Assistant Director

There are currently several EL1 policy officer vacancies across Strategic Policy Branch. Individual placement will be determined in conversation with candidates, upon completion of the assessment process.

Sections within Strategic Policy Branch include:Strategic Priorities Section:
Developing a narrative outlining the interconnection and future direction of the Health and Aged Care system, including establishing strategic priorities for the Department.Supporting the strategic policy capability uplift across the department by developing and supporting teams to adopt the strategic priorities and strategic policy tools.Managing relationships with key policy and health reform stakeholders.Supporting 'over the horizon' thinking, including a regular analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for the health and aged care system. Strategic Policy Delivery Section:
Negotiating with states and territories to finalise and implement the Federation Funding Agreements for the Strengthening Medicare Package announced in December 2023.Leading the evaluation and alignment of the Strengthening Medicare Package with the National Health Reform Agreement and aged care interface.Analysing and managing cross-cutting health policy issues including management of the Health Peak and Advisory Bodies grant program and as a Departmental coordination point for Norfolk Island.Supporting and participating in cross-departmental engagement, and with stakeholders to connect and strengthen relationships.Undertaking environmental scanning to identify and increase awareness of contemporary cross-cutting issues to inform policy development and advice.Other delivery projects as they arise. Strategic Policy Contestability Section:
Leading the implementation of the Department's Strategic Investment Framework including undertaking analysis of the internal investments and providing advice to achieve the greatest benefit for Australia's health and aged care system.Supporting contestability in decision-making and the Department's strategic objectives, including through engagement with Budget processes, strategic investment framework and legislative processes.Supporting the strategic policy capability uplift through development of fiscal strategies, working closely with Budget Branch.Supporting embedding the strategic policy capability uplift, in response to the Department's Capability Review Action Plan. Health Design Lab:
Functions as an internal consultancy to the department.Undertaking project-based work with teams across the department to identify, define and investigate particularly complex policy problems or emerging challenges.Applying research methods from design thinking, behavioural and social sciences to generate new intelligence, evaluate existing evidence and design fit-for-purpose solutions.Utilising strategic foresight methods to explore a range of future possibilities.Delivering Executive-endorsed major design projects which tackle significant policy problems.Uplifting capability in our areas of expertise. Intergovernmental Relations (HMM & HCEF) Section:
Supporting the Secretary in their role as the Commonwealth representative at the Health Chief Executives Forum (HCEF) and the Minister in their role as the Commonwealth representative at the Health Ministers' Meetings. This includes organising meetings and drafting agenda papers and briefs and supporting the development of a strategic agenda for HCEF and HMM.Supporting the provision of strategic advice and support for Commonwealth-state relations. This includes intergovernmental policy advice and coordination support, and identifying relationships between different initiatives and providing expert advice on policy, regulatory and legislative issues across the Department.Assisting with the management and oversight of the Health Chief Executive Forum (HCEF) Cost Shared Budget and the Health Deputies Group.Assisting with the preparation of complex documentation including submissions, governance positioning, briefs and reports, in accordance with departmental guidelines.Managing the Strategic Policy Forum (SPF) which provides the Executive Policy Committee with a whole of portfolio view of policy development and current policy challenges. The SPF aims to inform early policy design, policy implementation and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of critical initiatives.Support the response for the COVID-19 Inquiry. The key duties of the position include:Working within a small specialist team delivering high quality policy development, advice and implementation responses to current and emerging cross-system health policy issues and government priorities.Consult with internal and external stakeholders to identify relationships between different initiatives and provide expert advice on policy, budget, regulatory and legislative issues across the Department.Provide comprehensive analysis of issues and make a key contribution to the management, preparation and coordination of responses to system or portfolio-wide strategic policy issues.Review and prepare Ministerial and Parliamentary correspondence and briefing material on issues relating to cross-cutting or portfolio-wide strategic policy issues.Represent the Department and build relationships with external stakeholders with other government agencies and jurisdictions and within the sector.Maintain an awareness of policy work being undertaken in other relevant work streams and across the APS to identify interrelationships and impacts.Lead and build capability in a team environment through coaching others, providing performance feedback, conflict resolution and encouraging career development.Exercise autonomy and initiative in team management and allocation of resources and managing finances to meet objectives.Other duties as directed. To be eligible for employment with the Department of Health and Aged Care applicants must be an Australian citizen at the time an offer of employment is made.

An applicant's suitability for employment with Health will also be assessed through a variety of pre-employment check processes, such as:
Satisfactory completion of an Australian Federal Police criminal history check, and where relevant a Working with a Vulnerable People Check.Completion of a medical declaration and pre-employment medical (where required).Providing evidence of qualifications. NotesApplications close Thursday 31 October at 11:30pm.
Employees perform their duties at one of the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) offices, in the locations specified in this advertisement. Remote working is possible and is negotiated with your manager on commencement. Most of our employees work 50% in the office. The negotiation with a manager seeks to balance your personal and professional needs with the needs of your role and business area.
Application Response (500 word limit): Your application will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate that you possess, or have the real potential to develop, the required skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications to perform the role. These requirements are based on the information provided to you as part of the job advertisement, in line with the APS Work Level Standards.
Applicants are required to provide a statement of claims framed around the key duties and key capabilities. Your statement of claims should be no more than one page in total with a font no smaller than size 10. Applications that do not meet these requirements may not be considered.
Applicants are asked to quote reference number 24-HSSDIV-26776 to assist when making an enquiry.
Getting to know the Department of Health and Aged CareThe Department of Health and Aged Care is focused on achieving better health and wellbeing for all Australians. If you would like to join our team, and can meet our job requirements, we invite you to apply for a position with us to build better health, better care and better quality for all Australians. The department is committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace where the experiences, skills and perspectives of all individuals are valued. We actively encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and cultures, so we can better represent the community we serve. The department welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, mature age people, people who identify as LGBTI+, and people with parenting and/or caring responsibilities.

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