About the agency The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (ASSEA) is a small agency that was established in 2013 to oversee national actions to improve asbestos awareness and the effective and safe management, removal, and disposal of asbestos. This involved coordinating the implementation of the Asbestos National Strategic Plan.
In December 2023, the agency's functions were expanded to include silica through the Amendment of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013. The agency's name changed to the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency.
Our role is to assist in the prevention of exposure to asbestos fibres and respirable crystalline silica, to eliminate asbestos and silica related disease in Australia and the devastating impacts they create. We do this by coordinating the implementation of the national strategic plans for asbestos and silica. In doing so we are fortunate to work alongside other government agencies, employee and employer representatives, technical experts, the research community, impacted families, and partners, all motivated by the same outcome.
We are a non-corporate entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). Our Chief Executive Officer is appointed under the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 (the Act) and performs functions in accordance with that Act.
About the role The Director reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) alongside other leaders, providing strategic oversight and leadership of ASSEA's national coordination function including national strategic plans, policy and specialist advice. Providing technical specialist advice for ASSEA's core functions of research, data, awareness, and international leadership, this Director will inform and influence national policy and lead technical programs securing ASSEA's reputation for providing credible, transparent, and quality outcomes.
Working alongside the Senior Leader, Strategy Coordination and other leaders, the Director will provide strategic oversight for the design and delivery of complex coordination frameworks, national engagement and supporting systems and processes in alignment with the National Strategic Plans.
Having expert knowledge of work health and safety risk management, asbestos and respirable crystalline silica risks and control measures, the Director will engage with relevant technical specialists, researchers and associations at an international, national and state level, ensuring currency of ASSEA's intelligence and transfer this knowledge internally and externally.
Relevant tertiary qualifications are required in occupational hygiene, environmental sciences or aligned discipline with experience in the asbestos and/or silica safety.
Experience in functions aligned to this role along with knowledge and familiarity of relevant legislation and standards, and ability to develop policy advice, prepare complex reports and briefs in support of the national strategic plans is highly desirable.
The key duties of the position include The key responsibilities for the position include: Secure strategic commitment to complex national coordination frameworks, systems and processes through effective stakeholder engagement and consultation, while providing strategic oversight for amendments, reviews and revisions of the National Strategic Plans (NSPs). Provide oversight for ASSEA's strategic forward policy agenda in consultation with other leaders, identifying key policy issues aligned to ASSEA's mandated functions and National Strategic Plans for consideration by the ASSEA Executive Committee. Provide oversight for the development, implementation and review of the silica transition program, establishing the future phases in consultation with the ASSEA Leadership Team, staff, and key stakeholders. Provide specialist advice for internal teams, external stakeholders and governance committees, applying contemporary technical and scientific knowledge input to the delivery of the National Strategic Plans, ASSEA's operational plans, business cases, Ministerial and parliamentary briefs and other corporate documents. Represent ASSEA on relevant external technical committees supporting the development of standards, associated documents and/or information enabling the currency of ASSEA's hygiene and respirable crystalline silica knowledge and information. Identify emerging issues and opportunities through ongoing industry, scientific and environmental analysis and provide expert advice to the ASSEA's leadership team on responding to those issues. Coordinate the design and delivery ASSEA's stakeholder outreach and public relations efforts in consultation with other leaders, embedding contemporary approaches into practice. Contribute to agency wide strategies and planning, while leading the development of aligned team plans, projects and individual performance and development plans, ensuring a line of sight for all agency staff. Lead a diverse team of high performing professionals, promoting a healthy, safe, and inclusive environment is essential to the role, as is working alongside a small group of leaders to enable the success of the entire agency. Manage governance responsibilities aligned to agency delegations and public sector requirements, including the management of team budgets, procurement, resources, risks, people wellbeing and performance, and information security. Demonstrate organisational flexibility and cohesion by undertaking other duties as directed. #J-18808-Ljbffr