Senior Treaty Specialist

• Utilise your leadership expertise to provide support and advice to Aboriginal Justice Policy Reform Unit.
• Ongoing, Full-Time Opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service
• VPS STS 7: $177,488 - $241,387 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking a Senior Treaty Specialist to provide a critical role within Aboriginal Justice Policy Reform Unit.
This is a prioritised role for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, who will be given priority consideration as per the special measures provision of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.
About the Business Unit
The Koori Justice Unit, within the department's Service Strategy Reform division, is primarily responsible for co-ordinating implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA) across the Victorian Government and justice system. In 1991, the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody made recommendations toward decreasing Indigenous peoples' over-representation in Australia's criminal justice system.
The AJA is the Victorian Government's primary vehicle for coordinating initiatives aiming to do this. It has established extensive Government and Community networks through the The Aboriginal Justice Group of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) is committed to driving systemic change in the justice system to deliver better outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians. The group works in close partnership with Victorian Aboriginal communities and is guided by principles of Aboriginal self-determination in the justice sector.
The Aboriginal Justice Policy Reform Unit (AJPRU) drives structural and systemic transformation and coordinates efforts across the department to improve justice outcomes for Aboriginal Victorians through policy development, legislative reform, and genuine commitment to self-determination. The AJPRU has primary responsibility for coordinating the delivery of the Aboriginal Justice Group's law and policy reform agenda. The AJPRU coordinates the department's involvement in the Victorian Treaty process and work closely with the department of Premier and Cabinet, which leads the State's Treaty negotiations.
About the Role
As the Senior Treaty Specialist, you will report to the Director, AJPRU, and lead a team supporting the department's coordination and engagement in the Victorian Treaty process including through input into the State's Treaty negotiation strategy and positions, influencing the development of Treaty content relevant to the department and participation into whole of government processes. This includes supporting existing Aboriginal justice partnerships, particularly Burra Lotjpa Dunguludja – Phase 4 of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement, and close engagement with the Aboriginal Justice Caucus, facilitating continuity and consideration of the impacts of Treaty across the justice sector.
This position will require a strong working knowledge of Victorian Treaty processes, as well as a combination of policy, program and project management expertise, a strong understanding of government, public administration and decision making within an evolving self-determination framework, effective stakeholder engagement, and effective briefing of the Secretary, Board of Management and DJCS Ministers, and Cabinet/relevant Cabinet Committees.
Some of your duties will include:

• Provide strategic leadership in the Treaty process on behalf of the department, acting as the primary point of contact between DPC (as lead negotiators) and the department and manage formal and informal engagement throughout Treaty position development.
• Coordinate across the department and its portfolio agencies to deliver positions on Statewide Treaty negotiations as the authorised lead in the department, to the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC), to ensure departmental expertise and authority is embedded in Treaty negotiations.
• Lead and manage relationships with the department Secretary, Minister(s), expert teams and other internal stakeholders across justice portfolios to coordinate advice and authorisation of department positions.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
About you
To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Excellent knowledge of Aboriginal culture and society and understanding of historical and contemporary issues relating to Aboriginal Victorians.
• Strong knowledge of, and demonstrated experience, working with Aboriginal communities and advisory groups, including sophisticated and culturally aware stakeholder engagement.
• Specialist expertise in or knowledge of the Victorian Treaty process including legislation, policy, agreements and frameworks, and demonstrated understanding of the Victorian Government's Aboriginal self-determination agenda and government decision-making mechanisms and processes, particularly whole-of-government mechanisms and Cabinet processes.
• Demonstrated success in building, managing and leading high performing multidisciplinary teams to deliver on signature initiatives and reforms, through effective program and project management.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary education, qualification or equivalent is highly desirable, particularly in fields related to Aboriginal Affairs, public sector management or legislation reform.

How to Apply
Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.
The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.
If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.
Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Workforce Unit throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.
FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES:

• For this particular vacancy, priority consideration applies to Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.
• For all VPS employees, due to the new Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) policy, please apply through the JSE to be eligible to be considered for this position in the first round.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:
The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.