Director, Policy and Research

• Ongoing
• Salary: $ to $ plus 15.4% superannuation
• National

Employment Opportunity

The Director, Policy and Research supports the Anti-Slavery Commissioner to fulfil his functions and responsibilities under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) by liaising with government agencies, managing research and policy approaches, and collaborating with lived experience advisers on behalf of the Office.

The Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner further strengthens Australia's efforts to address modern slavery by providing an independent pillar to Australia's response. As part of a small team, the Director, Policy and Research will work closely with the Commissioner and other staff on a range of duties, including:

• leading engagement with the Attorney-General's Department, other relevant government agencies and members of Parliament and leading the research engagements of the Office, undertaking high-level policy research and analysis to develop guidance and policy solutions
• developing high-quality submissions, guidance materials, briefings and other publications on modern slavery policy matters
• keeping abreast of developments in modern slavery research and policy, and maintaining extensive stakeholder networks across civil society, academics and government agencies
• supporting lived experience advisers to influence the design and instrument of engagement and consultation mechanisms
• incorporating feedback from people with lived experience into the development of policy solutions, programs, and strategies
• plan, manage and monitor a financial budget for a particular program of work while overseeing and managing the use of service providers, including contractors and consultants
• contribute to the strategic planning of the Office and providing strategic advice and guidance to the Commissioner
• undertake other duties that contribute to the continuous improvement of policies, programs and procedures, and the efficient and effective functioning of the Office.

How you can help us make a difference

The ideal candidate will be able to use their experience in advanced modern slavery research and policy, government relations, and collaborating with people with lived experience, to support the Commissioner in his role under the Modern Slavery Act. They will need to demonstrate drive and initiative and be able to manage high workloads under tight timeframes. A technical understanding of Australia's response to modern slavery is highly desirable.

The ideal candidate will have:

• highly developed written and oral communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to communicate information coherently and concisely to audiences with a range of backgrounds
• demonstrated success in shaping policy outcomes
• strong analytical skills with experience in conducting modern slavery research and an understanding of evidence-based modern slavery policy solutions
• demonstrated ability to liaise widely and develop productive working relationships with a range of external stakeholders
• demonstrated experience in working with people with lived experience and implementing trauma-informed approaches to consultation and engagement
• capacity to work in a busy environment, working with competing priorities and ability to effectively manage and prioritise workload to deliver outcomes
• ability to work with a high level of autonomy under broad direction
• demonstrated calm, flexible, friendly and professional approach.

For more information about the Commissioner please follow the link here:

Merit Pools:

A merit list or pool may be created as part of this selection process and be used to fill similar vacancies anywhere in Australia.

Flexible work arrangements will be considered and supported where possible. These include:

• Job Share
• Hybrid Work
• Remote Work
• Compressed Hours
• Bandwidth Modification

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