Senior Executive Service Band 1, Assistant Secretary, Policy And Program Management

Senior Executive Service Band 1, Assistant Secretary, Policy and Program Management (Multiple Positions) Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade – Canberra ACT
Applications for this position close on Monday 18 November 2024 at 11.59pm (AEDT)
DFAT is seeking to build on its existing Assistant Secretary (Senior Executive Service Band 1) capability, to broaden and deepen the department's executive leadership team with highly talented, skilled individuals who excel at working collegiately and can anticipate and respond to the changing world and can agilely manage resources to achieve outcomes in complex and diverse operating environments.

To address Australian Government priorities and efficiently manage the department, DFAT is divided into seven strategic groups:
The Trade and Investment Group advances Australia's interests in global trade and investment, through the multilateral trading system, regional economic architecture, our network of free trade agreements and our investment in global trade law and economic security.
The Group manages Australia's relations with Latin America and the Caribbean.
The International Security, Legal and Consular Group advances Australia's interests in the Middle East and Africa, and in international legal and security affairs.
The Group delivers passport and consular services to travelling Australians.
And it is responsible for enabling and coordinating Australian Government responses to international crises.
The Strategic Planning and Coordination Group is focused on addressing Australia's strategic challenges.
It shapes relationships with key nations, and aligns diplomatic, economic, defence, intelligence, and strategic communications efforts in DFAT and across government.
It provides strategic advice, develops and implements policy, brings all areas of statecraft to bear, and tells Australia's story.
The South and Southeast Asia Group drives Australia's efforts to enhance strategic engagement and cooperation with South and Southeast Asia, including through ASEAN and Indian Ocean regional forums.
Its work spans the political, economic, security, development, multilateral and maritime spheres, leveraging a network of 29 diplomatic posts.
The Office of the Pacific leads Australia's whole of government efforts to deepen bilateral and regional engagement with the Pacific.
It supports Pacific Island countries' economic, climate, development and security needs and builds closer political, cultural and people-to-people links, including through administering a complex $2 billion development assistance program.
The Development, Multilateral, and Europe Group oversees policy governing Australia's $5 billion ODA program, and supports implementing areas with procurement, monitoring and evaluation, and effectiveness.
The group leads Australia's climate diplomacy and cutting-edge climate finance solutions for the green energy transition; humanitarian work, responding to catastrophes around the world and preparing our neighbours for natural disasters; gender equality advocacy globally and helps ensure gender remains a high priority in all aspects of DFAT's work.
It also manages Australia's ambitious multilateral agenda, including at the UN through posts in New York and Geneva, and our bilateral relationships with Europe through more than 20 posts.
The Enabling Services Group responds to a complex, dynamic and fast-moving domestic and overseas operating environment.
It provides high quality and integrated services in financial management, human resources, information technology, security, overseas and domestic property, and support to Ministers and the Executive through corporate governance, ministerial and parliamentary services, protocol and audit.
Our ideal candidates
As an Assistant Secretary at DFAT, you will lead and manage a policy-focused branch; determine and be accountable for the branch's objectives and priorities; and represent the department with key stakeholders and external organisations.
As an important member of the department's leadership team, you will work across the Group and the organisation to deliver policy outcomes, promoting and modelling an inclusive culture.

These roles will require self-motivated, agile, and strategic thinkers to build relationships in a diverse and complex environment.
As a leader, you will contribute to, and communicate, strategic direction while developing trust and building the capability of your branch.

In addition to strong leadership capabilities, you will have a proven track record of delivering high quality policy and program management outcomes in diverse and complex environments, achieved through:
broad experience in the provision of expert, evidence-based policy advice, and leading on policy development; ability to operate in complex and diverse environments autonomously based on broad agency objectives; excellent interpersonal skills, sound judgement and stakeholder engagement skills; demonstrated experience in preparing briefs and advice to Senior Executives or Ministers within broad policy parameters.
We strongly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and background will lead to a better environment for our employees and better outcomes for Australia.
Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people with disability are highly encouraged because your diverse experience, perspectives, and background strengthens our service delivery, productivity, capability, and innovation.

The key duties of the position include:
Your roles and responsibilities will be aligned to the SES Band 1 Work level standards and the Secretaries' Charter of Leadership Behaviours.

Your key duties will include:
be responsible for making significant contributions to the leadership and strategic direction of the department; manage substantial resources and departmental operations effectively and efficiently; influence and deliver strong results across the department's international policy agenda; lead and manage teams in the development and implementation of work covering diverse policy issues across a range of the department's responsibilities; effectively manage key internal and external stakeholder relationships; represent the department of government and provide quality advice to ministers, the Secretary, departmental colleagues, across the public service and with the business and non-government sectors.
All employees of the department are expected to abide by the APS Values and Code of Conduct and the DFAT Values Statement.

SES employees at DFAT are held to a high standard of personal behaviour, are viewed as role models of integrity and professional conduct and expected to exemplify the highest standards of professionalism.
SES employees have a responsibility to promote the APS Values and Code of Conduct.

Eligibility
Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.

Depending on the role into which you are placed, you may also be required to obtain and maintain a Working with Vulnerable People/Children registration (or equivalent).

The department requires the successful candidate to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 2 level security clearance, unless the position to be filled has been designated as a lower or higher classification.
Loss of a security clearance at any time may lead to termination of employment.
In some instances, employees may be able to commence in the department on a Temporary Access arrangement prior to their security clearance being finalised.

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