APS6 - Policy Officer and Data Analyst (Multiple Positions), Communications Services and Systems Division, Affirmative Measures, Disability

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts in Sydney seeks multiple APS6 Policy Officers and Data Analysts to support policy development, program evaluation and data-driven decision making across communications and digital inclusion initiatives.

Roles will involve ministerial briefings, cabinet and parliamentary materials, stakeholder engagement, and complex data analysis related to telecommunications policy and governance.

Qualifications

• Sound judgement and the ability to exercise initiative when undertaking complex policy work under limited direction, including interpreting legislation.
• Strong research, critical thinking and analytical skills to draw together information from different sources and identify implications.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to translate complex information into accessible evidence-based advice for senior executives.

Responsibilities

• Research and analyse complex communications policy, strategic and governance issues and develop practical options and recommendations.
• Coordinate policy proposals, discussion papers, implementation plans and evaluation activities.
• Define analytical questions, identify data sources and collect, clean and validate data relating to policy issues.
• Develop reports, dashboards and visualisations and explain findings to non-technical audiences.
• Prepare and coordinate executive and ministerial briefings and parliamentary material.
• Plan and coordinate stakeholder engagement with departmental teams and external stakeholders.
• Manage competing priorities and deliverables, identify risks and practical solutions.
• Provide guidance and review team outputs and support staff development.

Skills

Policy analysis

Data analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Verbal communication

Education

Public policy

Economics

Law

Communications

Job description

APS6 - Policy Officer and Data Analyst (Multiple Positions), Communications Services and Systems Division, Affinity Measures, Disability

Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts – Sydney NSW

The Communications Services and Systems Division is the Australian Government’s lead policy adviser on communications services and systems. We help create an environment where all Australians can access high-quality communications services and benefit from digital technologies and connectivity.

Our work includes telecommunications and radiocommunications policy, universal telecommunications service obligations, the universal outdoor mobile obligation, oversight of NBN Co and Australia Post, and policy relating to 5G and 6G mobile, satellite broadband and direct-to-device technology. We also manage legislative and regulatory frameworks for spectrum, telecommunications deployment and resilience, competition and digital inclusion.

We are recruiting multiple APS 6 Policy Officers and Data Analysts. Roles may also be filled across the Communication, Media and Sport Group in areas including program management, project management, stakeholder engagement and evaluation. A merit pool will be established for future vacancies.

The work is diverse, high-profile and often fast-moving. You may contribute to ministerial briefings, major policy announcements, legislation, Cabinet and new policy proposal processes, and engagement with telecommunications providers, regulators, central agencies, and consumer and community organisations. Some roles will support Australia’s preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 in Shanghai.

The division offers an inclusive, approachable and flexible workplace where people share expertise, support one another and recognise high-quality work.

The opportunity we have available

The Communications Services and Systems Division is the Australian Government’s lead policy adviser on communications services and systems. We help create an environment where all Australians can access high-quality communications services and benefit from digital technologies and connectivity.

Our work includes telecommunications and radiocommunications policy, universal telecommunications service obligations, the universal outdoor mobile obligation, oversight of NBN Co and Australia Post, and policy relating to 5G and 6G mobile, satellite broadband and direct-to-device technology. We also manage legislative and regulatory frameworks for spectrum, telecommunications deployment and resilience, competition and digital inclusion.

We are recruiting multiple APS 6 Policy Officers and Data Analysts. Roles may also be filled across the Communication, Media and Sport Group in areas including program management, project management, stakeholder engagement and evaluation. A merit pool will be established for future vacancies.

The work is diverse, high-profile and often fast-moving. You may contribute to ministerial briefings, major policy announcements, legislation, Cabinet and new policy proposal processes, and engagement with telecommunications providers, regulators, central agencies, and consumer and community organisations. Some roles will support Australia’s preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 in Shanghai.

The division offers an inclusive, approachable and flexible workplace where people share expertise, support one another and recognise high-quality work.

The key duties of the position include:

What you will do

Working under limited direction, you will undertake complex policy or analytical work, exercise initiative and sound judgement, and provide detailed advice within your area of responsibility. Depending on the position, you will:

