- Canberra
- Applications close 16 September
- The salary range for this role is $126,391 - $134,225
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:
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Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
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Investing in science and technology
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Strengthening the resources sector.
The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people’s lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.
If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia’s future.
Please see the APSC’s APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.
The Work Health Safety (WHS) and Wellbeing Section supports the Department to meet its work health and safety obligations, strengthen safe systems of work, and promote a workplace culture that supports both physical safety and psychological wellbeing. The team works in partnership with leaders, managers, workers and specialist stakeholders to provide advice, manage WHS systems and programs, support incident and hazard reporting, coordinate consultation arrangements, and deliver practical tools and initiatives that prevent harm and improve workplace health, safety and wellbeing.
We are part of People Branch, which sits within the Chief Operating Officer Division. People Branch leads the department’s strategic and operational human resources functions, including workforce planning, recruitment and employment programs, capability and talent, employee relations, people support, inclusion, work health and safety, and wellbeing. As part of the COO Division, the branch contributes to the department’s enabling services by supporting a safe, capable, inclusive and high-performing workforce, and by helping leaders and employees access practical people-related advice, systems and support.
The WHS and Wellbeing Section has three key streams, each led by an EL1. Whilst EL1s specialise in their stream’s area of focus, collectively they work with the EL2 Manager to strengthen the overarching function by improving coordination, consistency, service maturity and the effective delivery of WHS and wellbeing priorities across the department. All work under broad direction, providing high-level strategic and technical advice as relevant to their stream, work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders and translate WHS and wellbeing legislative, policy and operational requirements into practical, defensible and sustainable improvements.
The EL1 Assistant Manager, WHS Operations provides primary oversight of the WHS operations stream, with responsibility for coordinating and assuring the delivery of operational WHS services, including incident and hazard management, operational risk processes, service delivery, consultation support, WHS reporting inputs and team workflow coordination. The role has primary responsibility for operational WHS risks, incidents, hazards, enquiries and service delivery, while working closely with the Wellbeing Lead on psychosocial matters and the Strategic WHS Projects Lead on enterprise frameworks, assurance activities and WHSMS governance.
The EL1 Assistant Manager, Wellbeing, provides primary oversight of the wellbeing stream (including psychosocial safety work) with responsibility for coordinating and assuring psychosocial risk prevention activities, wellbeing programs, wellbeing-related reporting, EAP contract/vendor oversight, manager capability initiatives and related team workflow. They have primary responsibility for psychosocial risk prevention, wellbeing programs and related service improvement, while working with WHS Operations on incident, hazard and operational WHS matters and with Strategic WHS Projects on enterprise frameworks, assurance and WHSMS governance.
The EL1 Assistant Manager, WHS Strategic Projects provides primary oversight of strategic WHS projects, enterprise WHS risk frameworks, assurance activities, WHSMS governance uplift, reporting maturity and capability-building initiatives. They have primary responsibility for enterprise WHS frameworks, assurance, WHSMS governance and strategic improvement activity, while working with WHS operations stream on operational implementation and with the wellbeing stream on psychosocial risk and prevention priorities.
Joining our team will give you exposure to a wide range of contemporary WHS issues across a large and diverse organisation. You will have opportunities to build your capability in WHS operations, incident management, consultation, reporting, training and continuous improvement.
Our ideal candidate will possess:
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Strong understanding of WHS legislation, risk management, consultation, incident and hazard management, governance and WHS management systems, with the ability to apply this knowledge to complex, sensitive and emerging matters.
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Demonstrated ability to operate with independence, sound judgement and accountability under broad direction, including setting priorities, managing risk, making defensible decisions and delivering outcomes in a complex environment.
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Strong leadership and delivery capability, including coordinating workflows, projects or programs; allocating work; assuring quality; coaching staff; building capability; and fostering an inclusive, professional and service-focused team culture.
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Highly developed analytical and problem-solving skills, including interpreting legislation; assessing risk; identifying trends; developing practical options; recommending proportionate controls; and evaluating effectiveness.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare, review and present clear, accurate and fit-for-purpose advice, briefs, reports, governance papers, procedures, guidance and communication products for varied audiences.
