Senior Adviser: Advocacy and Government Relations

Universities Australia; Canberra; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% superannuation

15.4% superannuation

17% superannuation

Flexible hybrid work model

Salary packaging options

Parental leave entitlements

Free annual flu vaccinations

Free parking

Employee Assistance Program

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Universities Australia is seeking a Senior Adviser: Advocacy and Government Relations to lead and coordinate the sector's engagement with government and parliament from Canberra. The role involves turning UA’s policy positions into persuasive advocacy materials, coordinating submissions, and ensuring timely, well-briefed engagement with ministers, advisers and members.

Reporting to the Head of Advocacy and Government Relations, you will work with policy and strategic communications colleagues to

Qualifications

• Excellent writing and editing skills with ability to turn complex material into clear briefs and advocacy products.
• Experience in government relations, public affairs, policy, parliament, government, peak body or similar environment.

Responsibilities

• Support Head of Advocacy and Government Relations to deliver UA’s advocacy priorities.
• Monitor parliamentary, government and policy developments relevant to universities.
• Produce concise policy and parliamentary briefs identifying developments, opportunities, risks and actions.
• Maintain a central submissions and advocacy pipeline and coordinate preparation for hearings.
• Provide members with timely political intelligence, briefings and advocacy materials.

Skills

Excellent writing and editing

Government relations

Policy translation

Stakeholder engagement

Project coordination

Parliamentary intelligence

Job description

Senior Adviser: Advocacy and Government Relations

Universities Australia is the national voice of Australia’s 38 universities. What we say, and do not say, carries weight for a sector that shapes the country.

We argue the sector’s case to government, to the parliament and to the public. We put whole‑of‑sector positions on the table, run campaigns on the issues that matter, and make sure the national conversation about higher education is better informed for our being in it.

ABOUT UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA

Universities Australia is the national voice of Australia’s 38 universities. What we say, and do not say, carries weight for a sector that shapes the country.

We argue the sector’s case to government, to the parliament and to the public. We put whole‑of‑sector positions on the table, run campaigns on the issues that matter, and make sure the national conversation about higher education is better informed for our being in it.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Senior Adviser: Advocacy and Government Relations supports UA’s engagement with government, parliament and members and helps turn organisational priorities into effective advocacy. Reporting to the Head of Advocacy and Government Relations, the role provides high-quality writing, coordination, political and parliamentary intelligence and practical support across UA’s advocacy program.

This is an execution-focused role. You will help ensure submissions are planned early and delivered well, advocacy materials are clear and persuasive, members have the information they need,

government engagement is properly prepared and followed through, and the organisation maintains

a strong picture of what is happening across parliament and government.

You will work closely with the Policy and Strategic Communications teams to turn UA’s policy positions into effective advocacy. Policy colleagues will lead the development of substantive policy positions; this role will help translate them into clear, persuasive products and activity that are politically relevant and designed to influence decision-makers.

That means being comfortable moving between drafting a parliamentary brief, coordinating member input, preparing a meeting pack, checking a committee timetable, chasing actions from a stakeholder meeting and helping deliver a major advocacy moment. This is a hands-on role, with a strong expectation that you take ownership of the detail and do what is needed to keep the work moving.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Advocacy and government relations

• Support the Head of Advocacy and Government Relations to deliver UA’s advocacy and government relations priorities.

Parliamentary and political intelligence

• Monitor parliamentary, government and policy developments relevant to universities, including legislation, inquiries, committee processes, estimates, sitting programs and government consultations.
• Maintain a reliable forward calendar of parliamentary and advocacy opportunities, deadlines and decision points.
• Produce a concise policy and parliamentary brief for UA leadership and members identifying significant developments, upcoming opportunities, risks and actions.
• Provide timely alerts and short-form advice when developments require more immediate attention.
• Maintain current information on portfolio responsibilities, committees, relevant parliamentary positions and key government contacts.
• Support monitoring of Senate estimates, parliamentary inquiries and other processes, including questions on notice and government responses.