• research and analyse complex communications policy, strategic, governance and operational issues, assess evidence and stakeholder views, and develop practical options and recommendations that address benefits, costs, risks and implementation considerations
• coordinate policy proposals, discussion papers, implementation plans, strategic and governance activities, consultation and clearance processes, and work across teams to resolve issues and recommend improvements
• work with policy teams to define analytical questions, identify suitable data sources, and collect, clean, validate and combine data relating to communications service availability, access, usage and other policy issues
• assess analytical approaches, identify trends, service gaps and emerging issues, test assumptions, document methods and limitations, and interpret findings to inform policy and decision-making
• develop reports, dashboards and visualisations, explain findings and uncertainty to non-technical audiences, respond to complex analytical requests and improve recurring reporting processes
• prepare and coordinate executive and ministerial briefings, submissions, correspondence, parliamentary material and Senate Estimates briefs, clearly distinguishing evidence, assumptions, risks and recommended actions
• plan and coordinate stakeholder engagement with departmental teams, government agencies, industry and other relevant stakeholders, facilitate discussions and represent the department’s position within agreed parameters
• manage competing priorities, milestones, dependencies and quality checks, identify emerging risks and delivery pressures, and recommend practical solutions
• provide technical guidance, share knowledge, coordinate workflows and review team outputs. Where supervisory responsibilities apply, you may allocate work, set expectations, provide feedback and support staff development
• maintain appropriate records, exercise any assigned delegations efficiently and ethically, and take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others.

Inherent requirements for the role

The successful candidate will demonstrate capability against the APS 6 Work Level Standards and the following core requirements:

It is expected candidates preferring a Policy Officer role will be able to demonstrate:

• sound judgement and the ability to exercise initiative when undertaking complex policy work under limited direction, including the ability to interpret legislation and its alignment to the overarching policy intent
• strong research, critical thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to draw together information from different sources and identify implications, risks and practical options.

It is expected candidates preferring a Data Analyst role will be able to demonstrate:

• sound judgement and the ability to exercise initiative when undertaking complex data analysis under limited direction, including the ability to manage and interpret data relating to telecommunications infrastructure, economic indicators or tracking and reporting on key programs
• Strong research, critical thinking and analytical skills, including the ability to navigate data sharing across government or aggregation of data from different sources to be used for a variety of purposes and support evidence-based decision-making.

It is expected candidates will also demonstrate more generalist skills, including:

• clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex information into accessible, evidence-based advice for senior executives
• the ability to build productive relationships, engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders and incorporate different perspectives into advice and deliverables
• the ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate complex tasks or projects, monitor quality and delivery, and respond constructively to emerging issues
• the ability to provide guidance, review work and contribute to team capability and a safe, inclusive and productive workplace.

Desirable requirements

For Policy Officer roles, qualifications in public policy, economics, law or communications, or equivalent professional experience, are desirable but not essential.

For Data Analyst roles, qualifications in statistics, data science, economics or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience, are desirable but not essential.

Cultural capability requirement

The department believes every role contributes to cultural safety and that building staff cultural capability helps us deliver better policies, programs and services for First Nations people and the broader Australian community. Candidates will be required to demonstrate their willingness to develop their cultural capability as part of the assessment process. In making it a requirement across all roles in our department, we are taking a practical step in delivering our commitments under the Our Stories on Country Agreement and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy 2025–28.

As an APS6 you will be expected to:

• Consider the cultural context and implications of work area outcomes.
• Engage respectfully with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander stakeholders, building trusted relationships.
• Communicate respectfully and seeks appropriate cultural input to inform decisions.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements

This is an affirmatively measure vacancy – This vacancy is open only to people with disability.

For more information on affirmative measures - Disability, please visit -

Affirmative measure for recruiting people with disability:guide for applicants | Australian Public Service Commission (apsc.gov.au)

Employment with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

• Citizenship: candidates must be an Australian citizen at the time of submitting your application.
• Health Assessment: The preferred candidate may be required to undergo a medical examination conducted by the department’s preferred medical provider.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to obtain and/or maintain a security clearance at Baseline to NV1, depending on the role.You must be willing to disclose all relevant and required information.You must have lived in Australia, or have a checkable background, for at least the preceding five years for Baseline Vetting clearances.More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.
• Police check: The successful candidate must complete an Australian Federal Police criminal history check.
• Integrity and Performance check: The successful candidate must satisfy the requirements in an Integrity and Performance check which is completed by your most recent employer.

Getting to know the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Our work connects and enriches every Australian community, underpins our economy and society, and empowers our regions. We provide policy advice and deliver programs, projects and services in the infrastructure, transport, communications, sport and arts sectors, supporting our regions, cities and territories. Our staff have the opportunity to work on high profile and diverse national projects that have a meaningful impact on the lives of all Australians. We seek people with a wide range of skills and competencies. Whether you write policy, deliver programs, projects or corporate services, or have experience in research, data or technology, we look for employees who are innovative, respectful and professional. We are an inclusive employer and promote, value and support diversity among our employees with the aim of ensuring our workforce reflects, respects and benefits from diverse communities including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with cultural and linguistic diversity, people with disability and LGBTQI+ people. We are committed to achieving gender equality and, in particular, supporting women’s progression into senior leadership.

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