Strategic Policy Advisor

Our client is a prominent Federal Government department seeking highly experienced Strategic Policy Advisors with a consultancy background in Strategic Policy for a non-ongoing contracts of up to 12 months. Vacancies will become available progressively across the year.

This a unique opportunity for consultants from outside the public sector to add depth to their portfolio while contributing to a new Strategic Policy approach within the department. Our client is looking for candidates with consultancy skills and policy development experience, which may have been gained across any field or sector. They are seeking to inject fresh thinking, new approaches and to challenge orthodoxy across policy initiatives.

Strategic Policy Advisors who are strong influencers, collaborators and who are looking to make an impact will be best suited to these roles. You will craft new strategic policies which underpin the delivery of government initiatives to the Australian community. This role is perfect for those who have worked in senior consulting roles and are looking to diversify their portfolio in a government organisation.

Our client is a highly flexible employer, willing to negotiate conditions and salary with the right candidate.

Position Title: Strategic Policy Advisor

Positions Available: Multiple positions available

Initial Contract: 12-months non-ongoing

Locations: Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide

Working Arrangements: Hybrid, Flexible

Working rights: Australian Citizens

Security Clearance: Current Baseline (desirable) with the ability to obtain Security Clearance

About the Position

As a Strategic Policy Advisor, you will play a crucial role in shaping the future direction of government initiatives for this department. Your primary responsibilities will include engaging with key policy areas and stakeholders, supporting subject matter experts, and contributing towards strengthening strategic thinking within the department. The successful candidate will use their exceptional communication skills to develop and convey complex Strategic Policy initiatives concisely and persuasively. Being a part of a high-performing team, your ability to test and refine options based on feedback from various stakeholders will be vital for this position. You with your team will work across the department with various stakeholders to deliver practical and innovative policy products in priority areas. Your ability to share your professional expertise with team members, develop others and to respectively challenge will be key elements of your success in this role.

About the Candidate

The ideal Strategic Policy Advisor will have a wealth of experience in strategic thinking and policy development. You will have previously held senior consulting roles where you demonstrated strong communication skills by simplifying complex systems for diverse audiences. Your collaborative nature allows you to work effectively with both internal and external stakeholders. You will be adept at using domestic and international evidence to develop policy options that address complex issues. Furthermore, you will have a proven track record of guiding and mentoring staff members, enabling them to improve their Strategic Policy thinking.

Position Description

The department is looking for people with a depth of experience and skill in strategic thinking and policy development to analyse, review, evaluate and craft Strategic Policy which delivers government initiatives to the Australian community. The department is looking for people who have worked in senior consulting roles, and who want the opportunity to diversify their portfolio by creating impact in a policy role.

You will work as part of a team delivering Strategic Policy analysis and options in an area of priority. You will work across the department and with external stakeholders to deliver policy and products which are practical and innovative. You will bring your exceptional communication skills to both your policy work and to working with your colleagues and our staff generally, imparting insights which will help us incorporate methods and tools used in consultancy services into our approach to Strategic Policy development.

Drawing on your breadth of experience and specialist strategic knowledge you will:
* Engage with a key policy area/s, supporting subject matter experts and others involved in policy development to understand and analyse relevant information and consider broader health system and government policy context to develop evidence-informed options and advice.
* Contribute to strengthening strategic thinking and analytical capabilities within that area and more broadly across the department.
* Demonstrate skills in describing complex systems in a way that is simple and persuasive, but with the detail required to support the department to build future policy and resourcing options.

In this position you will:
* Contribute to the development of Strategic Policy initiatives in one or more areas.
* Use domestic and international evidence, stakeholder perspectives and the knowledge of departmental staff to develop options to address complex policy issues.
* Test and refine options based on feedback from internal and external stakeholders.
* Guide and mentor departmental staff to enable them to apply new methods, tools and presentation methodologies to improve their strategic thinking.
* Be actively involved in the building of internal consultancy skills with the department.
* Deliver products that advance strategic approaches to current policy priorities; and
* Deliver products that articulate broader whole-of-sector and whole-of-system linkages, challenges and priorities.

In addition, they will undertake this delivery in a way that helps to develop skills of existing staff, leading to the embedding of internal consultancy skills. Successful candidates will:
* Share relevant tools and frameworks for undertaking Strategic Policy analysis;
* Build skills in understanding, presenting and articulating relevant evidence and data to support decision makers with strategic prioritisation.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are encouraged to apply.

To apply please click apply or call Bernadette Bentley on 61 2 8289 3188 for a confidential discussion.