Job description
- Classification: EL1
- Salary: $122,328 plus 15.4 per cent superannuation
- Employment Type: Ongoing and Non-ongoing (12 month contract)
- Opportunity Type: Full time/Part time
- Reports to: Director, Policy Team
- Supervises: Team members at the APS6 level
- Sydney preferred; other locations will also be considered
ABOUT US
The National Mental Health Commission (the Commission) provides expert advice to the Australian Government on Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention system, including through undertaking system performance monitoring and reporting, engaging with consumers of mental health and suicide prevention services and their carers, and leading a national whole-of- governments approach to suicide prevention.
More information is available at www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au
THE TEAM
The Assistant Director will sit within the Commission’s Policy Team which focuses on three major work areas:
- Strategic Projects – high level project development and delivery, relationship and stakeholder engagement;
- Strategy – contribution to strategic planning and development of work and business plans, including evaluation and reporting; and
- Policy – formulation of Commission responses, including for national social policy issues, parliamentary and other agency policies and strategies, and development of policy positions and advice to the executive.
The Commission is also progressing a number of internal organisational priorities around its functions, efficiency, culture and capability. This includes building organisational readiness for embedding lived experience principles and practices into the Commission’s way of working and work programs.
THE ROLE
The Assistant Director will play a lead role in coordinating the Commission’s input to policy and advice, working within tight timeframes to provide high quality analysis of best practice evidence, research literature, current national policy and indicators and administrative and survey data.
The Assistant Director is expected to work as part of a team to prepare high-quality, public reports on complex issues in a manner that addresses the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders.
The role will also involve planning, procuring and managing the effective and efficient conduct of projects or contracts to support the development of reports and other materials. The Assistant Director will be required to draw on knowledge of the mental health sector to contribute to strategic thinking.
The role is ideally suited to highly motivated candidates with a detailed knowledge of mental health systems and reforms in the Australian context, with proven experience in consultation, project management and policy development as well as exemplary communication skills.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Developing and maintaining relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and facilitating formal and ongoing engagement and input into the work of the Commission.
- Designing and implementing strategies for engaging with a range of stakeholders through activities and projects, including people with lived experience, families and support people, state, territory and Commonwealth government agencies, peak professional organisations, researchers, community managed organisations and others across mental health, and other relevant sectors.
- Recommending and undertaking analysis of highly complex policy, stakeholder feedback and other information to evaluate performance and outcomes of the mental health systems and identify important trends, opportunities for improvement and potential impact of policy change.
- Effective records and information management.
- Preparation of high-level briefs, discussion papers, correspondence and presentations to support the information needs of the Executive.
- Other duties as required.
CAPABILITIES – EL1
See: Integrated Leadership System (ILS) EL1 profile – Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)
- Shapes strategic thinking
- Achieves results
- Cultivates productive working relationships
- Exemplifies personal drive and integrity
- Communicates with influence
- Job specific criterion:
- High-level report writing skills, including the ability to prepare clear and succinct written advice and content on complex issues within tight timeframes.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to draw upon research and data insights to inform policy.
- Advanced stakeholder management skills including sensitive stakeholder consultation and collaboration expertise.
- Tertiary qualifications in mental health or other policy field and/or experience in mental health or social services sectors are desirable.
- Experience in developing national policies or contributing to a national reform agenda to meet a diverse range of stakeholder needs and perspectives would be advantageous.
Remuneration
The position is an Executive Level 1 with a salary of $122,328 plus 15.4 per cent superannuation.
Tenure
The successful candidate will be offered a 12 month contract. A merit list will be created for future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies which become available within 18 months of advertising.
Eligibility
To be employed by the National Mental Health Commission applicants must be Australian citizens or have permanent residency status pending the granting of Australian citizenship.
Location
Sydney is preferred, but Canberra and/or Melbourne may also be suitable. Flexible work and regular work-from-home arrangements are available.
How to Apply
Applications are to include:
- Candidate application form downloaded from the Commission employment page;
- A statement of claims (800 words maximum) addressing the APS 6 capabilities and job specific criteria, outline why you consider that you have the skills, capabilities, knowledge and experience to be considered for this role.
- Your Resume that sets out relevant qualifications and experience; and
- Two referees, with names and contact details.
Click the “Apply Now” button to learn where to submit your application.
Contact
If you require further information on the positions please contact Rachel Earl, Acting Executive Director Policy, National Mental Health Commission at [email protected] using the subject line: Assistant Director enquiry via EthicalJobs.
Some tips for preparing your application
- Your statement of claims should address the requirements of the position and the selection criteria against which you will be assessed.
- Keep your application succinct and easy to read.
- It is important that the information in your application is correct, particularly dates and contact details, and it also helps if you clearly nominate whether your previous workplace(s) is a government (Commonwealth, State or Territory), private sector, or community organisation.
- Please also include dates and details relating to your educational qualifications.
We wish you all the best with your application.