Director Coordination, Strategy, Policy and Specialist Advice

Director Coordination, Strategy, Policy and Specialist Advice

Position description

Classification: EL2
Location: Level 4, 2 Constitution Avenue, Canberra ACT 2601
Position #: 24035
Position type: Ongoing; non-ongoing; full-time; part-time
Remuneration: EL2: $138,469 to $166,214 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation
Report to: Chief Executive Officer, ASSEA
Reports: Three
Security Clearance: Baseline (minimum required)

About the agency

The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (ASSEA) is a small agency that was established in 2013 to oversee national actions to improve asbestos awareness and the effective and safe management, removal, and disposal of asbestos. This involved coordinating the implementation of the Asbestos National Strategic Plan.

In December 2023, the agency’s functions were expanded to include silica through the Amendment of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013. The agency’s name changed to the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency.

Our role is to assist in the prevention of exposure to asbestos fibres and respirable crystalline silica, to eliminate asbestos and silica related disease in Australia and the devasting impacts they create. We do this by coordinating the implementation of the national strategic plans for asbestos and silica. In doing so we are fortunate to work alongside other government agencies, employee and employer representatives, technical experts, the research community, impacted families, and partners, all motivated by the same outcome.

We are a non-corporate entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). Our Chief Executive Officer is appointed under the Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 (the Act) and performs functions in accordance with that Act.

About the role

The Director reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) alongside other leaders, providing strategic oversight and leadership of ASSEA’s national coordination function including national strategic plans, policy and specialist advice. Providing technical specialist advice for ASSEA’s core functions of research, data, awareness, and international leadership, this Director will inform and influence national policy and lead technical programs securing ASSEA’s reputation for providing credible, transparent, and quality outcomes.

Working alongside the Senior Leader, Strategy Coordination and other leaders, the Director will provide strategic oversight for the design and delivery of complex coordination frameworks, national engagement and supporting systems and processes in alignment with the National Strategic Plans.

Having expert knowledge of work health and safety risk management, asbestos and respirable crystalline silica risks and control measures, the Director will engage with relevant technical specialists, researchers and associations at an international, national and state level, ensuring currency of ASSEA’s intelligence and transfer this knowledge internally and externally.

Relevant tertiary qualifications are required in occupational hygiene, environmental sciences or aligned discipline with experience in the asbestos and/or silica safety.

Experience in functions aligned to this role along with knowledge and familiarity of relevant legislation and standards, and ability to develop policy advice, prepare complex reports and briefs in support of the national strategic plans is highly desirable.

The key responsibilities for the position include:

• Secure strategic commitment to complex national coordination frameworks, systems and processes through effective stakeholder engagement and consultation, while providing strategic oversight for amendments, reviews and revisions of the National Strategic Plans (NSPs).
• Provide oversight for ASSEA’s strategic forward policy agenda in consultation with other leaders, identifying key policy issues aligned to ASSEA’s mandated functions and National Strategic Plans for consideration by the ASSEA Executive Committee.
• Provide oversight for the development, implementation and review of the silica transition program, establishing the future phases in consultation with the ASSEA Leadership Team, staff, and key stakeholders.
• Provide specialist advice for internal teams, external stakeholders and governance committees, applying contemporary technical and scientific knowledge input to the delivery of the National Strategic Plans, ASSEA’s operational plans, business cases, Ministerial and parliamentary briefs and other corporate documents.
• Represent ASSEA on relevant external technical committees supporting the development of standards, associated documents and/or information enabling the currency of ASSEA’s hygiene and respirable crystalline silica knowledge and information.
• Identify emerging issues and opportunities through ongoing industry, scientific and environmental analysis and provide expert advice to the ASSEA’s leadership team on responding to those issues.
• Coordinate the design and delivery ASSEA’s stakeholder outreach and public relations efforts in consultation with other leaders, embedding contemporary approaches into practice.
• Contribute to agency wide strategies and planning, while leading the development of aligned team plans, projects and individual performance and development plans, ensuring a line of sight for all agency staff.
• Lead a diverse team of high performing professionals, promoting a healthy, safe, and inclusive environment is essential to the role, as is working alongside a small group of leaders to enable the success of the entire agency. 
• Manage governance responsibilities aligned to agency delegations and public sector requirements, including the management of team budgets, procurement, resources, risks, people wellbeing and performance, and information security.
• Demonstrate organisational flexibility and cohesion by undertaking other duties as directed.
• Expert knowledge of work health and safety risk management, asbestos and respirable crystalline silica risks and control measures, with the ability to interpret, prepare and present technical information in multiple formats.
• Demonstrated experience providing specialist, professional and/or technical expertise relevant to the role.
• Ability to lead strategic level coordination activities and stakeholder outreach approaches across multiple stakeholder groups.
• High level communication and decision-making capabilities that are based on professional judgement, evaluating risks and in the context of a complex and changing environment.
• Ability to develop and manage key strategic relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, working towards mutually shared outcomes, promoting the agency’s business objectives, and strategic direction of the agency.
• Demonstrated experience in anticipating and establishing priorities, monitoring progress and working to deliver organisational functions and programs.
• Demonstrated ability to operate under broad direction while exercising a significant degree of independence, working with a high level of complexity, discretion, and sensitivity requiring negotiation and influence within these contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and lead innovative solutions to perceived barriers and challenges, while implementing and promoting change and continuous improvement that enhance the agency’s success.
• Experience in developing, coaching and/or mentoring employees, performance management, conflict resolution, and identification of development needs.
• Understanding of government financial, legislative and administrative frameworks, and government decision making and well-developed verbal and written communication skills.

Skills and capabilities

Eligibility

To be eligible for employment with ASSEA, you must be an Australian citizen and you will be required to successfully undergo a police record check.

The successful applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a minimum of a Baseline level security clearance or hold a current security clearance of an appropriate level. More information on the security clearance vetting process is available on the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) website.

Recruit Ability applies to this vacancy. Under the Recruit Ability scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability