Assistant Director, Stakeholder Engagement, Defence and Veterans' Service Commission

Location: Canberra, ACTApplication Closing Date: Thursday 13 November 2025 at 11:30pm AEDTClassification Executive Level 1 ($126,342 - $143,993) Employment Type Ongoing & Non-ongoing (for a period up to 24 months) This role is being advertised as both ongoing and non-ongoing, with the employment type to be determined in negotiation with the preferred candidate and the PM&C delegate. Where a non-ongoing specified term is offered, this would be for a maximum period of two (2) years. If the initial contract is for less than 2 years, it may be extended or renewed once, up to the 2 year limit. A non-ongoing offer may result in conversion to an ongoing offer of employment, however this must occur within 18 months from the opening date of this advertisement. Flexible Work At PM&C we recognise the broad benefits of offering flexibility in how, when and where work is performed. We consider flexibility first from a starting position of 'how can we make this work?' and consider individual circumstances and operational requirements in making genuine attempts to establish mutually beneficial arrangements. Please reach out to the contact officer if you would like to explore what flexibility might look like for you, such as part time work, variable start and finish times or working from home. About the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission The Defence and Veterans' Service Commission (DVSC) provides independent oversight and evidence-based advice to government on reforms to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members. The Australian Government established the DVSC as a new Non-corporate Commonwealth Entity (NCE) on 29 September 2025 in response to the key recommendation of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Key functions of the DVSC include: monitoring, inquiring and reporting on issues relevant to suicide and suicidality for serving and ex-serving ADF members; monitoring, inquiring and reporting on the implementation of the Government's response to the recommendations of the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission, improving supports for serving and ex-serving ADF members, working with coroners to understand issues contributing to Defence and veteran deaths by suicide, and promoting an understanding of suicide risks and wellbeing for Defence members and veterans, including through engaging with people with lived experience. Working at the DVSC As a new agency, the DVSC is now recruiting staff and will continue to do so over the coming year. You have an opportunity to join us now where your expertise can help influence and shape our strategy in support of the Commissioner's independent oversight of wide-ranging reforms across the Defence and veteran ecosystem now and into the future. We are looking to recruit high performing and dedicated staff with a range of capabilities, who demonstrate integrity, independence and compassion. A key focus of the DVSC's work is the prevention of suicide and suicidality. While the DVSC has a proactive wellbeing program, applicants are encouraged to consider their personal circumstances when applying for this role. Applicants can familiarise themselves with the findings and recommendations of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide for further information. The DVSC is an independent agency. We are currently physically located in Canberra, within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet under a shared service arrangement. While we transition our employment framework, the successful candidate may be on-boarded via the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and subsequently transitioned to the DVSC. Employment with the DVSC is offered under the Public Service (Terms and Conditions of Employment) (Defence and Veterans' Service Commission) Determination About the Role We are seeking a skilled and effective Assistant Director, Stakeholder Engagement, to lead, support and facilitate the DVSC's engagement and related communication functions. The Assistant Director will work as part of a small team and will collaborate with other functional areas of the DVSC in this responsible and sensitive role. The Assistant Director's duties involve arranging opportunities to engage with organisations and individuals in the Defence and veteran ecosystem, including people with lived experience, to seek their insights and advice. The Assistant Director will also support the Commissioner's functions to promote an understanding of suicide risks and factors that can improve the wellbeing of, and improve supports for serving and ex-serving ADF members. Located in the Oversight and Engagement branch of the DVSC, and reporting to the Director, Communications and Engagement, the Assistant Director will operate under broad direction to: Lead the development and delivery of stakeholder engagement activities to support the Commissioner's statutory functions,Engage on the work of the DVSC in a meaningful, trustworthy, and trauma informed way with Defence members, veterans and their families, ex-service organisations, and non-government and government organisations through both face-to-face and digital channels,Undertake policy research, prepare briefings, reports and products to inform the Commissioner's communication and engagement functions and activities,Manage secretariat duties for advisory forums and events,Lead staff and collaborate with other capability areas in the DVSC,Arrange, participate in and support internal and external meetings, committees and advisory groups, including maintaining professional relationships with key stakeholders,Undertake other duties in the Communications and Engagement team as required.Our ideal candidate We are looking for a motivated, organised and compassionate Assistant Director with: Ability to understand and appreciate the purpose of the DVSC as an independent oversight agency, and to apply this understanding to the expected duties.Excellent interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to adjust engagement styles to respond to different audiences and subject matter in a trauma informed manner.Sound judgement, discretion and resilience when representing the DVSC and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders and individuals in sometimes challenging circumstances.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high quality briefings, reports, correspondence, agenda papers, and communication products tailored to audience needs.Excellent organisational skills, with experience in managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines, in a fast-paced and varied environment.Commitment to the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values, and to upholding the DVSC's independence, impartiality and professionalism.Capability to appropriately engage with and communicate content around Defence and veteran suicide and suicidality.Excellent leadership skills, with the ability to foster a high performing, safe and supportive workplace for staff and colleagues, including the ability to work collaboratively in a small agency.Qualifications / Experience The following is required: Extensive professional experience and/or tertiary qualifications in a relevant area, such as government or NGO stakeholder engagement, counselling, communication, social work, psychology, community development, community liaison, policy development, program implementation, case management, legal assistance, welfare support, or similar.An understanding of trauma-informed communication and engagement principles.The following will be highly regarded: Experience working with people with lived experience of suicide or suicidality, or other significant life events or experiences, to bring insight and understanding to agency work.Experience facilitating workshops, focus groups and/or interviews on sensitive topics utilising human-centred design principles.Experience in providing secretariat services and policy support to committees or forums, and arranging engagement opportunities.An understanding of suicide and suicidality, particularly among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members.Eligibility Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing. At PM&C to be eligible for this position you should be an Australian Citizen by the completion of the recruitment process, except under exceptional circumstances.The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance, or hold a current security clearance of an appropriate level.The successful candidate will be assessed through our pre-employment screening checks, such as an Australian Criminal History Check, and will normally be subject to a six-month probation period if new to the APS or has not yet completed their probation period elsewhere in the APS.Due to the nature of work the DVSC undertakes, some roles may require staff to obtain and maintain a WWVP registration card, as per the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011.Security Clearance RequiredBaseline Vetting (Protected) How to apply Submit an online application through the PM&C Current Opportunities by 11:30pm AEDT on Thursday, 13 November As part of your application you will need to provide: Your resume (maximum three pages)A 'statement of claims (no more than 750 words)' telling us how your skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications make you the best person for the job and to perform at the relevant classification level.You are encouraged to refer to the Candidate Pack and the relevant classification level of the PM&C Performance Model to assist you in drafting your statement of claims. You may also refer to the APSC resource Cracking the Code for further guidance and assistance on applying for jobs in the Australian Public Service. Contact Officer DVSC Recruitment on Please Note – This is an unclassified web based recruitment system so your application must not contain any classified or sensitive information. This includes in your statement of claims and resume.