Director, Closing the Gap - Affirmative Measure - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations; Canberra; On-site; AUD 152,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department Of Employment And Workplace Relations in Canberra is seeking strategic leaders to drive the Closing the Gap agenda and coordinate reform across the department. You will influence senior executives and work closely with First Nations stakeholders to embed Priority Reforms in policies and programs.

These roles involve governance input, cross-agency collaboration, and delivering strategic insights to ministers while ensuring culturally informed approaches and strong performance

Qualifications

• Eligibility restricted to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Merit pool may be established for future ongoing vacancies.

Responsibilities

• Providing strategic leadership for DEWR's Closing the Gap agenda and driving implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap across the department
• Leading organisational reform initiatives that strengthen genuine partnerships, shared decision-making and culturally informed approaches across DEWR
• Shaping strategic priorities and providing authoritative advice to senior executives, governance committees and ministers on complex policy, program and organisational issues
• Influencing executive stakeholders to embed Closing the Gap Priority Reforms into departmental policies, programs and ways of working
• Building and maintaining high-level relationships with First Nations organisations, community leaders, peak bodies, government agencies and other key stakeholders
• Leading collaboration across government to identify systemic issues, share better practice and support coordinated reform efforts
• Leading monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities to assess organisational performance and inform strategic decision-making
• Managing teams, resources and work priorities to achieve results in complex and evolving environments.
• Fostering an inclusive, culturally safe and high-performing workplace through coaching, mentoring and capability development of staff.

Job description

• Adelaide, SA; Alice Springs, NT; Bendigo, VIC; Brisbane, QLD; Canberra, ACT; Darwin, NT; Hobart, TAS; Mackay, QLD; Melbourne, VIC; Newcastle, NSW; Orange, NSW; Perth, WA; Rockhampton, QLD; Sydney, NSW; Townsville, QLD
• $152,362-182,891

About The Department Of Employment And Workplace Relations

We are committed to empowering futures, ensuring rights and enriching lives. We support people to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future as we ourselves strive to be a model employer.

We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees. We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or re‑training to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities.

With us, your work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. Whether you are engaging in policy development, program implementation, or direct support services, your efforts will have a tangible impact on job seekers, employees and the economy by giving them a framework to build a future anchored and realised through employment.

It is our ambition to do things differently, to create the ‘department of great jobs’– where our people reflect our purpose.

The Role

Reporting to the Assistant Secretary, Closing the Gap, Directors are responsible for providing strategic leadership for DEWR's Closing the Gap agenda and influencing organisational reform across the department. The roles involve inspiring and challenging DEWR business units to critically assess their approaches, their successes and drive innovative solutions for working in genuine partnership with First Nations stakeholders. The roles will also lead monitoring and reporting activities, including providing strategic input to internal governance committees and embedding Closing the Gap Priority Reforms across all of DEWR’s business.

Please note that the initial vacancy is for an ongoing position. A merit pool will be established for future ongoing and non‑ongoing vacancies that may arise.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Providing strategic leadership for DEWR's Closing the Gap agenda and driving implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap across the department
• Leading organisational reform initiatives that strengthen genuine partnerships, shared decision‑making and culturally informed approaches across DEWR
• Shaping strategic priorities and providing authoritative advice to senior executives, governance committees and ministers on complex policy, program and organisational issues
• Influencing executive stakeholders to embed Closing the Gap Priority Reforms into departmental policies, programs and ways of working
• Building and maintaining high‑level relationships with First Nations organisations, community leaders, peak bodies, government agencies and other key stakeholders
• Leading collaboration across government to identify systemic issues, share better practice and support coordinated reform efforts
• Leading monitoring, evaluation and reporting activities to assess organisational performance and inform strategic decision‑making
• Managing teams, resources and work priorities to achieve results in complex and evolving environments. and
• Fostering an inclusive, culturally safe and high‑performing workplace through coaching, mentoring and capability development of staff.

Eligibility

These positions are only open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is consistent with Section 31 of the Australian Public Service Commissioner’s Directions 2022. The filling of this employment opportunity constitutes a special measure under subsection 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.

Confirmation of Heritage

Candidates who are applying under Affirminative Measures must have their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage confirmed.

A confirmation must stipulate that a person:

• is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent; and
• identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person; and
• is accepted as such by the community in which they live or formerly lived.

Suitable evidence of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage may include:

• a letter signed by the Chairperson of an incorporated Indigenous organisation confirming that the applicant is recognised as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, or
• a confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent document executed by an Indigenous organisation.

If the above documents are not available, the department may accept a signed letter without a common seal a statutory declaration from the candidate and a Community Elder.

The department has an Indigenous Liaison Officer (ILO) who is available to support you throughout the recruitment process. To speak to our ILO please email [e-mail].

Citizenship

to be eligible for employment with the Department, you must be an Australian Citizen or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining it.

Security Clearance

our successful candidate is required to hold, or have the ability to obtain, and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

Please refer to the Job Information Pack for more information about the role.