Policy Officer

The-Royal-Australian-and-New-Zealand-College-of-Obstetricians-and-Gynaecologist; Victoria; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Flexible and hybrid working

Leave options

Wellbeing & diversity

Job summary

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) seeks a policy and advocacy professional to prepare submissions, reports and policy documents, and coordinate projects across Advocacy and Communications. The role involves engagement with members and trainees and monitoring women’s health policy across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

This is a full-time, fixed-term contract for 24 months.

Qualifications

• Interpersonal skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a team and follow directions.
• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to locate and interpret health literature; write summaries.
• Summarise and present complex data clearly.
• Strong verbal and written communication.
• A track record of meeting deadlines.
• Commitment to evidence-based health outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Prepare submissions, reports, policy statements and other documents for policy development and advocacy campaigns.
• Develop standards, policies and guidelines to support members in workplaces and health systems.
• Attend State & Territory meetings to report and act on advocacy work.
• Manage and support multiple projects in Advocacy and Communications.
• Engage with members and trainees for information and guidance on submissions and projects.
• Monitor health policy developments in Australia and New Zealand and advise leadership.
• Collaborate with communications to align messages with positions in submissions and advocacy.
• Carry out other policy and advocacy tasks as required.

Skills

Stakeholder liaison

Team player

Independent worker

Literature review

Data summarisation

Strong communication

Timely results

Public policy understanding

Health policy knowledge

Relationship building

Job description

Job Category: Community Services and Development,Consulting and Strategy,Health, Medical & Pharmaceutical

About the College:

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) is the leading standards body responsible for the training and education of specialists and GP obstetricians in obstetrics and gynaecology in Australia and New Zealand.

RANZCOG is committed to the establishment and maintenance of the highest possible standards of practice in women's health and provides programs in training, accreditation and continuing professional development (CPD) that are responsive to the evolving health care needs of women.

RANZCOG supports research into women's health and act as an advocate for women's healthcare by forging productive relationships with individuals, the community and professional organisations, both locally and internationally.

Job Description

This role supports RANZCOG’s advocacy and policy initiatives by preparing submissions, reports and policy documents, contributing to the development of standards and guidelines, and coordinating projects across the Advocacy and Communications unit. It involves engaging with members and trainees, monitoring developments in women’s health policy across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, supporting jurisdictional advocacy efforts, and working with internal teams to align communications, strengthen advocacy efforts and drive positive change across the women’s health sector.

This is a full time, fixed term contract for 24 months.

Key Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Advocacy Manager the key responsibilities of the role shall include, but not be limited to:

• Prepare submissions, reports, correspondence, presentations, policy statements and other documents as required for policy development and advocacy campaigns.
• Provide support with the development of standards, policies and guidelines to support members to address systemic issues in their workplace, hospital and the broader women’s health system.
• Attend State & Territory meetings when required to report on, and action, advocacy related work at a jurisdictional level.
• Manage and provide support to various projects being undertaken in the Advocacy and Communications unit.
• Engage with members and trainees for information and advice on submissions, projects and policy.
• Monitor policy developments in the women's health sector within Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, elevate developments of interest to supervisors and RANZCOG leadership for discussion along with suggested courses of action
• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure RANZCOG’s messaging is aligned with its positions detailed in submissions and advocacy.
• Other ad hoc policy and advocacy-related responsibilities as required

Desired Skills and Experience

Ko wai koe | About you - Key Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and the ability to liaise and communicate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, individuals and groups, often on many different topics or projects at one time.
• Demonstrate an ability to work as a member of a team with an ability to understand and follow the directions of others.
• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Ability to locate, critically appraise and interpret health related research literature, and write summaries based on the results of the literature search.
• Ability to summarise and present complex data in an appropriate and accessible style and format.
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills.
• The ability to achieve results in a timely manner, to prescribed deadlines.
• Commitment to the development of evidence-based outcomes and evaluation of health services.
• Functional understanding of public policy and funding systems in the health sector.
• Functional understanding of women’s health issues and the complex College environment.
• Ability to source, build and nurture internal and external relationships in the medical college and federal, state and territory government environments.
• Functional understanding of current global and local trends in acute and public health.
• Capacity to work effectively across program areas and disciplines.

Ka whiwhi koe i te aha | What you will get in return

Working at RANZCOG means enjoying a strong sense of purpose and engaging in meaningful work every day. Some of our benefits include:

• Salary packaging
• Flexible and hybrid working conditions
• A range of leave options for all that life throws at you
• Commitment to wellbeing, inclusion and diversity

We are proud to be an accredited Great Place to Work since 2023, with a current score of 83%! We are also recognised as a Work 180 Employer of Choice for Women since 2022 and recently ranked in the top 101 Workplaces for Women across Australia. You can find out more about all of our accreditations on our website!

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces and celebrates the differences and similarities within our staff, trainee, and member workforce.

We encourage applications from First Nations, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent peoples; as well as parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities, and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality, and faith.

Feel like you don’t meet all the requirements for this role? Studies have shown that women and ethnic minorities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you are interested in this role but feel your experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles at the College.

Applications Close: Sunday 15 November 11:59 PM (AEST/AEDT).

RANZCOG acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters and communities across Australia, on which our staff live and work, and to their Elders, past, present and future. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.

RANZCOG recognises the special status of Māori as tangata whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand and is committed to meeting its obligations as Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners.