Address The Department of the Senate is seeking applications from those interested in joining the Committee Office or Procedure Office in the following positions:
Research Officer, Committee Office (PN 704)
The occupant of this position is required to provide administrative, organisational and research support, including some report drafting, for committee inquiries. A significant responsibility of this position is the organisation, coordination and documentation of the committee’s estimates process and the monitoring and distribution of questions on notice.
This position involves significant liaison and negotiation duties, including contact with senators and their staff, senior public servants and the general public. As such, the application of tact and discretion is essential.
The occupant of this position must be client-focused, able to work to consistently high standards and occasionally for long hours. Accurate and professional writing skills are also key requirements of this position.
Legislative Research Officer, Legislative Scrutiny Unit within the Procedure Office (PN 31)
The Legislative Research Officer provides high level administrative and coordination support for the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills or the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation. A significant responsibility of this position is the organisation, coordination and documentation of the committee’s scrutiny work. Duties include proofing and editing a variety of documents, coordinating a high volume of correspondence to and from the committee, managing the committee's databases, contributing to the preparation, printing and tabling of reports and other committee publications and preparing other correspondence and documents relevant to the committee’s business.
The Legislative Research Officer also uses relevant software and web publishing packages to prepare and publish materials for the committee’s webpages, coordinates arrangements for committee meetings and hearings, and maintains registers, manuals and databases relevant to the Legislative Scrutiny Unit. The Legislative Research Officer is required to liaise directly with parliamentarians and their staff, ministerial offices, and officials in executive departments and agencies in the performance of these duties.
The key duties of the position include:Research Officer - Committee Office (PN 704)
Provide administrative, research and report writing support to the committee, particularly related to the committee’s examination of estimates and the annual reports of departments and agencies.
Provide assistance in the organisation and conduct of public hearings and private meetings, with particular responsibility for the organisation of the committee’s estimates processes.
Maintain accurate registers of questions on notice and associated statistics.
Assist in the preparation of committee reports and other documents for publication online.
Develop a basic knowledge of Senate procedures particularly as they relate to the work of committees.
Provide other administrative support as requested.
Legislative Research Officer - Procedure Office (PN 31)
Provide high level administrative and coordination support to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills or the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation.
Manage and maintain accurate databases of legislation under scrutiny and extract data as required for reporting and statistical purposes.
Prepare and distribute outgoing correspondence to departments, agencies and ministers and liaise with relevant staff to coordinate and distribute responses within the timeframes set by the committee.
Draft routine entries and other material for the committee reports, and provide general assistance with preparation, printing and tabling of reports and other committee publications.
Undertake preliminary scrutiny of legislation against the committee’s scrutiny principles to assist other members of the team.
Prepare and publish relevant information and material on the Senate’s website using web-based authoring software paying attention to accuracy, layout and design.
Assist in the preparation, organisation and conduct of committee meetings and hearings, with particular responsibility for coordinating briefing material and other relevant papers and taking minutes during meetings.
Liaise with parliamentarians and their staff, ministerial offices, the committee’s legal advisers, employees, and external departments and agencies.
Respond to general inquiries from various stakeholders, including members of the public.
Use initiative to identify and appropriately implement improvements to work processes in the Legislative Scrutiny Unit.
Establish and maintain accurate records, including electronic files, registers, manuals and statistical information.
EligibilityLegislative Research Officer, Procedure Office (PN 31)Desirable:
Experience in using Microsoft Office applications and web-based authoring software.
Familiarity with legislation.
NotesTo apply, please indicate the position or positions you are applying for when completing the application form. You are asked to provide a one-page pitch detailing your suitability to perform the duties of the position or positions you have nominated, along with a copy of your CV or résumé.
This recruitment process may be used to fill similar future vacancies in the department.
We recognise that diversity strengthens our department and we are committed to maintaining a workplace that values the contribution of people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We welcome applications from First Nations people, people with disabilities, people from diverse cultural backgrounds and mature aged people.
Getting to know the Department of the SenateThe Department of the Senate provides the secretariat to the Senate – enabling its legislative and accountability activities – and to dozens of parliamentary committees, whose work encompasses the Senate’s scrutiny functions and its exercise of Parliament’s broad inquiry powers.
In doing so, departmental officers provide the Senate, its committees, the President and other senators expert, impartial advice about Senate and committee operations.
We publish the Senate’s records, and produce an array of information resources so that people may understand and engage in its work. With our colleagues across the Parliamentary Service we also provide specialised advice and logistical support to senators so they may undertake their duties.
