Governance Officer- (USI) Project

FIRST PEOPLE Recruitment Solutions; Canberra; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Education is seeking a Governance Officer for the Schools USI project, to provide governance and secretariat support. This 12-month contract starts January 2027, based in Canberra.

You will coordinate meetings, maintain records, and advise on governance processes to enable timely, well-informed decisions. Responsibilities include coordinating governance forums, maintaining action registers, and developing governance frameworks.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in governance and secretariat services, including forum coordination, action tracking and governance reporting
• Demonstrated experience working in an education and training portfolio
• Well-developed written communication skills, including preparing briefs, minutes and reports
• Proven stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build productive working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and keep accurate governance records
• Highly developed analytical, problem-solving and continuous improvement skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and document management systems

Responsibilities

• Provide secretariat services for project governance forums and working groups: coordinate meetings, prepare and distribute agendas, papers and minutes, keep action registers, and track how decisions and commitments are carried out
• Keep governance records, registers and documentation up to date, including risks, issues, decisions and actions
• Advise project teams and stakeholders on governance processes, procedures and administrative requirements
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to run governance activities, support good decision-making and resolve governance matters on time
• Help develop, implement and improve governance frameworks, policies, procedures and guidance materials, in line with departmental requirements and governance best practice
• Monitor compliance with governance requirements, find areas for improvement, and prepare governance reports, briefs and assurance documents for senior executives and decision-making bodies

Skills

Governance coordination

Governance reporting

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Organisational skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Continuous improvement

MS Office

Document management

Job description

The Department of Education is responsible for national policies and programs that help Australians get quality education, from early childhood through school to higher education and research. The department works with states and territories, schools, education providers and the wider community to improve outcomes for all learners.

The Schools USI project is a national initiative to give every school student a Unique Student Identifier. The USI will help governments and the education sector understand student pathways and outcomes, and will support better planning, policy and decisions.

About the Role

The department is looking for an experienced Governance Officer to join the Schools USI project. You will provide governance and secretariat support to the project's governance forums and working groups. This includes coordinating meetings and papers, keeping governance records, and helping senior executives make informed, timely decisions.

This 12-month contract starts in January 2027.

Key Duties

Governance Coordination and Secretariat Services

• Provide secretariat services for project governance forums and working groups: coordinate meetings, prepare and distribute agendas, papers and minutes, keep action registers, and track how decisions and commitments are carried out

Governance Administration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Keep governance records, registers and documentation up to date, including risks, issues, decisions and actions
• Advise project teams and stakeholders on governance processes, procedures and administrative requirements
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to run governance activities, support good decision-making and resolve governance matters on time

Governance Frameworks, Compliance and Reporting

• Help develop, implement and improve governance frameworks, policies, procedures and guidance materials, in line with departmental requirements and governance best practice
• Monitor compliance with governance requirements, find areas for improvement, and prepare governance reports, briefs and assurance documents for senior executives and decision-making bodies

Key Skills and Capabilities

• Demonstrated experience in governance and secretariat services, including forum coordination, action tracking and governance reporting
• Demonstrated experience working in an education and training portfolio
• Well-developed written communication skills, including preparing briefs, minutes and reports
• Proven stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build productive working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and keep accurate governance records
• Highly developed analytical, problem-solving and continuous improvement skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and document management systems

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