Oversight And Assurance Officer

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) is Australia’s national criminal intelligence agency. We advise senior decision makers on serious and organised crime impacting Australia. We are a full member of the National Intelligence Community, an Attorney General’s Portfolio agency, and a member of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group.

The ACIC is at the forefront of tackling serious and organised crime targeting Australia, both within our borders and offshore. Our staff operate against a pervasive, transnational and globalised criminal threat, and work hard to realise an Australia hostile to criminal exploitation. As a small agency that makes a real impact on serious and organised crime, we need talented and dedicated people who are intelligent, highly capable and seeking to make a difference to the lives of all Australians.

About the branch
Workforce Capability and Assurance provides a key enabling function, supporting the development of agency capability and providing the agency with the assurance that it continues to meet its legislative obligations. The branch is responsible for the delivery of all human resource and people strategies, as well as protecting the agency, its people and its capabilities through an integrated protective security and integrity function. Workforce Capability and Assurance supports employee wellbeing, as well as provides critical support to intelligence operations by oversighting the agency’s use of certain powers, ensuring legislative compliance and contributing to operational outcomes.

About the role
Assurance Officers at the ACIC perform administrative and engagement activities including record-keeping, reporting, quality assurance as well as project work and direct engagement with oversight bodies i.e. Commonwealth Ombudsman Office. They collectively support ACIC covert operational activities and Inspection of Agency Records by ensuring the Commission complies with legislative requirements governing capabilities such as TI and surveillance.  

Occupants of these positions develop expert knowledge of relevant provisions of the TIA Act 1979, SDA Act 2004 and 1AB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), and also facilitate inspections of ACIC records under those laws by the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Assurance Officers work as a team to champion the ACIC’s well-established ‘Excellence in Compliance’ Strategy, that encompasses quality-assurance processes and training. Occupants of these positions are also increasingly involved with projects to automate compliance functions and improve the systems and databases that already deliver compliance outcomes.

Our ideal candidate

• Can rapidly acquire an understanding of the role, functions and operations of the ACIC. 
• Has experience in understanding / applying legislation; knowledge of either the TIA, SDA and/ or 1AB of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), is desirable.
• Will have excellent attention to detail and capacity for methodical and meticulous work outcomes, including the ability to follow record-keeping procedures, conduct quality-assurance measures and use information management programs (including databases), in order to support operational outcomes and external agency enquiries and inspection processes.
• Has well-developed written communication skills, including experience preparing reports that are accurate, well-presented and prepared using effective time management strategies to meet strict deadlines. 
• Demonstrates verbal communication, negotiation and influencing skills, including the ability to collaborate, consult and share information credibly.

• If this role is being advertised as ongoing and non-ongoing, it may be offered as ongoing or non-ongoing subject to operational requirements and/or candidate preference. Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled for a specified term of up to 18 months. A specified term may be extended up to a maximum period of 3 years.
• Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS, unless the agency head has agreed otherwise, in writing. For further information, contact the Recruitment Team. 
• The Australian community expects ACIC employees to maintain the highest levels of security and integrity. Successful applicants will be required to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold, the required security clearance for this role. All ACIC employees are required to hold a minimum Negative Vetting 1 security clearance, unless otherwise specified.
• All candidates must satisfy an Organisational Suitability Assessment (OSA) prior to being offered employment at the ACIC. This requires the applicant to undergo character and background screening, and participate in a psychological assessment. Please refer to our Character Standards for further information.
• To be eligible to work at the ACIC, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Being fully vaccinated ensures the health and safety of all employees, and the Australian community. Satisfactory proof of vaccination status will be required before you are able to commence employment with the ACIC.

The ACIC is committed to diversity and inclusion. We celebrate and champion diversity to ensure we reflect the community we serve, and pride ourselves on our vibrant culture. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, mature aged employees and carers. 

More information about our conditions is available in the ACIC Enterprise Agreement 2016–2019 and Determination 2019/1 on our website.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) is Australia’s national criminal intelligence agency. Our vision is an Australia hostile to criminal exploitation.We work with our national and international partners to conduct investigations and collect intelligence to combat serious and organised crime, cybercrime and national security threats. We develop and maintain national information and intelligence sharing services and systems for use by state, territory and Commonwealth law enforcement agencies. We also deliver nationwide background checking services to support employment or entitlement decisions to keep the Australian community safe.The ACIC Board provides strategic direction to the ACIC and represents Commonwealth, state and territory law enforcement and other regulatory agencies. Our purpose is to protect Australia from criminal threats through coordinating a strategic response and collecting, assessing and disseminating intelligence and policing information.