Team Leader (El1/Assistant Director) Workplace Relations

Did you know?

The mission of the Australian Federal Police is to provide dynamic and effective law enforcement to the people of Australia. It provides policing throughout Australia in relation to the prevention and detection of crimes against the Commonwealth, its laws and integrity, and community police services to the Community of the ACT.

Working for the AFP provides you with a diverse and rewarding career. Whether you immerse yourself in a position on the frontline, or provide critical operational or professional support, the work you do makes a big impact on the people of Australia. 

We recognise your contribution to our workforce and offer generous remuneration and conditions including:

• Six weeks (30 days) of paid annual leave per year + additional paid Christmas stand down 
• 4 extra mandatory leave rest days per year 
• 18 days of paid personal leave per year
• Generous superannuation of 15.4%
• 16 weeks of paid maternity leave (after 12 months of service) + an additional 36 weeks of maternity leave without pay
• Generous salaries and incremental salary progression governed by the AFP Enterprise Agreement 
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangement that provides work/life balance
• Health & wellbeing services – with a focus on early intervention, education and prevention. 
• Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities

About the team

Workplace Relations sits within the People Strategies branch under the People Command, and is responsible for the strategic and operational delivery of a range of people and employment related services that support the workforce, HR partners and Senior Executive.

Workplace Relations consists of four teams:

• Industrial Relations: The team manages the employment framework, responds to complex industrial matters from commands, employees and their representatives, manages internal disputes relating to the employment framework and represents the AFP on employment-related external disputation.
• Performance Management: The team supports the AFP’s leaders to effectively manage employee performance and ensures the process is driven by HR best practice. The team is also responsible for supporting the delivery of performance management policy and governance and maintaining accurate performance management records.
• People Policy: The team manages the governance for the People Strategies branch, ensuring the material is clear and concise and supports the AFP’s employment framework by guiding consistent and fair decision-making.
• Executive Services: The team provides a professional and responsive HR advisory service to the organisation’s Senior Executive Service (SES) including the recruitment, engagement and promotion of SES employees and the provision of accurate and timely reporting to support decision-making for a number of executive HR committees.

The Role

We are looking for a suitably qualified HR leader to fill a current vacancy within our Industrial Relations team at the AFP Band 7 Team Leader level (APS Executive Level 1/Assistant Director equivalent ). A merit pool will also be created to fill any vacancies at the Team Leader level that arise within Workplace Relations over the next 12 months.

As a Team Leader within Workplace Relations, you will lead a small team to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to deliver specialist people-related services in accordance with HR best practice, and the Commonwealth and AFP employment frameworks. You will play a crucial role in driving the direction of your team, ensuring deliverables align with the strategic direction of the AFP and initiatives are implemented to support changes in our operating environment.

This role works closely with superiors and peers to ensure a proactive, innovative and holistic service delivery by all Workplace Relations teams.

Team Leaders also play a pivotal role in developing people, managing change and influencing behaviours that lead to a supportive culture that respects the perspectives, talents and value of each individual. Consistent with the AFP values, AFP leadership philosophy, organisational reform agendas, AFP corporate business plans and your Performance Development Agreement, the expectation is that you will deliver on the core responsibilities and meet any requirements of the position as outlined below.

What will you do?

As a Team Leader within Workplace Relations, your overall responsibilities include:

• Managing the activities of the team, allocating resources, and ensuring the team can respond to changing priorities.
• Cultivating relationships among the People Strategies HR Leaders to support an integrated and cohesive HR service to our partners.
• Contributing to a positive workplace culture.
• Actively encouraging a strong knowledge of the legislative, policy and regulation framework, and encouraging conformance to these requirements.
• Producing concise written work, displaying highly effective listening skills, and sharing information with others to develop cooperation and collaboration.
• Constantly developing your own skills while coaching and influencing the development of the broader team.
• Modelling tolerance and respect, while proactively identifying issues that need to be addressed and taking action to resolve them. 
• Regularly engaging with clients and stakeholders to understand their needs, and ensuring a high level of service is provided.
• Managing client expectations and negotiating outcomes and timeframes where there is a need to do so, effectively ensuring the workload is manageable and the team remains focused on the key priorities. 

Essential Requirements

• You must be an Australian Citizen at the time of application.
• A Negative Vetting 1 (Secret) security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
• Relevant work experience in a HR leader role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team.

Our ideal candidate

Our ideal candidate would have the following experience and attributes:

• Demonstrated prior experience in a HR leader role, with a strong ability to interpret and apply an employment framework.
• Demonstrated prior experience leading a team to deliver results in a fast paced, complex operating environment.
• The ability to self-direct and proactively navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, work to tight deadlines and a demonstrated ability to work well under pressure.
• The ability to quickly develop and maintain strong working relationships and respond to needs of stakeholders at various levels. 
• Clearly demonstrate a sound ability to communicate with influence, including good oral and written communication skills and attention to detail.
• The ability to convey messages effectively across multiple audiences, including the Senior Executive, and exercising discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive matters. 

Desirable Requirements

The following skills and/or experience would be highly regarded:

• Tertiary qualifications in relevant field or progress towards this outcome.

Additional Information

• This position is an AFP Band Level 7.
• Further information on the role and the various Workplace Relations teams can be found in the candidate pack.
• The role is Canberra-based, however remote working arrangements may be negotiated by suitable candidates who are currently based in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide. Where remote working arrangements are established, employees must have the ability to travel to Canberra as required.
• Diversity and inclusion is an operational priority for the Australian Federal Police (AFP). To be an effective police force, we must be reflective of the community we serve, working across languages, cultures and transnational borders. The 2023-26 Diversity & Inclusion Strategy is the guiding framework for delivering the AFP’s diversity and inclusion goals and reflecting our commitment to being an employer of choice, incorporating diversity and inclusion principles in day-to-day practice and building a psychologically and culturally safe workplace. This includes hiring people from diverse backgrounds who bring their lived experience to contribute, and add value, to the AFP. Find out more about how the AFP embraces diversity and inclusion.

Contacts and Closing Information

Contact Officer - Alyce Cosentini,

Contact Officer Phone: (02) 5126 5***, ​

Contact Officer Email: ***************@afp.gov.au

Applications Close: 11:59pm (AEDT) 28/02/2024