The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) partners with other federal bodies to advance human rights and support inclusive and safe workplace cultures. The Commission’s Security Group includes partnerships with the Australian Defence Force/Department of Defence (Defence), the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF). The Security Group forms part of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s portfolio.

The Defence Collaboration Team is looking for Executive Level 1 Senior Policy Officers, specialising in projects and/or strategy and engagement on an ongoing basis. The roles will contribute to the Commission’s work promoting a human-rights-based approach to workplace cultural reform.

The Roles

Senior Policy Officer (Projects)

As a Senior Policy Officer (Projects) in the Security Group, you will leverage your expertise in workplace cultural reform, human rights, research, stakeholder or project management. You will support and lead a variety of projects and activities, and provide advice and expertise, to build safe, diverse and inclusive workplaces within the partner security agency. You may be involved in leading projects that examine diversity and inclusion in recruitment and retention, building inclusive leadership capabilities, and promoting gender equality, respectful workplace behaviours and anti-discrimination. Working within a collaborative and supportive team, you will lead the production of high-quality research reports, briefings and policy reviews addressing identified needs within the partner organisation and promoting human rights.

Senior Policy Officer (Strategy and Engagement)

The Senior Policy Officer (Strategy and Engagement) role requires high-level stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with an ability to discern strategic opportunities, to advance cultural change in a complex security environment and to identify and proactively manage emerging risk. In this role you will utilise your strategic management and program design experience to contribute to the development of partnership workplans, briefing the Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Senior Advisor on key partnership strategy meetings, and lead monitoring and evaluation of the program and projects.

To be successful in both roles, you will have experience in progressing workplace cultural reform, the management of research and/or high-level stakeholder engagement and relationship management. You will have a good understanding of human rights issues such as gender equality, workplace discrimination, accessibility, intersectionality, diversity and inclusion.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide high-level and timely strategic advice to the Partnership Director and Security Group Senior Advisor in relation to partnership cultural reform work.
• Lead the scoping, design, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based workplace cultural reform projects. This includes developing project management documentation such as project and research plans and monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Critically analyse complex issues relating to human rights and workplace cultural reform.
• Lead high quality qualitative and quantitative research, including undertaking sensitive field research using consultations, focus groups and interviews (some domestic travel may be required).
• Prepare and deliver high quality reports and information briefs that are evidence based.
• Develop and manage a range of key stakeholder relationships, particularly within the partnership.
• Support partnership program planning and performance measurement activities.
• Where relevant, supervise a small team including by providing support and guidance to team members to deliver policy project outcomes.
• Develop and deliver presentations and educational initiatives as required.
• Other duties consistent with the above as directed.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Strong project management expertise with demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision and to tight deadlines. Experience in monitoring and evaluation of program/projects highly desirable.
• Highly developed skills designing and conducting research and policy analysis, which may include:
  • conducting desktop research into topics of relevance to human rights or cultural reform
  • undertaking consultations, underpinned by a sound understanding of diversity and inclusion, including approaches that are culturally appropriate and trauma informed
  • analysing and synthesising complex data (experience with statistical packages and tests and qualitative analysis software such as NVivo is desirable).

• Highly developed written communication skills, including the demonstrated ability to prepare high quality outputs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a small team and supervise and mentor staff.

• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with a capacity to work collaboratively to ensure that various internal and external stakeholder interests are recognised and managed positively and professionally.
• A strong understanding of contemporary human rights and cultural reform issues in Australian workplaces. Experience in working with Defence or other command and control organisations is highly desirable.