First Assistant Secretary, International and Research

Department of Education; Canberra; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Education in Canberra is seeking a First Assistant Secretary, International and Research Division (SES Band 2) to lead a diverse team advancing Australia’s international education and research interests through policy leadership and strategic partnerships.

This role involves cross-government engagement, regulatory reform, stewardship of ESOS, and building capability across a dispersed workforce to ensure high-quality, sustainable outcomes aligned with national interests.

Responsibilities

• Leading policy, regulatory, international engagement and strategic reform to support whole-of-Government priorities.
• Providing strategic advice to Ministers, ministerial offices and the department’s Executive on complex and sensitive issues.
• Overseeing Australia’s international education policy framework, including ESOS stewardship and regulatory reforms.
• Driving initiatives that strengthen quality, integrity, sustainability and global competitiveness of Australia’s international education sector.
• Providing strategic leadership across the department’s research and innovation agenda, including research security and partnerships.
• Leading engagement and negotiations with government agencies, education providers, peak bodies, international organisations and foreign governments.
• Maintaining oversight of the Tuition Protection Service for international and domestic students.

Job description

First Assistant Secretary, International and Research

Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? Are you passionate about the roleinternational education and research play in shaping Australia's future? Can you see opportunitiesto strengthen one of Australia's most significant export sectors while advancing our economic,social and strategic interests?

As the First Assistant Secretary, International and Research Division (SES Band 2) at the Departmentof Education, you will lead a diverse and high-performing team responsible for advancing Australia'sinternational education and research interests through policy leadership, strategic partnerships andsystem stewardship. In this role, you will work closely across Commonwealth agencies to drive acomplex and high-profile agenda that encompasses policy and regulatory reform, international anddomestic stakeholder engagement, sector integrity, and data and analytical capability.

This is a unique opportunity to influence outcomes at the intersection of education, foreign policy,migration, trade, economic prosperity, resilience and national security. Working closely withMinisters, international partners and sector leaders, you will help ensure Australia's internationaleducation sector remains high quality, sustainable, trusted and aligned with the national interest,while strengthening Australia's research and innovation capabilities, and advancing Australia'sreputation as a trusted global partner in education and research.

The key duties of the position include:

In this role, you will be responsible for the following:

• Leading the Division's policy, regulatory, international engagement and strategic reformagenda to deliver innovative solutions to whole-of-Government priorities.
• Providing strategic advice to Ministers, ministerial offices, and the department’s Executive oncomplex, high-profile and sensitive issues.
• Overseeing Australia's international education policy framework, including stewardship of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework and associated regulatory reforms.
• Driving initiatives that strengthen the quality, integrity, sustainability and globalcompetitiveness of Australia's international education sector, including development of anInternational Education and Skills Strategic Framework.
• Providing strategic leadership across the Department’s research and innovation agenda,including on research security, strategic investments and partnerships that strengthenAustralia's capability, competitiveness and national interests.
• Leading engagement and negotiations with government agencies, education providers, peakbodies, international organisations and foreign governments.
• Maintaining oversight of the Tuition Protection Service for international students and eligibledomestic students.
• Building organisational capability and fostering a high-performing, inclusive and collaborativeculture across a geographically dispersed workforce.

Eligibility

Employment at the Department of Education is subject to conditions prescribed within the Public Service Act 1999 including:

• Citizenship: Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australiancitizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency delegate has agreed, in writing.
• Security Clearance: This is a designated security assessed position. The successful candidate willhave the ability to obtain and maintain the required security clearance.

Getting to know the Department of Education

The Department of Education contributes to Australia's economic prosperity and social wellbeing by creating opportunities and driving better outcomes through access to quality education and learning.A strong early childhood education system built around early learning and child care gives children the best start in life—supporting them to build social and behavioural skills to help prepare them to transition to school.For parents and carers, affordable child care enables them to participate in the workforce, pursue further education or other opportunities to contribute to their community — bolstering the social wellbeing and economic prosperity of the nation.As children continue their journey through school, access to quality education creates the foundation for a bright future – it opens a world of possibilities and equips children and young people with the skills, knowledge, and career advice to prepare them for further work or study to fulfil their dreams.An affordable, and accessible higher education sector allows Australians and international students to pursue their passion in life or reskill for the jobs of the future. A strong higher education and research sector in step with national priority areas provides people with an opportunity to choose a career path that addresses skill shortages or the challenges of the future including, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, health, and education.Through education and learning, we change lives, create opportunities, and support Australia's economic success and social wellbeing.