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Strong stakeholder engagement, consultation and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust, manage competing perspectives and work collaboratively with work collaboratively with senior leaders, managers, workers, HSRs and specialist stakeholders.
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Strong organisational skills and judgement, including the ability to manage competing strategic and operational priorities, dependencies and timeframes; monitor actions; maintain delivery momentum; and escalate issues appropriately.
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Sound discretion and professionalism when handling confidential, sensitive or high-risk matters, with appropriate regard to privacy, procedural fairness, trauma-informed practice, recordkeeping and legal, regulatory and reputational considerations.
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Confidence using Microsoft Office applications, electronic records management systems and tools to support effective delivery and informed decision-making.
Desirable qualifications or experience:
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Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety, or progress towards a relevant WHS or human resources qualification.
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Experience using WHS incident management systems.
All EL1s within the team exercise a high degree of independence, judgement and accountability. They lead and assure delivery within their stream, manage competing priorities, identify and respond to emerging physical and psychosocial risks, provide authoritative advice to senior leaders and stakeholders, and contribute to a positive, collaborative and service-focused WHS and Wellbeing team culture. Key responsibilities across the roles include:
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Lead, coordinate and assure the delivery of WHS and wellbeing priorities within the relevant stream, including work planning, task allocation, workflow management, governance, quality assurance and timely escalation of issues.
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Provide authoritative, evidence-informed and legally sound advice to senior leaders, managers, workers, Health and Safety Representatives and specialist stakeholders on WHS and wellbeing obligations, risk management, consultation, governance and safe systems of work.
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Identify, assess and respond to complex, sensitive or emerging physical and psychosocial risks, incidents, hazards and service issues, including developing proportionate controls, monitoring actions and escalating high-risk, regulatory, strategic or reputational matters.
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Translate legislation, policy, assurance findings, data, consultation feedback and operational insights into practical procedures, guidance, tools, templates, programs, communication products and sustainable service improvements.
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Prepare, review and clear high-quality written material, including briefs, reports, committee papers, correspondence, procedures, guidance, dashboards, executive updates and responses to complex or sensitive enquiries.
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Build effective partnerships and coordinate consultation with workers, managers, Health and Safety Representatives, People Branch teams, divisional contacts, specialist areas, external providers and regulators to deliver integrated and workable outcomes.
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Provide leadership, coaching and quality assurance to APS-level staff, supporting capability development, clear performance expectations and a positive, inclusive and service-focused team culture.
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Lead continuous improvement of WHS and wellbeing systems, services, governance, assurance, reporting, capability and organisational maturity, while contributing to whole-of-function planning, workforce priorities and implementation of the WHS Management System.
To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.
Positions require a Baseline security clearance and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.
Please note, this is an expected vacancy. This round will be used to fill positions as they arise over the next 18 months.
There are three key work streams within the team at this level (WHS Operations, Wellbeing and WHS Strategic Projects) and EL1s specialise in one of these, however support across all streams, as needed. Please indicate your preferred work stream in your statement and tailor your pitch accordingly.
A merit pool may be established and used to fill future vacancies within 18 months from the date the vacancy was first advertised in the Gazette.
The department does currently offer flexible work opportunities for many roles. This vacancy is Canberra based, although flexible or remote work arrangements may be considered. Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.
Your application must not contain any classified or sensitive information. This includes in your application responses, CV and any other documents. The selection panel may not consider applications containing classified information.
Please provide a pitch explaining how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role and why you are the best candidate for the position. Your pitch can contain no more than 1000 words and should align to the key duties listed above.
You may use AI tools to support your application. However, all content must be accurate, authentic, and reflect your own capability in line with APS merit principles. For further guidance, please refer to the APSC’s Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment.
Please complete your application online and provide your current CV with your application. (CVs must be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format).
Accessible application documentation is available in other formats on request. Please contact [email protected] or (02) 6276 1235 if you require assistance with your application.
Please refer to our Applying for a position information for additional information on how to apply.
For more information regarding this opportunity, please contact Sam Junor on 02 6102 9135 or via email on [email protected]
