Director, Research and Analysis, Defence and Veterans' Service Commission

Location: Canberra, ACT

Application Closing Date: Wednesday 5 November at 11:30pm AEDT

Classification

Executive Level 2 ($147,052 - $175,016)

Employment Type

Ongoing & Non-ongoing (for a period of 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 the DVSC 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 capabilities 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.

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

The Director of Research and Analysis will be the research, data and information lynchpin of the DVSC, with the opportunity to lead a small team and work with senior leadership to develop the agency's strategic research and analysis capability. The Director will help to shape and retain stewardship over this centralised capability to ensure accurate, well-researched, evidence-based information is provided to the Commissioner and to other line areas in the DVSC for the DVSC's inquiry, oversight, evaluation, reporting, corporate, and promotion of suicide prevention functions.

Located in the Chief Operating Officer functional line of the DVSC, which comprises the functions of Research and Analysis, Corporate and Governance, and People, Wellbeing and Integrity, the Director and their team will work collegiately with senior leadership and staff across the DVSC as a central enabling capability. The Director, Research and Analysis will also engage with a broad range of Commonwealth agencies and external stakeholders to gather information and data.

The Director and their team will collate, analyse and manage relevant research, insights and data on Defence and veteran suicide and suicidality to inform the DVSC's work. This will be drawn from a range of sources including qualitative and quantitative information from academic research, international research, statistical data sources, the DVSC's contact and engagement activities, lived experience, official reports from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, government agencies and jurisdictions, and other data holdings in the Defence and veteran ecosystem. The Director will also support and lead research where required.

Our ideal candidate

We are looking for an innovative and motivated Director with:

• Strong strategic leadership, and the ability to build and lead a small research and analysis team that will support the statutory functions of the Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner and the DVSC
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate productive relationships with government agencies, research bodies, academia and other stakeholders to capture new information, data and emerging trends on suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members to inform the DVSC's evidence-based reports and advice
• Ability to problem solve and navigate multiple, complex data sets with accuracy and reliability, and to oversee, advise on, or conduct applied research on suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members
• An understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks for conducting research and information sharing, or ability to quickly acquire it
• A high level of personal integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values, with the ability to uphold the DVSC's independence and impartiality
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire, develop, and lead a high-performance team while maintaining productive and respectful working relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, including people with lived experience.

Qualifications / Experience

The following is required:

• Tertiary qualifications or professional experience relevant to the role (such as policy research, research design, data science, or a related discipline).

The following is highly regarded:

• Data mining, data visualisation, database design skills, preparing tables for publication, thematic analysis skills
• Experience in leading qualitative and/or quantitative research, statistical analysis, literature reviews, focus groups, case studies, interviews, including surveys, submission analysis
• 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 the DVSC 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 Required

Negative Vetting Level 1 (Secret)

How to apply

Submit an online application through the PM&C Current Opportunities by 11:30pm AEDT on Wednesday 5 November.

As part of your application you will need to provide:

• Your resume (maximum three pages)
• A 'one page pitch (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 one page pitch.

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 one page pitch and resume.