Policy Adviser – Social Services

The Centre for Policy Development (CPD) is looking to hire a proactive and passionate Policy Adviser to work on social services reform.

In this role you will be working on policy analysis and system reform in Social Services, with a focus on early childhood system reform. This position will also work collaboratively with CPD’s Wellbeing Government focus area.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an organisation working on some of the most critical issues facing our economy and society in Australia and the region. Our team enjoys frequent interaction with policymakers in government, media, and the wider policy world. You’ll be joining a close-knit team that delivers real impact at senior levels of policymaking.

We believe our people are our key asset and we are committed to recruiting and retaining talented and committed individuals. The successful candidate will be based in CPD’s Sydney office. We support flexible work and will consider either full-time or part-time work for the right candidate. Flexible work on a hybrid model is a standard practice.

Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity

We invite First Nations people, people of colour, people with lived experience of forced migration, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQI+ community, and people without a family history of tertiary education to apply for this role.

Salary

Starting at $83,000 + 11.5% superannuation, with higher salary available depending on experience, skills, and fairness and equity across the team.

Location

This position is based in Sydney.

Some Additional Benefits

• Hybrid work
• Flexible hours
• Annual Salary Increase: 7% increase to the employee’s base salary on 1st of January each year (after one year of service)
• In addition to the 4 weeks of annual leave entitlement, you will be granted an extra 5 days of annual leave after 3 years of employment
• End of year leave: CPD gives as additional leave the days between Christmas and New Year
• Study Leave: Up to 5 days of paid study leave per year
• Sabbatical Leave: 12 weeks paid leave after 5 years of employment
• Wellbeing Leave: Additional day/time off to rest and recharge after peak periods or high-demand projects
• Wellbeing Payment: Up to $300 per year to support employees’ physical and mental health.
• Parental leave: 14 weeks’ paid parental leave (after one year of service at the expected due date + 12 months of unpaid parental leave)
• Birthday Leave
• Birthday Gift Book Voucher
• Floating Public Holidays
• Annual Retreat: 4-day event each year where all three locations come together to collaborate in person
• Collaborative culture that will foster your skills, build your career and broaden your horizons

Here’s a taste of what you’ll do

• Under the direction of the Social Services Director, conduct analysis and policy development on social service reform, with a focus on early childhood development system reform.
• ​​Connect with government officials and media to present and advocate for policy and reform recommendations.
• Support policy engagement activities, such as meetings of the Early Childhood Development Council, roundtables, workshops, and other convening events, with government and non-government stakeholders.
• Working with collaboration partners, support the practical demonstration of innovative models and approaches to social and human service policy and delivery, and develop case studies of good practice.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across CPD, especially on the Wellbeing Government Focus Area.
• Support network building with stakeholders, identifying and engaging key stakeholders, working with the team to sustain the active involvement of senior policy makers.
• Support the administration of the Social Services Focus Area, including scheduling meetings, preparing meeting materials and updating CRM (Customer Relationship Management).

About you

We are looking for someone who is motivated to reform social and human services in Australia to better meet the needs of people and communities.

• You have 3-5 years of experience in social policy from government, civil society, the private sector or the media.
• You have a good understanding of social and human service policy and delivery, ideally including early childhood development.
• You can write concisely and persuasively, including creating presentations.
• You have a thoughtful, creative approach to understanding a policy problem and can undertake analysis independently.
• You have the ability to take the initiative when faced with a blank page; developing new projects, methodologies, and ideas.
• You work well in a dynamic and evolving environment that can be uncertain at times.
• You communicate respectfully and effectively with all types of people from all backgrounds, recognising the unique strengths and value each person brings.
• You’re able to work at pace on several different projects at once.
• You have experience in fostering stakeholder relationships with groups such as government, peak and representative bodies, service delivery organisations and academics, with an interest in convening and connecting stakeholders as a critical part of policy development.
• You are motivated by long-term, big-picture systems reform, and want to meaningfully be a part of current national social service reform opportunities.
• You have experience with project management, and organising meetings and events.
• You have sound political judgment and a solid understanding of how policy is made.
• You use media and public communications thoughtfully to share policy advice and connect with the public, ensuring that language is clear, inclusive, and effective.

About CPD

The Centre for Policy Development (CPD) is an independent, not-for-profit policy institute with staff in Sydney, Melbourne, and Jakarta. Our vision is a fair, sustainable society and wellbeing economy that serves current and future generations in Australia and Southeast Asia.

Our mission is to help create transformative systems change through practical solutions to complex policy challenges. We tackle the hard questions, working towards change that is systemic and long-term.

Through our work, we aim to contribute to governments that are coordinated, collaborative, and effective, with an eye to both the near and longer term. We strive to build a social services system that helps people and communities to thrive now and in the future, and drive shifts in policy making practice with a focus on wellbeing and sustainability rather than primarily economic growth.

CPD uses a distinctive Create-Connect-Convince method to influence government policy making.

We acknowledge and celebrate Australia’s First Peoples.

To learn more about our work check out our latest Impact Report.

How to Apply

Candidates are invited to apply via the “Apply Now” button.

If you have any questions, please contact Luana Viana on [email protected] using the subject line: Policy Adviser – Social Services enquiry via EthicalJobs.

For more information on CPD please visit www.cpd.org.au.

How we Shortlist

We will ask you to answer three questions (< 250 words) as part of your application, and to submit your CV. The initial shortlist will be based on the panel’s assessment of your three answers. Your CV will be reviewed only if you progress beyond this first stage.

We are reviewing applications and shortlisting candidates on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

We welcome talented individuals from all backgrounds to apply and be a part of our mission to make a positive impact on public policies.

Please note

• To be considered for this role, you must have the right to live and work in Australia.
• Only Sydney-based applicants will be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We aim to reach out to all shortlisted candidates by 17 October. (Please be aware that while we are working to stick to this timeline, recruitment can be unpredictable and changes might occur).

We look forward to receiving your application!