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Applications Close 09/12/2024 11:59pm

This position will support the Manager Workforce Planning and provide expertise to a team of researchers and policy officers. The Senior Policy and Research Officer will guide workforce planning and policy development activities for PSA industry sectors, including Corrections, Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, Police and Federal, State/Territory and Local Governments. This position is pivotal in consulting with industry-sectors any products related to workforce planning and policy development.

The Senior Policy and Research Officer will undertake and promote research, provide an evidence-based approach and be able to succinctly draft and deliver complex documents to a variety of audiences in innovative ways. Although this role reports to the Manager Workforce Planning, they may be required to report to other managers on occasion and will likely work on several products simultaneously at any given time.

As an employee at PSA, you will be expected to:

• Actively contribute You will proactively provide strategic advice and focus on key deliverables.
• Promote good governance. You will actively promote good governance and adhere to policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with stakeholders. You will promote stakeholder engagement and pursue opportunities to connect PSA across industry sectors under its remit.
• Drive engagement. You will communicate, consult and collaborate widely, effectively representing and promoting PSA at all times.

This role will:

• Support the Manager Workforce Planning in all aspects of workforce planning, research and policy development.
• Brief the PSA executive on workforce planning, research and policy products.
• Oversee a dynamic team of researchers and policy officers to draft high quality workforce, research and policy products.
• Validate and verify accuracy of data and research.
• Ensure drafting of key products meets quality standards and expectations and are of value.
• Plan for consultation and governance process to finalise approvals of products developed; this will include the drafting of associated papers and reports.
• Build consensus through negotiation with different stakeholders, in the development of workforce planning, research and policy products.
• Demonstrate originality of thought and promote new and innovative approaches when developing workforce planning, research and policy products.

Key selection criteria

Essential:

• A Higher Education qualification such as a relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.
• Demonstrate excellent research and policy skills and experience.
• Display excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• Demonstrate an understanding of complex research methodologies.
• Work within a project-based delivery environment and deliver policy products on-time.
• Be motivated to promote a curious and innovative culture across the company.
• Be able to work on multiple products in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrate independent problem-solving skills and initiative.

Desirable:

• Experience working within either a public safety, government or corrections environment.
• Experience in workforce planning, policy development AND/OR strategic foresight AND/OR environmental scanning.
• Experience in a supervisory or team leader role.

Other:

• For the duration of employment, the incumbent is required to: (a) pass and maintain a National Police Record Check; (b) pass and maintain an ‘employee’ type Victorian Working with Children Check (WWCC); (c) be vaccinated against COVID-19; (d) be legally allowed to work within Australia; (e) hold a current Australian State or Territory driver’s licence (car).
• There will be times when it is required to work outside normal business hours i.e. evenings and weekends to meet stakeholder requirements.
• Travel will be required for this position, including overnight stays and journeys by road, public transport and commercial airlines.

Type of employment:

This is a full-time, fixed-term position, with the duration aligning to the current Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) grant funding available through till 30 June 2026.

Experienced staff within the public service will be considered for secondment arrangements.

Applicants should note that a six (6) month probationary period applies to all new PSA employees (external candidates).

The position is based at the company’s office within the Melbourne Central Business District (CBD).

PSA supports flexible working arrangements, with a focus on balancing staff needs with work requirements.

Dependent on work deliverables, staff can expect that they may be required to work from the office location exclusively for a period. With PSA in an establishment and growth phase, it is anticipated that in the first instance work will be primarily conducted from the Melbourne office.