Assistant Directors

• EL 1 - $115,663 - $124,403 per annum plus superannuation
• Trade & International and Sustainability, Climate and Strategy Divisions
• Canberra, ACT

• Help shape latest thinking on policies and programs related to trade and market access, climate-smart sustainable agriculture and food security.
• Work in dynamic and forward leaning teams with diverse skills and backgrounds.
• Actively engage a wide range of stakeholders including whole-of government, industry, UN agencies and partner governments.

Who we are
The Trade and International Division (TID) maximises the impact and influence of the department’s international work by:

• engaging in relevant bilateral, regional and multilateral opportunities to advance Australia’s agriculture trade and shape global rules and norms consistent with Australia’s interests
• maintaining, improving and diversifying our agriculture trade and market access through support to develop new export markets, support for free trade agreement negotiations, tackling non-tariff barriers to trade, leading high level bilateral meetings with trading partners and mobilising the overseas agriculture counsellor network
• cultivating and influencing multilateral and bilateral partnerships on sustainable agriculture, food security and climate action in relation to agri-food systems, in coordination with DCCEEW, DFAT, ACIAR, CSIRO, etc and related industry/non-state actors
• enhancing our strategic approach to meeting Australia’s international interests in the Pacific and more broadly
• investing in the department’s culture and capability to deliver on our international interests and help deliver the First Nations Peoples Platform with a focus on export opportunities and international diplomacy, in coordination with DFAT, Austrade and IP Australia
• supporting the improvement of agricultural traceability across Australia through the implementation of the National Agricultural Traceability Strategy 2023 to 2033 to strengthen biosecurity traceability, credentials (including sustainability and Indigenous agricultural product framework) and innovation, data and RegTech enhancements.

There are four branches in TID:

• Agricultural Trade and Market Access.
• International Strategy and Engagement.
• International Organisations and Negotiations.
• Agricultural Traceability.

The Sustainability, Climate and Strategy Division (SCD) brings together a suite of policy and program functions supporting a sustainable agriculture sector in Australia. We do this by:

• delivering key government programs supporting sustainable practices and agricultural productivity, including the Natural Heritage Trust Program and the Soil Partnership initiative
• working closing with states and territory counterparts on aligning related policies and initiatives
• developing evidenced-based climate policy and advice to support emissions reduction and climate adaptation programs
• shaping and influencing policies across the Commonwealth that impact land use change and climate-smart practices on-farm and ensuring the sector is ideally placed in the broader Net Zero planning and reforms.

There are two branches in SCD:

• Climate Policy.
• National Heritage Trust and Soils.

The Jobs
We are looking for enthusiastic and collaborative Assistant Directors to join our divisions. The duties of the role in both divisions include, but are not limited to:

• providing team leadership, mentoring and performance feedback to program officers to encourage career development
• assisting the director to set the strategic direction and forward work program for the section, often with multiple and changing deadlines, and contributing to the strategic direction of the branch and division
• identifying and analysing policy issues to develop and implement policies and programs, including providing high level advice, briefing and reporting on related policy, technical and operational functions of the section
• promoting connection with and understanding of the department’s international work in the context of the department’s strategic priorities and whole-of-government international priorities
• representing the section, branch and division at a variety of forums domestically and internationally to establish and maintain effective and productive relationships within the department, with whole-of-government and industry partners, external stakeholders, international organisations and foreign counterparts
• collaborating, communicating and consulting proactively with internal and external stakeholders to inform policy development, program management and budget modelling while proactively managing risks and sensitivities.

Please note that this recruitment process will initially be used to fill a number of vacancies across both divisions. The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of eighteen months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in both divisions where the duties are of a similar nature.
Flexible working arrangements
We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements. To seek further information please speak with the contact officer prior to submitting your application.
What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience

• Experience undertaking research and analysis, including preparing policy advice, briefing material and reporting.
• Knowledge or understanding of the department’s role in relation to Australia’s agricultural trade and an awareness of the strategic, political and operational environment in which it works.
• Experience working on, or an understanding of, issues such as climate change, sustainable agriculture, food security, and/or Australia’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region in agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors would be an advantage.

For additional information, please read the Job Description below.