Senior Officer

This position can be based in Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney.

Position Overview

The Senior Officer reports to the Manager (Legal & Compliance team) and supports the Director, the Manager and other team members in providing assistance to, and undertaking tasks on behalf of, the President, Members of the Tribunal and the Registrar in the discharge of their functions and powers under the Native Title Act.

Establishing and maintaining relevant stakeholder relationships, in particular with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, is central to the role.

The role will be required to continually maintain and share knowledge within a national team and provide guidance, mentoring and support to staff, promoting teamwork and staff development. The Senior Officer will also be able to work independently and take responsibility for outcomes.

The role would suit someone who is comfortable working within statutory and procedural frameworks, enjoys working and communicating with a diverse range of people and has strong written communication and interpersonal skills.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Manager, Legal & Compliance team, the Director, Legal and Compliance and other team members in the administration and performance of NNTT and Registrar statutory functions.
• Mentor and motivate colleagues, promoting teamwork, cohesion, and staff development.
• Develop and maintain a sound understanding of relevant Commonwealth and State legislation and the NNTT's statutory obligations under the Native Title Act.
• Apply approved records and information management practices in compliance with the NNTT Records & Information Management Policy and Procedures.
• Exercise delegations within scope of delegated authority.
• Provide high level analysis and written products in support of the President, Members, and the Registrar.
• Work with a high level of independence, setting priorities, displaying initiative, and managing competing workloads to ensure quality and timely outputs.
• Work as an effective team member, promoting team cohesion, innovation, identifying areas for improvement and helping team members to adapt to change.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with relevant stakeholders, including PBCs.
• Engage with external clients and stakeholders using clear communication and projecting a positive image of the NNTT.
• Perform other duties as reasonably required and directed.

Other Requirements

Tertiary qualifications, demonstrating research, communication, and critical thinking skills, while not essential, would be an advantage.

Selection Criteria

• Possess and demonstrate an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Possess and demonstrate an ability to communicate sensitively with and demonstrate cultural understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Demonstrate the ability to engage with and motivate individuals and groups.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop strategies and work plans, and to identify opportunities, problems, and options for their resolution.
• Display a high standard of compliance with organisational practices and procedures, demonstrating ownership of work and responsibility for outcomes.
• Maintain a high level of data integrity using records management and electronic filing systems, ensuring data entry is correct and an accurate reflection of the status of matters.
• Possess well-developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish positive working relationships and represent the NNTT in a variety of forums displaying discretion, integrity, and sensitivity.
• Display clear and positive communication with internal and external stakeholders, presenting information in a clear, concise, and articulate manner, focusing on key points and using appropriate, unambiguous language.
• Possess the ability to work within a statutory framework including capacity to interpret and apply the provisions of the Native Title Act.

Salary

$94,563 - $105,910 per annum, plus 15.4% superannuation.

Applications close on Monday 27 October 2025 at 11:30 pm (AEDT).

Contact Officer

For more information, please contact
Max Comp
on or by email

How to apply

To apply, please complete the application form on the Court's careers portal.

As part of your application, you will be required to submit a written response to the selection criteria listed in the position description (maximum word limit Please ensure this document is attached before submitting your application.

If you have any technical issues with applying, please email

Eligibility

Employment with the Court is subject to the conditions prescribed in the Public Service Act 1999, and the following:

1. Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship.
2. Security and character clearance – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check and may also be required to complete security clearances during the court of their employment.
3. Health clearance – the successful applicant may be required to complete a health declaration or attend a medical assessment to confirm their fitness for duty.

Interested candidates who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency are welcome to apply but note that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired.

Diversity and Inclusion

Federal Court Australia is committed to supporting an inclusive and diverse workforce and welcomes and encourages applications from People with Disability.

First Nations peoples, LGBTIQA+ people, people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds, Mature age workers, as well as young workers and supporting an inter-generational workforce and supporting gender equity and families.

Federal Court Australia will provide reasonable adjustments for candidates to participate equitably in the recruitment process and discuss workplace adjustments to fulfil the inherent requirements of the role.

RecruitAbility

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit:

This vacancy is advertised as an 'identified position' as both the role and the work of the National Native Title Tribunal have a strong involvement in issues relating to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Successful applicants are required to have knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.