Senior Policy Officer Strategic Policy

Senior Policy Officer – Strategic Policy

APS6

Townsville

Part-time 19.5 hours per week; Non-ongoing - Specified Terms 12 months

Applications close Thursday 13 November 2025

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (the Reef Authority) is a Commonwealth non-corporate entity, and a statutory agency established by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975 (Marine Park Act), reporting to the Minister for the Environment and Water. Our objective is the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community through the care and development of the Marine Park.

Managing a reef roughly the size of Italy demands many skills and talents, so you don't have to be a marine biologist to contribute to our mission. From finance to marketing roles, we have a team almost as diverse as the ecosystem we protect. Our commitment and dedication to the Great Barrier Reef and the Australian public have a long-lasting impact, and we are looking for individuals who can bring their unique skills, experience, and knowledge to our high-performing and inclusive organisation.

The Position

We are seeking an agile and skilled policy professional to join our small team in supporting the Authority's response to key external threats to the Reef and other contemporary strategic initiatives. The position provides policy advice to Senior leadership and works with key stakeholders to ensure the Authority's strategic direction maintains the resilience of the Reef.

About You

• You are a strategic thinker able to work across diverse subject matter areas with a high degree of complexity and apply innovative approaches to solving problems.
• You have a high interest in and / or broad knowledge of the Reef and its key threats and are able to negotiate a consensus in a complex landscape of competing views.
• You are resourceful and can work with limited direction to achieve high quality outcomes, applying judgement, logic and discretion appropriately.
• You have exceptional written skills, an eye for detail and routinely complete tasks on time and to a high standard.
• You are a team player, who successfully maintains relationships with internal staff and external clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement policies and strategies that support the protection of the Marine Park
• Coordinate and prepare high quality written material and reports including the provision of expert, timely, practical, evidence and risk-based advice to the Assistant Director and Director on matters relevant to the strategic policy landscape for the Reef.
• Support the delivery of Authority priorities, with a focus on delivering policy advice that shapes the strategic direction of the Authority, for long-term outcomes for the Reef; developing policies, strategies and other documents; synthesising and integrating contemporary science and best practice public policy approaches into Marine Park management and coordinating strategic communications and dissemination of information to a wide range of audiences,
• Work collaboratively to achieve results by engaging effectively with Traditional Owners, partners and internal and external stakeholders on Marine Park management issues through effective internal and external communications and appropriate liaison.
• Work collaboratively to deliver and implement strategies and policies, supporting associated projects and contribute to management solutions that provide for the protection and conservation of the Reef and that contribute to the delivery of work programs for the Strategic Policy section and Reef Authority more broadly.

For more information about this opportunity, please contact Patricia Schluter, Assistant Director Strategic Policy, Ph

Eligibility

The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience in public sector administration and policy development preferably in natural resource or environment management.

To be eligible for employment, candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of application.

The position requires a Baseline security clearance. Successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

The successful candidate will be willing to provide identity documents and undergo an identity pre-employment check through a Document Verification Service.

How to apply

Please ensure you read the instructions below and on the Position Description carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.

You will be required to prepare a response document ("pitch") in MSWord or PDF format using standard margins and size 11 Arial font.

Please prepare a 'pitch', as outlined in the Position Description, in relation to the advertised role, outlining:

• how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities would enable you to perform the duties and meet the technical and behavioural capabilities of the role.

• any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

• how you meet the eligibility requirements and qualifications for the position.

When crafting your response, we encourage you to review 'Cracking the Code' and the relevant Australian Public Service Work Level Standards which can be found on the Australian Public Service Commission website:

Please complete your application online and provide:

• your 'pitch' (as described above and in the position description).
• proof of Australian citizenship (an Australian Passport or Australian Birth Certificate)
• a current curriculum vitae (resume)

Applicants are advised to read further information provided on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Careers website.

PLEASE NOTE: - The panel may not consider additional information such as a cover letter or content exceeding the page limit.

Notes

The current position is non-ongoing however through this process may create a merit pool to fill similar ongoing and non-ongoing positions that become available within the next 18 months.

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:

Eligibility

Employment with the Reef Authority is subject to:

• Conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999.
• Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) granting a security clearance at the required level.
• Evidence of citizenship status.
• Evidence of qualifications required of the role.
• Evidence of a completed national police-check with no risks identified by the Reef Authority.
• The CEO of the Reef Authority, or their Delegate, approving a Notice of Engagement.
• The Australian Government Security Clearance Application Guide Book provides information on minimum eligibility requirements for holding a security clearance at the required level. Please ensure that you are able to provide the necessary documents if you apply for the position. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the AGSVA website.