Lead Officers x2 – Compliance, Enforcement and Research

The Australian Human Rights Commission has two opportunities for an ongoing APS 6 Lead Officer, Compliance, Enforcement and Research in their Positive Duty team in their Sydney office however flexible working arrangements including part time and remote work will be considered.

Salary range is $90,199 – $102,002 pa FTE + 15.4% superannuation.

The key duties of the position include:

• Lead inquiries into potential regulatory breaches to ensure the Commission’s regulatory function is effective and meets its objectives.
• Develop, implement and maintain relevant policies and procedures.
• Gather and review evidence and research, analyse and interpret complex information.
• Draft enforcement documents for Commission consideration and other documents as needed.
• Prepare legal briefs that include complex analysis and evaluation.
• Use insights to target enforcement activities and share information as appropriate across the Commission on themes and trends and to close the loop on potential regulatory breaches.
• Coach and mentor colleagues to share expertise and build capability both internally and externally with diverse stakeholders.
• Prepare reports, briefs of evidence and other documentation including recommended plans of action for inquiries.
• Contribute to a respectful and inclusive culture of high performance by adhering to the APS values and code of conduct and practicing continuous to address performance strengths and gaps and identify relevant training and development opportunities to ensure successful achievement.
• Identify opportunities, undertake and contribute to research to assist with the consideration, development, and implementation of strategies to achieve defined outcomes and operational strategic aims.

These duties are to be performed in accordance with the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values and Commission policies, including Workplace Diversity and Work Health and Safety. Under section 25 of the Public Service Act 1999 the Commission may re-assign the duties of an employee from time to time.

Eligibility

Technical

• Demonstrated ability to perform in a regulatory or similar environment will be considered highly desirable. Knowledge of or relevant experience in legislative compliance and enforcement activities, Certificate IV in Government Investigations or law will be considered highly desirable.
• Understanding of the positive duty in the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), sex discrimination law, gender equality issues or the capacity to quickly obtain it, will be considered highly desirable.

Contributes to strategic thinking

• Understands the work environment and initiates and develops team goals, strategies and work plans. Identifies broader factors, trends and influences that may impact on the team’s work objectives. Considers the ramifications of issues and longer-term impact of own work and work area.
• Gathers and investigates information from diverse sources and explores new ideas and different viewpoints. Uses experience to analyse what information is important and how it should be used. Maintains an awareness of the Commission’s role with respect to the positive duty and keeps self and others well informed on work issues and finds out about best practice approaches.

Achieves results

• Implements and encourages work practices that support the efficient, effective and lawful use of the Commission’s resources, including technology. Contributes to the responsiveness of the work team by negotiating responsibilities for work outcomes and managing the acquisition and allocation of resources. Engages in planning to optimise standards of performance and delivery within the team. Works to create the environment for success by identifying and acting on opportunities for the expansion of capability in others.
• Actively supports change processes and participates in the implementation of change initiatives. Ensures current work plans and activities support change initiatives in the work area. Accommodates changing priorities and operating environments and responds with initiative, flexibility and resourcefulness to periods of uncertainty and ambiguity. Provides guidance and direction to others dealing with uncertainty and change.

Supports productive working relationships

• Demonstrates trust, respect and understanding towards others. Encourages the inclusion of diverse perspectives in the workplace. Promotes an understanding of, and commitment to, workplace diversity principles and manages diversity in the workplace, working positively with colleagues and team members to contribute to business outcomes.
• Shows commitment to achieving the objectives of the team. Shows initiative in addressing issues and achieving objectives. Demonstrates personal drive and enthusiasm in progressing work and encourages this in others.

Displays personal drive and integrity

• Takes personal responsibility for continual professional development and actively seeks and participates in development opportunities. Assesses own performance to identify areas of development need. Demonstrates awareness of own capabilities. Participates in performance management processes including seeking, receiving, giving and acting on feedback.
• Engages in active listening and seeks clarification of own understanding. Tailors communication to audience and circumstances and ensures common understanding of issues. Delivers information in a manner that is accessible and relevant to the intended audience. Uses a communication approach that ensures common understanding of issues. Leads discussion and appreciates diverse viewpoint. Welcomes and responds to feedback and checks audience understanding.

Communicates with influence

• Researches information and develops a sound negotiating position. Recognises the need for communication and compromise and stays composed rather than confrontational or defensive. Negotiates from well-informed and credible position and is committed to positive outcomes and resolution of issues. Facilitates difficult relations effectively with internal and external stakeholders. Effectively liaises, negotiates and resolves conflict with colleagues and clients from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures based on a sound appreciation of, and respect for, cultural differences.
• Presents information in a clear, timely and effective manner both orally and in writing. Translates technical and complex information appropriately for intended audience. Produces written work that is well constructed and needs minimal editing. Communicates in a manner that addresses task requirements. Communicates constantly and meaningfully with staff. Is a professional representative of work area. Clearly articulates the work area’s views and position.

Notes

We value inclusivity and diversity and seek people who support and model the behaviours we promote in our workforce. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations Australians, mature workers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, carers, LGBTQI+ and people with disability.

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.

The Commission is committed to providing an accessible, inclusive work environment to enable people with a disability to participate fully in all aspects of employment. Applicants are encouraged to request reasonable adjustment as required to assist your participation in this recruitment process.

TO APPLY

Please provide a resume and covering letter outlining your interest in this position.

You are not required to address each selection criterion individually but should provide sufficient information to demonstrate that your skills, knowledge and experience are the right fit for this position. Please be accurate, succinct and show a clear connection with the selection criteria for the role. 

Additional information may be sought from [email protected] using the subject line: Lead Officer, Compliance, Enforcement and Research enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.

Please note that this position may be filled on either an ongoing or non-ongoing basis. If an offer of non-ongoing employment is made, the successful applicant would be employed for an initial period of eighteen months with the possibility of extension up to a maximum period of two years in total. The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: apsc.gov.au/recruitability.