Who we are
The Inspector-General of Water Compliance (Inspector-General) is an independent statutory role and an identified integrity agency, supported by staff provided by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (the Department).
Inspector-General’s vision: Water management and use within the Murray-Darling Basin (the Basin) is lawful, transparent, and accountable, and the Australian public is confident in the integrity of Basin Plan delivery.
Inspector-General’s purpose: The Inspector-General ensures various government bodies, water managers and users in the Basin comply with their obligations under the Water Act 2007 (Cth) (Water Act) and the Basin Plan 2012 (Cth) (Basin Plan) and drives governments and water managers to uphold high standards of integrity and performance.
The Inspector-General’s role includes overseeing the performance of government agencies in the management of Basin water resources, as well as ensuring compliance with various obligations under legislation.
The Inspector-General currently has offices located in Adelaide, Albury, Brisbane, Canberra, Dubbo, Goondiwindi, Mildura and Sydney. The Department also has a state office in Melbourne. The Inspector-General can support regional relocation to one of our Basin communities.
Role Highlights
- Work with an independent integrity agency in a complex legislative environment.
- Flexible working arrangements are available at all levels.
- Regional relocation assistance available.
Work Area
The Oversight Branch is focused on ensuring a high standard of accountability for all involved in Basin management. The Branch supports the Inspector-General by overseeing Basin government performance of duties, obligations and commitments. We also provide advice to the Inspector-General on risks to integrity in the management of water resources within the Basin.
The Oversight Branch is comprised of the following teams:
- Inquiry
- Performance Assurance
- Strategic Relations.
Our responsibilities include:
- Assisting the Inspector-General in carrying out their Inquiry functions under the Water Act
- Monitoring and oversight of relevant government agencies under legislation and intergovernmental agreements, including performance assurance reporting
- Establishing and maintaining Basin-wide networks and knowledge
- Leveraging intergovernmental relations to support strategic outcomes
- Gathering intelligence to provide insights, information and situational awareness to the Inspector-General and broader office.
The Job
The roles within each team will focus on the following key objectives:
- Leading and contributing to monitoring and the provision of assurance on matters where there may be risks to governments and water managers upholding high standards of integrity and performance, in line with the Inspector-General’s priorities.
- Leading and informing the strategic use of the Inspector-General’s inquiry powers and other oversight tools to examine the most significant issues affecting the management of Basin water resources in the national interest.
- Engaging with Basin stakeholders on the work of the Inspector-General and Basin water management to educate, inform, drive change and support the performance of the Inspector-General’s functions.
The roles will involve:
- Leading performance assurance or inquiry projects critical to the vision, purpose and strategic objectives of the Inspector-General.
- Identifying and leading the collection of evidence, information and data, including documentary materials and information obtained through interviews or meetings with key stakeholders.
- Preparing high quality and influential written documents on highly complex and nationally significant matters, often of a sensitive nature, under broad direction.
- Leading and managing staff, building staff capabilities and adjusting plans and resource allocation to meet changing demands.
- Actively managing key stakeholder relationships within and outside the agency, across a geographically dispersed area and with diverse interests.
What we are looking for
Knowledge and experience
The successful applicant should be able to demonstrate the following:
- Experience in the application of risk and harm management practices, preferably in a regulatory or compliance environment.
- Experience in developing and applying analytical frameworks for evaluating outcomes.
- Experience in supporting, informing and influencing decision-making.
- Experience working and leading staff in an agile environment, with the capacity to manage high priority work programs and navigate change effectively.
Skills and capabilities
The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:
- Employ strong writing skills to produce tailored material for various purposes and audiences.
- Apply advanced analytical capabilities to identify information needs and analyse evidence to form justifiable conclusions.
- Provide informed advice on how legislation contributes to achieving intended outcomes.
- Manage complex stakeholder relationships through the delivery of sensitive and multi-faceted projects.
- Lead and coordinate complex and sensitive projects using a harm minimisation approach
Eligibility
Citizenship – To be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.
Security Clearance – This position requires a Baseline Vetting security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.
Pre-employment Check – Your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period of 6 months.
Drivers Licence – Candidate must hold a valid Australian Drivers Licence.
For additional information, please read the Job Description below.
Candidate Information Pack (Docx)
Candidate Information Pack (PDF)
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