Director of Policy

NGO Recruitment; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sydney CBD office location

Hybrid working 3 days per week

Impactful consumer outcomes

Competitive remuneration

Job summary

ACCAN, Australia’s peak national consumer advocacy organisation for communications, seeks a policy-focused leader based in Sydney. Reporting to the CEO, you will shape consumer policy, supervise policy staff, and engage stakeholders across government, industry, and community bodies.

This full-time, hybrid role offers the chance to drive impactful public-interest work with a collaborative team and opportunities to influence policy development and research.

Qualifications

• Current knowledge of communications issues and public policy.
• Leadership and mentoring skills to manage a small team.
• Strategic thinking for analytical problems.
• Effective representation of public policy priorities.
• High level of oral and written communication skills.
• Understanding of emerging consumer issues in communications.

Responsibilities

• Assisting the CEO with strategic issues management with stakeholders.
• Develop policy staff through leadership and development.
• Oversee the development of positions, priorities, discussion papers and submissions.
• Support leadership with presentations at government inquiries and hearings.
• Collaborate with leadership to deliver commissioned research and policy reports.
• Develop internal publications including website content and consumer education material.
• Manage resources for consumer representation and advocacy.

Skills

Knowledge of communications policy

Leadership & mentoring

Strategic thinking

Public policy representation

Communication skills

Emerging consumer issues

Job description

• National consumer body advocating for better communications and services
• Suit candidates from consumer advocacy, communications or digital sectors
• Full-time Sydney based role, with some hybrid options

The Organisation

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is Australia's peak national consumer advocacy organisation for communications working to achieve trusted, accessible, inclusive, affordable and available communications and digital services for all Australians.

ACCAN exists to improve outcomes for all Australians including those who are vulnerable, small businesses, and community focussed not-for-profits through advocacy, policy development and stakeholder engagement. With a strong focus on representing community interests and driving positive change, ACCAN plays an important role in influencing policy, regulation and industry decision-making. Their work covers a broad range of issues from consumer protection and communications infrastructure to digital services.

Benefits & Culture

• Sydney CBD office location
• Hybrid working, 3 days per week in the office
• Lead positive consumer outcomes with a motivated and committed team
• Remuneration package in line with the industry and your knowledge and experience

• National consumer body advocating for better communications and services
• Suit candidates from consumer advocacy, communications or digital sectors
• Full-time Sydney based role, with some hybrid options

The Organisation

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is Australia's peak national consumer advocacy organisation for communications working to achieve trusted, accessible, inclusive, affordable and available communications and digital services for all Australians.

ACCAN exists to improve outcomes for all Australians including those who are vulnerable, small businesses, and community focussed not-for-profits through advocacy, policy development and stakeholder engagement. With a strong focus on representing community interests and driving positive change, ACCAN plays an important role in influencing policy, regulation and industry decision-making. Their work covers a broad range of issues from consumer protection and communications infrastructure to digital services.

Benefits & Culture

• Sydney CBD office location
• Hybrid working, 3 days per week in the office
• Lead positive consumer outcomes with a motivated and committed team
• Remuneration package in line with the industry and your knowledge and experience

The Role

Reporting to the CEO, and as the main conduit between the executive and the highly effective policy team, you will identify a broad range of consumer issues for action through policy development, research, and member activities. You will report on these activities and represent the policy team in a range of internal and external forums, including government, regulatory industry, and community bodies. Your responsibilities include;

• Assisting the CEO with strategic issues management with stakeholders
• Being responsible for equipping and developing policy staff
• Overseeing the development of positions, priorities, discussion papers and submissions
• Supporting the leadership with presentations at government inquiries and hearings
• Working with the leadership to deliver commissioned research and policy reports
• Develop internal publications including website content and consumer education material
• Manage resources for consumer representation and advocacy

Skills Required

You are currently in a similar or related policy role and have developed your career in the communications, consumer or community sectors. You're well known for your passion for consumer rights, social justice and fair markets and embracing opportunities in a rapidly changing world. Your skills include;

• Current knowledge of communications issues and public policy
• Leadership and mentoring skills, ability to manage a small team to achieve organisational goals
• Applying strategic thinking to a range of analytical problems
• Effective representation of public policy priorities
• High level of oral and written communication skills
• An understanding of emerging consumer issues in the communications sector

ACCAN is an EEO employer: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, persons with disabilities and people from culturally, linguistically, and religiously diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.