Michael Berkman, Greens MP for Maiwar, is recruiting for multiple roles based at our Electorate Office at 1/49 Station Rd Indooroopilly. We are open to applicants for a full-time (5 days per week) or part-time (3-4 days per week) role, with the following positions to be filled:

• Electorate Officer (1 FTE)
• Assistant Electorate Officers (2 FTE)

In a nutshell

• Location: Indooroopilly (Brisbane)
• Working hours: 3-5 days per week, 9am-5pm (flexible arrangements possible)
• Employer: Parliament of Queensland - Maiwar Electorate Office
• Reports to: Chief of Staff and ultimately Michael Berkman MP
• Term of employment: ongoing until Michael Berkman ceases to be the MP
• Remuneration: $87,482.85 - $115,362.00 per annum full-time salary. All staff receive 12.5% superannuation plus four weeks’ annual leave, plus additional concessional leave days over the Christmas/New Year period

About Michael

Michael Berkman was the first Greens MP elected to Queensland Parliament in 2017, and represents the inner-west Brisbane electorate of Maiwar. The successful applicants will work alongside Michael and a small team in the electorate office, to help constituents solve problems and achieve political change in line with Greens values.

Our office also works alongside other Queensland Greens representatives, particularly Elizabeth Watson-Brown, Federal MP for Ryan, and Seal Chong Wah, Councillor for Paddington Ward.

The roles

With a newly elected LNP Government undermining the public service, human rights and progress on climate change, standing up for ordinary people and the environment is more important than ever. Join Michael’s team in the Maiwar Electorate Office, and make a real difference by supporting Maiwar constituents and advocating for positive political change on a range of local and state-wide issues.

Key responsibilities

We have 3 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions to fill, with the final split of days and responsibilities subject to applications received.

The Electorate Office team is responsible for:

• Individual advocacy, helping constituents (including vulnerable persons) to navigate public services and solve problems, and supporting Michael to represent them
• Community engagement, including organising and attending events and outreach to constituents and community groups
• Running mutual aid programs, including recruiting and managing volunteers. This includes our weekly community meal in St Lucia, and other ad-hoc support and outreach (such as during natural disasters)
• Delivering grants programs, including our Maiwarriors program for school-aged kids and our Community Grants program for local organisations and initiatives
• Reception duties, responding to enquiries from constituents and stakeholders by phone, email and in-person
• Administrative duties including calendar management, office admin, maintaining financial records, and data entry
• Supporting Michael’s campaigns on local and statewide issues, including identifying opportunities for Michael to raise local concerns in Parliament
• Supporting Michael’s public-facing communications such as social media and newsletters
• Electorate Officer only: staff supervisory duties and management support, particularly when the Chief of Staff is in Parliament or otherwise unavailable

In your application, please advise which of these duties you are most interested in and/or most suited to, and why.

Selection criteria

There are no specific qualifications or experience required. You must have a commitment to the values and platform on which Michael was elected, and must display sound political and strategic judgement, as well as general knowledge of Queensland political and current affairs. You will be expected to observe high levels of confidentiality in relation to Michael’s duties and constituent work.

We are looking for people with demonstrated:

• People skills, including the ability to:
  • Work with vulnerable persons and those experiencing crisis
  • Adapt tone to circumstance and setting
  • Manage and motivate volunteers
• Concise, persuasive and accurate written expression
• General computing skills (e.g. email and Outlook, spreadsheets, Google Suite, NationBuilder or other databases)
• Capacity to comprehend complex issues, think strategically, solve problems and adapt to changing circumstances
• Ability to work as part of a small, collaborative team, often under time constraints and tight deadlines

Desirable, but not essential, skills include:

• Media skills, including dealing with traditional and emerging media outlets
• Video and photography skills, including editing for social media
• Understanding of and interest in transport systems and urban planning, including development assessment, public and active transport networks
• Interest in or knowledge of issues relevant to the Maiwar electorate (Auchenflower, Bardon, Taringa, Toowong, St Lucia, Indooroopilly, Fig Tree Pocket)

Prior experience - whether paid or unpaid - in any of the following is desirable, but not essential:

• Direct advocacy, including social work, case work, legal or community sector roles
• Working in the office of a Councillor, State or Federal MP
• Event management
• Communications, including journalism, copywriting, PR and social media
• Campaigning, including community or union organising

Employment Conditions

Electorate Office staff are employed by the Queensland Parliamentary Service. ​​​​Employment conditions are determined by the Queensland Parliamentary Service Award - State - 2015 and the Parliamentary Service Electorate Office Staff Certified Agreement 2020. A copy of the Award is available at the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission website. A copy of the current Certified Agreement is also available on the QIRC website.

After a probation period, Electorate Office staff remain employed whilst Michael remains in office. Should he retire or be defeated at an election then the Electorate Office staff’s employment will cease.

Full time Electorate Office staff are paid for a 72.5 hour fortnight. Part time Electorate Office staff are paid their rostered hours only (ordinarily 0.8 or 0.6 FTE).

Salary

The Electorate Officer and Assistant Electorate Officer classifications consist of 8 levels each, with new staff usually commencing at level 1 and becoming eligible for an increment after 12 months continuous service.

The starting full time equivalent pay rates for each role are:

• Assistant Electorate Officer: $87,482.85pa plus 12.75% superannuation
• Electorate Officer: $115,362.00pa plus 12.75% superannuation

We will be considering the allocation of roles and responsibilities based on the applications received, and welcome applications for part-time arrangements. Please advise your preferred working arrangements in your cover letter.

Equal Opportunity

We know strength comes from diversity. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those from a migrant or non-English speaking background, women and those who identify as LGBTIQ+ to apply.

Employment Screening

The Queensland Parliamentary Service requires the successful applicant to submit a National Criminal History Check prior to appointment. A criminal conviction or charge will not automatically exclude an applicant from consideration for appointment. All personal information obtained in the application process will be treated confidentially and held securely by the Parliamentary Service.

HOW TO APPLY

Click 'Apply Now' to submit your application. 

Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, so please get your application in as soon as you can. If you have any questions, contact us on 07 3737 4100.

Attached are Queensland Parliament's generic Position Descriptions for these roles. The final responsibilities and details are subject to change.