Policy Adviser

• Office location: Ngunnawal Ngambri Country, Canberra, ACT
• Role Classification: Electorate Officer B
• Salary: $81,666 to $83,179 p.a
• Allowances: ESA 6 $12,907 p.a. 
• Total package: $94,573 to $96,086 p.a pro rata, plus 15.4% superannuation
• Position type: Part time, 0.8 FTE contract for 12 months, with possibility of extension
• Travel: Occasional
• Anticipated start date: Late September 2024 (negotiable)

ABOUT THE ROLE

Senator Lidia Thorpe is seeking a passionate and engaged person to join her team in the role of part-time Policy Adviser based at her Canberra office at Parliament House.

The Policy Adviser is a dynamic and varied role, including (but not limited to) engaging in policy development, analysis and advice, developing and managing stakeholder relationships, supporting the Senator’s parliamentary and committee business, writing speeches, briefs and reports, and undertaking research. The Policy Adviser will work closely as part of our policy team including, the Parliamentary Adviser, other Policy Adviser, and Chief of Staff.

PAY AND CONDITIONS

The position is offered under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984, and employment conditions are outlined in the Commonwealth Members of Parliament Staff Enterprise Agreement 2020-2023.

The position is part-time at 0.8 EFT with a focus on Parliamentary sitting weeks, with work days outside of those negotiable. It is offered at an Electorate Officer B classification with a salary range of $81,666 to $83,179 per annum, depending on experience. This salary is applied pro rata, and the role attracts 15.4% superannuation in addition to salary. The role attracts an additional Electorate Staff Allowance of $12,907 per annum, in recognition of reasonable additional hours of work and travel outside of usual business hours.

Ad-hoc training and ongoing professional development is available as part of the Enterprise Agreement and is actively encouraged.

This position is a one year, part-time time contract from commencement, with the potential for extension or ongoing employment offered.

KEY WORK AREAS

• Supporting the Senator’s work with parliamentary committees, inquiries, and Senate Estimates
• Speechwriting
• Strategy, policy and initiative development and research
• Stakeholder relationships
• Supporting of the Senator’s parliamentary business and legislation

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Flexibility, creativity, empathy and initiative
• Enthusiasm and self-direction
• Ability to work effectively and amicably under pressure
• Ability to proactively pursue the Senator’s policy
• A respect for sensitive and confidential information

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Strategic, analytical and conceptual skills, including an ability to understand the political, social and organisational environment in which the Senator’s office operates
• High level written and research skills, including data analysis and presentation
• An understanding of the Australian political context and parliamentary procedures and processes
• Strong organisation, prioritisation and time management skills
• Demonstrated ability to work at a policy level with stakeholders, be they organisations or individuals
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal, communication and liaison skills, including experience in consultation and negotiation
• Experience in interrogating existing policy performance and developing improvements
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a small team under time constraints, competing priorities and other pressures
• Experience working in a political, community or campaigning organisation
• Desirable – An understanding of the context of First Nations rights and interests within Australian society and culture

If you feel you meet most, but not all, of the selection criteria, please don’t be discouraged from applying.

First Nations people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interviews are scheduled to take place in Canberra on September 9 and 10.

For more information or a confidential discussion, please contact our Chief of Staff at [email protected] using the subject line: Policy Adviser enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Please note all employees are expected to sign a confidentiality and code of conduct agreement prior to the commencement of their employment. A probationary period of 3 months will apply.

The Office of Senator Thorpe encourages applications from any interested and qualified people. First Nations people are strongly encouraged to apply.

We don’t discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

We welcome people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to apply for all our roles.

A position description is attached.