Submissions and advocacy products

• Coordinate UA’s internal submissions process from identification of an opportunity through to lodgement and subsequent advocacy.
• Work with policy leads to establish clear timelines, responsibilities, member consultation requirements, clearance points and advocacy opportunities for each submission.
• Maintain a central submissions and advocacy pipeline so upcoming work is visible and properly sequenced across the organisation.
• Draft and edit executive summaries, recommendations, advocacy briefs, correspondence and other material, working from policy positions developed with subject‑matter experts.
• Help ensure submissions are concise, well written, strategically framed and useful beyond lodgement.
• Translate longer or technical policy material into accessible advocacy products for ministers, advisers, parliamentarians and members.
• Coordinate preparation for parliamentary and government hearings.
• Maintain templates, processes and quality controls that improve the consistency and efficiency of UA’s submissions and advocacy work.

Member engagement and support

• Support UA’s government relations network and other relevant member groups.
• Provide members with timely political and parliamentary intelligence, briefings, key messages and advocacy materials that can be readily used in their own engagement.
• Coordinate member input into relevant submissions and advocacy activity and ensure member perspectives are appropriately captured.
• Help maintain regular two-way communication so UA understands what members are hearing across jurisdictions and members understand UA’s advocacy priorities and activity.
• Respond promptly and practically to member requests for advocacy information and support.

Working across UA

• Work closely with Policy colleagues to ensure advocacy activity is grounded in robust policy and evidence.
• Work closely with Strategic Communications colleagues to ensure political advocacy and public communications reinforce the same core messages.
• Bring upcoming political and parliamentary opportunities to colleagues early enough to inform policy development, communications planning and member engagement.
• Contribute to coordinated planning across advocacy, policy and communications in support of UA priorities.
• Pitch in across the organisation during major advocacy moments and periods of high workload.

CAPABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to turn complex material into clear, concise and persuasive briefs, correspondence and advocacy products.
• Experience in government relations, public affairs, policy, parliament, government, a peak body or a comparable environment, with a sound understanding of parliamentary and government processes.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines, detailed work and competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Sound judgement, discretion and political awareness, including knowing what matters, what needs escalation and what needs to happen next.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with the ability to work effectively with policy and strategic communications colleagues, senior executives and stakeholders across the political spectrum.
• A practical, hands‑on approach and willingness to undertake both substantive and administrative work required to deliver an outcome.
• Initiative, attention to detail and a strong commitment to following work through to completion.

Desirable

• Experience drafting or coordinating submissions, briefs and advocacy materials for government, parliamentary or senior decision‑making audiences.
• Experience supporting parliamentary engagement, advocacy campaigns or stakeholder engagement programs.
• Experience working in a membership, peak‑body or similarly stakeholder‑focused organisation.
• Knowledge of higher education, research, skills or related policy areas.

REPORTS TO

Head of Advocacy and Government Relations

DIRECT REPORTS

Nil

LOCATION

Canberra, or other capital city by negotiation

EMPLOYMENT TYPE

Full-time - initial 2-year contract

What we offer:

• Competitive salary with options for 12%, 15.4% or 17% super depending on preference
• Flexible hybrid work model, including remote days and core‑hours scheduling.
• Salary packaging options that can improve your take home pay
• Generous parental leave entitlements
• FREE annual flu vaccinations
• FREE parking
• Access to free guidance and counselling through our Employee Assistance Program
• A vibrant, inclusive culture.

Universities Australia welcomes people from all backgrounds and values the different experiences, perspectives and strengths each person brings. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, LGBTQIA+ people, people of all ages, neurodivergent people, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Interstate residents will be considered for this role noting that travel will be expected from time to time.

TO APPLY:

• To be considered your application must include your CV and a cover letter (700 words max.) which outlines your suitability for the role.
• Applications close Wednesday 14th October 2026 11:59pm.
• Please email **@uniaus.edu.au if you have any queries about the role.