Assistant Secretary

Senior Executive Service Band 1 per annum plus superannuation
- Sustainability, Climate and Strategy Division
- Canberra, ACT

**Who we are**

The **Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry** is the lead agency for the food, fibre, fisheries and forestry sectors in Australia. We support the entire supply chain, helping to grow Australia's economy and meet consumer demands both at home and in overseas markets. Our 5,500 employees work in a range of environments and locations around Australia from airports and abattoirs to laboratories and foreign countries daily to improve the value, productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector.

The **Sustainability, Climate and Strategy Division** is responsible for developing and implementing a suite of policies and programs that advance the government's sustainable agriculture and climate agenda.

The **Climate Policy Branch** prides itself on being a trusted advisor to government and the sector more broadly. Anticipating issues and opportunities to shape our strategic contribution to climate policy is therefore essential. This requires a mix of technical knowledge on issues affecting the sector's decarbonisation and adaptation task as well as broad policy nous that advances our national leadership and advocacy role for the sector.

**The job**

As Assistant Secretary, Climate Policy your duties will include:

- Leading the branch in providing policy analysis and technical advice, across a range of complex and cross-cutting issues impacting greenhouse gas mitigation from the agriculture sector, land sequestration and broader climate adaptation.
- Setting clear direction and national leadership across the agri-food system with respect to the sector's contribution to climate mitigation and adaptation goals.
- Being comfortable and confident to progress agendas and work programs often in a contextual environment where broader ambiguity and uncertainty may prevail.
- Leading the preparation of cabinet submissions and new policy proposals is a core requirement, often in a dynamic and time-constrained environment.
- Advancing our international engagement and international partnerships with like-minded countries and organisations that underpin our credentials as a low emissions producer and exporter of food and fibre.
- Collaborating closely with Commonwealth and state and territory counterparts to support alignment of initiatives, strategic priorities and program design.
- Leading and implementing policies and programs to address organisational, whole-of-government and industry priorities for the advancement of Australia's climate credentials in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector.
- Promoting a high-performance culture, while focusing on continuous improvement of employee and organisational performance as well as budget management.
- Actively connecting our climate policies and programs with cross-cutting initiatives led by other teams, including with respect to drought and farm resilience, natural resource management, natural capital and biodiversity.
- Draw on fit-for-purpose data and analytics (supported by close working relationships with ABARES colleagues) to underpin our evidence-based approach to policy and program design and delivery.

**What we are looking for**

To be successful for this role you will need to meet the Senior Executive Service capability for the SES Band 1 classification, and you will have the following:

- Ability to demonstrate your collaboration and agility with a proven record of delivering high quality and innovative policy and program outcomes in a complex, politically sensitive, and operationally diverse environment.
- Outstanding leadership skills, a substantial record of achievement and a reputation for innovation and delivery of results.
- Outstanding stakeholder relationship skills and experience in engaging with internal and external stakeholders at all levels to explore opportunities and solve complex problems.
- Demonstrating a strategic perspective and ability to manage competing demands and work to tight deadlines.
- Highly developed management and stakeholder engagement skills and ability to represent the department at a range of forums.
- Demonstrated public service professionalism and probity.

**Desirable qualifications**

**Security clearance**

This position requires a Negative Vetting Level 1 security clearance. The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at the appropriate level for this position.

**Please note**, we anticipate interviews being held week commencing 20 January 2025.

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