Management - Vocational (Education & Training)HumanAbility
is a not-for-profit, industry owned and led organisation that is contracted by the federal government.
It was established as a Jobs and Skills Council for the health, human services, sport & recreation, and early childhood industries to fulfil the requirements of the
Jobs & Skills Councils – Strengthening Australia's National Vocational Education and Training System
program.HumanAbility's
objective is to advance education by supporting skills and workforce development for the specified industries.
It is a values-based organisation with a defined mission and vision, understanding the ultimate beneficiary of the work we do is our communities.HumanAbility
will achieve its objectives through:Implementation of the
Jobs & Skills Councils – Strengthening Australia's National Vocational Education and Training System
program, or its replacement program, and similar programs supported by governments and/or industry;Workforce planning activities that develop strategies to address workforce challenges, using high-quality data and evidence on current and emerging skills needs (in collaboration with Jobs and Skills Australia) associated with a range of educational pathways, including vocational education and training (VET) and higher education;Formal and informal training product development, including resources aligned with standards set by Skills Ministers to improve the quality, speed-to-market, and responsiveness of nationally recognised training products;Contributions to the implementation, promotion and monitoring of VET;Industry stewardship by acting as a source of intelligence and advice on issues affecting workforce and skills development in the sector.We have an opportunity for a Director - Policy and Research to join us on a full-time basis in an ongoing capacity subject to funding (currently funded until mid-2026).
This position will report into the Executive Director - Research and Workforce Programs and will be responsible for managing the policy, research, and workforce planning function for the industries within
HumanAbility's
scope:Early childhood education and careHealthHuman (community) servicesAged care and disability supportSports and recreationThis position leads
HumanAbility's
strategic policy, research and data analytic capability enabling
HumanAbility
to achieve its strategic goals and deliver its core functions - industry stewardship, training product development and implementation, promotion, and monitoring.A key deliverable for the Policy and Research team is the annual Workforce Plan.
The Workforce Plan establishes the context for
HumanAbility , guides our strategic planning, and articulates the priority workforce development initiatives that will be progressed by
HumanAbility
in partnership with our stakeholders.The team's policy, research and analytical functions enable
HumanAbility
to identify and understand current, emerging, and future workforce challenges and opportunities, including skills gaps and shortages, for all sectors within
HumanAbility's
remit, and develop appropriate strategies and provide advice to address diagnosed challenges.The position works closely with the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments, Jobs and Skills Australia and industry and key sector stakeholders to:Ensure a tripartite, coherent, and evidence-based approach to understanding workforce challenges.Design and deliver
HumanAbility's
research program and innovative workforce development projects and initiatives that address workforce challenges and opportunities both within and across
HumanAbility's
industry sectors and sub-sectors.Align reform initiatives and develop collaborative partnerships.
This position and the team will work closely with the
HumanAbility
training product development and stakeholder engagement teams to inform training product development, research, and workforce planning strategies.The position requires high level policy and research skills, with experience and knowledge of the national Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector and VET policy, the labour market and industry sector workforce planning and skills development.Key AccountabilitiesIdentification of workforce challenges at the national, state, regional, rural, and remote levelsResearch and data collection undertaken to support workforce planningDevelopment of a conceptual approach and strategies to support the diagnosis of workforce challenges and opportunities for industries within
HumanAbility's
scope (including a standardised workforce planning process)Development of an annual
Workforce Plan
in accordance with guidance provided by the Department of Employment and Workplace RelationsManage a small team with policy, data analytics and research capabilities.Qualifications and ExperienceAt least 5 years' experience in senior policy and research roles (quantitative and qualitative).Demonstrated experience in end-to-end research project design and management.Outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.Strategic leadership skills including demonstrated ability to lead small, dynamic teams in a complex operating environment.Proven high level stakeholder management skills and ability to build productive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.High level policy, conceptual and analytical skills, and ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.Knowledge or understanding of the VET sector and/or labour market economics.An understanding of the education and training system and/or industry sectors within
HumanAbility's
scope.We primarily work remotely.
This is a hybrid position that can be located anywhere in Australia, and will involve occasional travel for meetings, workshops, and industry events.
A competitive compensation package is offered, based on qualifications and experience.
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