Project Officer, International Engagement

Agency Purpose

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent statutory authority established by the Australian Government to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services, and targeted education and public awareness programs.

The AEC’s values and commitments

The AEC values and commitments are an essential component of our operating environment and frame how AEC staff work. The AEC's focus is on electoral integrity through the values of quality, agility and professionalism.

The Team

The International Engagement (IE) section provides a broad range of services to support the AEC’s international partnerships and programs. 

IE works in partnership with electoral management bodies (EMBs) in the Indo-Pacific region, supporting them to deliver elections and building their technical capacity. The AEC is committed to assisting EMBs in our region as part of our broader remit to defend democracy. Section 7(1)(fa) of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 directs the AEC to provide international assistance in matters relating to elections and referendums. 

The AEC’s electoral assistance programs are built on requests for assistance from partner EMBs and are funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through Australia’s international development program.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a dynamic, collaborative, self-motivated and details-oriented professional to fill a position in the International Engagement section.

As a Project Officer, you will support the day-to-day administration of the section. The role also supports the section’s contribution to election and referendum assistance to foreign countries and organisations, and supports democratic reform agendas, particularly in developing democracies.  

In this role you will support all administrative aspects to assist with the deployment of AEC staff on international postings, visits by foreign electoral management bodies or organisations. You will assist to maintain governance arrangements to support program accountability, compliance, risk and reporting. 

You will develop and maintain key internal and external relationships, including monitoring and responding to email correspondence, liaising with stakeholders on policy, project or operational issues and responding to stakeholder needs and expectations. When required, you will represent the Agency by minute taking at meetings, conferences and seminars.  

On occasion, work outside of standard business hours, or additional duties at the time of an electoral event, may be a required component of the role.

To excel you’ll have:

• Proven ability to use verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills effectively whilst responding to the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, pay attention to detail, and deliver quality and accurate results on time in a project/program context.
• Experience in contributing to project and/or program management work, or experience in providing general support to a project and/or program manager. 
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative in the workplace and utilise sound judgement.
• Demonstrated personal integrity whilst achieving results within legislative, program and policy parameters.

Desirable

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in international services, public administration or similar.  
• Knowledge of, or ability to, quickly gain knowledge of Australian electoral law and practice.  
• Knowledge of, or ability to, quickly gain knowledge of the Commonwealth Resource Framework. 
• Understanding of complexities of working in cross-cultural environments.

Eligibility

• AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
• Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain the security clearance required for this role.