Workforce Administration and Recruitment Officer

Department of Defence; Canberra; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Defence is seeking a Workforce Administration and Recruitment Officer at APS5 level to coordinate recruitment activities across Headquarters JCG and provide workforce guidance to Functional Commands.

You will manage workforce records, governance processes and submissions for endorsement by senior leadership, while building strong stakeholder relationships in a dynamic environment. Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain Negative Vetting Level 1 clearance.

Qualifications

• Experience in workforce administration, recruitment or workforce management.
• Demonstrated sound judgement and attention to detail in fast-paced environments.
• Ability to deliver accurate workforce outcomes and support governance.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate recruitment activities across JCG Headquarters.
• Provide workforce management advice and guidance.
• Undertake administration including Group inbox management and tasking coordination.
• Maintain records, registers, and reporting tools.
• Validate documentation and coordinate governance-based actions.
• Contribute to reporting and analytics for decision-making.
• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities.

Skills

Recruitment experience

Establishment management

Workforce administration

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Attention to detail

Job description

Workforce Administration and Recruitment Officer

The Workforce Administration and Recruitment Officer is responsible for managing recruitment activities within JCG Headquarters and providing workforce management guidance and support to Functional Commands. The role contributes to the effective delivery of workforce outcomes through the coordination of recruitment, establishment management, workforce administration, and governance activities.

Key responsibilities include coordinating and managing recruitment processes, maintaining workforce records and registers, overseeing workforce tasking within the team, monitoring workforce-related actions, and ensuring compliance with Defence workforce policies and procedures. The role is also responsible for validating workforce documentation and preparing workforce submissions for endorsement and approval by senior leadership.

Working closely with stakeholders across Headquarters and Functional Commands, the incumbent provides timely and accurate workforce advice, facilitates workforce actions, and ensures workforce processes are managed efficiently and effectively. The role requires the ability to build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, navigate complex workforce matters, and manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

About our Team

Headquarters Joint Capabilities Group (JCG) provides high-level support to the Chief of Joint Capabilities (CJC) by coordinating and enabling Group activities across a broad range of functions. Headquarters works closely with Functional Commands, as well as other Defence Groups and Services, to deliver integrated capability, governance and workforce outcomes across the Group.

The Workforce Capability Team plays a central role in supporting workforce planning, recruitment, establishment management and workforce governance activities across JCG. Operating in a collaborative and fast-paced environment, the team works with stakeholders to deliver workforce services that support organisational priorities and maintain workforce capability.

The APS 5 Workforce Administration and Recruitment Officer is an integral member of the team, supporting the coordination and administration of workforce activities across Headquarters JCG. The role contributes to recruitment, workforce action processing, workforce data integrity and establishment management, ensuring workforce actions are completed accurately, efficiently and in accordance with Defence policy and governance requirements.

Our Ideal Candidate

Seeking a candidate with experience in workforce administration, recruitment, human resources or workforce management. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgement, strong attention to detail and the ability to deliver accurate outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate recruitment activities across JCG Headquarters.
• Provide workforce management advice and guidance.
• Undertake administration activities, including Group inbox management and tasking coordination.
• Maintain records, registers, and reporting tools.
• Validate documentation and coordinate actions through appropriate governance and approval processes.
• Contribute to reporting, and analytical activities to support informed decision-making.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities.

Key Requirements

• Experience in recruitment, establishment management, and workforce administration.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management skills.
• High level organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage complex workforce processes and governance requirements.
• Experience preparing, reviewing, and validating workforce documentation.
• Ability to analyse workforce information and contribute to workforce planning and reporting activities.
• Sound judgement and the ability to provide accurate workforce advice in a complex environment.

Eligibility

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at Negative Vetting Level 1.

The key duties of the position include

The Workforce Administration and Recruitment Officer is responsible for managing recruitment activities within JCG Headquarters and providing workforce management guidance and support to Functional Commands. The role contributes to the effective delivery of workforce outcomes through the coordination of recruitment, establishment management, workforce administration, and governance activities.

Key responsibilities include coordinating and managing recruitment processes, maintaining workforce records and registers, overseeing workforce tasking within the team, monitoring workforce-related actions, and ensuring compliance with Defence workforce policies and procedures. The role is also responsible for validating workforce documentation and preparing workforce submissions for endorsement and approval by senior leadership.

Working closely with stakeholders across Headquarters and Functional Commands, the incumbent provides timely and accurate workforce advice, facilitates workforce actions, and ensures workforce processes are managed efficiently and effectively. The role requires the ability to build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, navigate complex workforce matters, and manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

About our Team

Headquarters Joint Capabilities Group (JCG) provides high-level support to the Chief of Joint Capabilities (CJC) by coordinating and enabling Group activities across a broad range of functions. Headquarters works closely with Functional Commands, as well as other Defence Groups and Services, to deliver integrated capability, governance and workforce outcomes across the Group.

The Workforce Capability Team plays a central role in supporting workforce planning, recruitment, establishment management and workforce governance activities across JCG. Operating in a collaborative and fast-paced environment, the team works with stakeholders to deliver workforce services that support organisational priorities and maintain workforce capability.

The APS 5 Workforce Administration and Recruitment Officer is an integral member of the team, supporting the coordination and administration of workforce activities across Headquarters JCG. The role contributes to recruitment, workforce action processing, workforce data integrity and establishment management, ensuring workforce actions are completed accurately, efficiently and in accordance with Defence policy and governance requirements.

Our Ideal Candidate

Seeking a candidate with experience in workforce administration, recruitment, human resources or workforce management. The successful candidate will demonstrate sound judgement, strong attention to detail and the ability to deliver accurate outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate recruitment activities across JCG Headquarters.
• Provide workforce management advice and guidance.
• Undertake administration activities, including Group inbox management and tasking coordination.
• Maintain records, registers, and reporting tools.
• Validate documentation and coordinate actions through appropriate governance and approval processes.
• Contribute to reporting, and analytical activities to support informed decision‑making.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities.

Key Requirements

• Experience in recruitment, establishment management, and workforce administration.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management skills.
• High level organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage complex workforce processes and governance requirements.
• Experience preparing, reviewing, and validating workforce documentation.
• Ability to analyse workforce information and contribute to workforce planning and reporting activities.
• Sound judgement and the ability to provide accurate workforce advice in a complex environment.

Eligibility

Security Clearance

Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance at Negative Vetting Level 1.

Getting to know the Department of Defence

The Department of Defence employs around 18,000 Australian Public Service (APS) employees. Defence APS employees work in a wide variety of critical roles, Australia wide, enabling our three services Navy, Army and Air Force, to do their job. Defence has a range of Australian Public Service (APS) career opportunities that offer interesting, challenging, and unique work. Our workforce includes administrative support, accountants, intelligence analysts, engineers, policy advisors, graphic designers, lawyers, social workers, IT specialists and contract managers to name a few. We offer a rewarding career that includes professional development, work-life balance, recognition, a flexible and supportive work environment and a diverse workforce. To find out more about a career with Defence please visit https://www.defence.gov.au/jobs-careers