures

Interstate and overnight travel may be required in this role.

Selection Criteria

To be successful in the role, you will possess:

• demonstrated ability to provide technical advice, training and assistance across the full lifecycle of an investigation matter including receipt, registration, processing, remediation, archiving and disposal of evidence
• demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive working relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders preferably in an enforcement agency, professional services firm or law firm
• strong written and oral communications skills, including the ability to articulate complex information and communicate effectively with a variety of audiences
• analytical and problem-solving skills, with accuracy and attention to detail to ensure high quality control, and ability to adjust to meet changing work demands and circumstances
• experience in the use and understanding of eDiscovery platforms or computer forensics principles in complex or highly sensitive investigations

Strong data and digital skills and understanding of relational databases (MS Access/SQL) are highly desirable.

Vocational qualifications in investigations, data science and/or a minimum of 5 years of relevant job experience in an enforcement agency are desirable and highly relevant.