- Executive Level 1
- Canberra, ACT | Sydney, NSW | Brisbane, QLD | Melbourne, VIC | Adelaide, SA | Townsville, QLD
- $129,477 - $143,099
About the Department of Education
We contribute to Australia's economic prosperity and social wellbeing by creating opportunities and driving better outcomes through access to quality education and learning.
The Role
The Department of Education is committed to respectful, culturally safe ways of working that strengthen relationships, build capability across our workforce, and improve education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Under the department’s governance arrangements, the Indigenous Business is Everyone’s Business Committee oversees and provides advice on key First Nations strategies, including First Nations related policy reforms, Closing the Gap (CTG) Priority Reforms, and the department’s approach to reconciliation.
Responsibility for advancing our First Nations strategies and commitments is shared across the department. The First Nations and Closing the Gap Branch, leads policy development and program administration to support First Nations school education outcomes and coordinates the whole-of-department Closing the Gap commitments. The People Branch supports the advancement of First Nations commitments through practical action, including our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and the ongoing uplift of First Nations cultural capability across the department; listening to and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees and embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into our people policies, programs and initiatives.
The Assistant Director, HR Strategy as part of their duties, acts as the department’s Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO). Cultural safety is central to this role. Reporting to, and supported by, the Director, HR Strategy and Operations, the Assistant Director, HR Strategy is responsible for the development, implementation and reporting on the department’s people, culture and inclusion functions including the People Strategy and RAP.
Leading a small team, the Assistant Director, HR Strategy is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic people initiatives that foster an inclusive, capable, innovative and engaged workforce. The Assistant Director, HR Strategy also leads engagement with the department’s employee-led diversity networks, supporting and promoting their awareness-raising activities and working to build capability across the department and embed a workplace culture that respects and values diverse backgrounds, abilities and perspectives. This work includes a specific focus on First Nations cultural capability development among their ILO duties.
As the ILO, they will lead consultation with the department’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Network (the Deadly Crew), supports RAP governance activities, and contribute to actions and discussions of the department’s Indigenous Business Is Everyone’s Business Committee. While the ILO may undertake complex and sensitive tasks as part of their role, they will work with colleagues across the People Branch to ensure appropriate guidance and assistance are available for First Nations employees. There are also clear escalation pathways to the Director, HR Strategy and Operations and relevant specialist areas where required.
Affirmative Measures - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment
The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under Section 31 of the Australian Public Service Commissioner's Directions 2022.
This vacancy is open only to applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
Duties and Responsibilities
As the Assistant Director, HR Strategy your responsibilities will include:
-
Leading the development and delivery of the department’s People Strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities, APS-wide strategies, and values.
-
Planning and delivering events, training programs, and employee engagement activities to support strategy implementation and to foster an inclusive, capable, innovative and engaged workforce.
-
Overseeing people strategy and inclusion-related procurement activities, including managing a central budget allocation and associated reporting requirements.
-
Maintaining oversight of, and proposing approaches for people and culture initiatives, based on broader APS initiatives, action plans, programs and strategies.
-
Building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships to understand emerging issues, assess risks, and evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives.
-
Influencing collaboration across teams, the People Branch and the department more broadly to design and deliver fit-for-purpose, data-driven learning solutions including initiatives that support an inclusive culture and provide support and guidance to employees to assist with delivery of First Nations priorities.
-
Leading project work and other HR activities that contribute to strategy and capability development, inclusive practices and the development of a respectful and high-performing workplace culture.
-
Leading the preparation, drafting, consultation and distribution of a wide range of documents, including Senate Estimates briefings, reports for senior executives and meeting papers, ensuring complex information is presented clearly, accurately, and effectively.
-
Collecting, analysing, and interpreting workforce demographic data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improving people and inclusion outcomes.
-
Responding to complex enquiries promptly, providing accurate advice and technical expertise on people, culture, inclusion and diversity matters.
-
Developing, implementing and advising on inclusion-related policies, procedures and processes to support the department’s diverse workforce.
-
Representing the department at external meetings and forums, within the APS and more broadly (e.g. APS ILO Network, Diversity Council Australia, Australian Disability Network).
-
Providing leadership, guidance, and collaborative support to team members to ensure delivery of shared goals.
-
Contributing to the People Branch leadership group including work planning, resource management and aligning priorities with business outcomes.
As the ILO you will contribute to shared outcomes across the People Branch, with key responsibilities including:
RAP delivery and reconciliation governance
- Leading engagement with the RAP Working Group to support the delivery of, and reporting on, the department’s RAP actions.
-
Leading the development of the department’s next RAP (2026-2029), in partnership with the RAP Working Group, including contributing to drafting and supporting consultation.
First Nations workforce support
- Influencing, deciding on and promoting the delivery of internal and external professional development opportunities for First Nations employees.
-
Leading the planning, delivery and facilitation of the department’s First Nations Staff Conference.
-
Acting as an alternative point of contact for First Nations employees looking to engage with People Branch colleagues, and influencing and facilitating connections with appropriate teams and subject matter experts.
First Nations cultural capability uplift
- Influencing and leading discrete projects and activities that strengthen First Nations cultural capability across the department (e.g. agreed events, learning activities and awareness initiatives).
-
Representing the department in engagements with, and facilitating connections for colleagues to engage with, other Commonwealth departments and agencies (and the community more broadly) to collaborate on projects, events and activities that strengthen First Nations cultural capability.
Employee network engagement and culturally safe support pathways
- Leading consultation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Network (the Deadly Crew) on relevant initiatives and actions, and advising and assisting colleagues on consultation requirements with the Deadly Crew.
-
Responding to enquiries from First Nations employees and connecting employees to the right specialist support within the People Branch when needed.
Leading First Nations people priorities across the department
- Developing responses and input for the Indigenous Business Is Everyone’s Business Committee, including drafting papers and talking points on People Branch actions to support discussions and liaising with the Committee’s secretariat.
-
Influencing engagement and collaboration across teams to deliver First Nations people initiatives as shared priorities.
Data, reporting and continuous improvement
- Researching and developing improvements to reconciliation initiatives, policies and processes to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are respectfully considered and embedded.
-
Influencing and shaping the collection and interpretation of workforce data to identify opportunities for the department’s First Nations workforce.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please submit your application in our online recruitment system. You will need to:
- Provide a summary (no more than 750 words) that outlines your skills, knowledge, and experience and why you should be considered for this vacancy. You should take into consideration the position overview (including any detailed position specific requirements) when drafting your response. Where possible include specific relevant examples of your work.
-
Upload your Resume
-
Provide contact details for 2 Referees.
The APS work level standards are structured to clearly differentiate between the work expected (i.e. responsibilities and duties) at each classification level. We encourage you to review these when writing your application.
Eligibility
Citizenship - to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.
Security Clearance - our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a Baseline security clearance.
Please refer to the
Job Information Pack for more information about the role.
How to apply for jobs in the Australian Public Service (APSC Guide) Opens in new window
Privacy Statement - Application Form Opens in new window
Job Information Pack Opens in new window
Job Information Pack Opens in new window
