Program/Policy officer

Play an active role in protecting and restoring the rivers and wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Work with our enthusiastic, dynamic and supportive teams.
Enjoy flexible working options.

Who we are

The Environmental Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Division protects and restores Australia’s rivers, wetlands and groundwater ecosystems, ensuring they are understood and valued. The Division Head is the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH), a position established under the Water Act 2007 (Cth). The CEWH is responsible for managing more than 2,000 gigalitres of water each year, to protect and restore the rivers and wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin. The CEWH is supported by the division to deliver water where and when native plants and animals need it most. This includes dedicated local engagement and scientific monitoring programs. The division provides international and national leadership and expert advice on the Convention on Wetlands, and the wise use of wetlands overall. The division also includes the Office of Water Science (OWS), which provides expert advice to support regulatory decision-making on the potential water-related impacts of large projects, such as coal mines and coal seam gas developments. The OWS provides secretariat and technical support to the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Unconventional Gas Development and Large Coal Mining Development. Staff in the division are based both in Canberra and in regional areas across Australia and undertake roles ranging from project and program management, policy development, program governance and coordination, monitoring and evaluation, community engagement and communications.

The Environmental Water Holdings and Trade Section is responsible for managing, accounting for and reporting on the Commonwealth environmental water holdings and the Environmental Water Holdings Special Account. Other sections in the division may be looking to source successful applicants in the merit pool established through this process.

The Job

We are looking for a candidate to fill an immediate vacancy in the Environmental Water Holdings and Trade Section, and further opportunities are likely to become available in a merit pool established through this process. Successful applicants will possess well-developed communication and project management skills, have attention to detail, be highly organised and have a demonstrated capacity to identify risks and resolve complex problems. The work involves a large element of teamwork, both within the sections and across the division, to provide enhanced capability through refined governance and business frameworks and provide advice linking relevant science, knowledge and operational experience into policy and program implementation. Roles in the Environmental Water Management sections will require the ability to undertake regional travel.

Key duties of this role and potential further roles may include:

Administration of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holdings portfolio and the Environmental Water Holdings Special Account budget.
Facilitating the trade of Commonwealth environmental water, including by improving the CEWH’s trading strategy and processes, and conducting trades in accordance with legislative requirements.
Supporting the planning, use, monitoring and reporting of Commonwealth environmental water within one or more valleys within the Murray-Darling Basin
Maintaining and building relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders such as state government agencies, First Nations peoples, local communities, industry representatives, scientists and non-government organisations to inform and improve the management of Commonwealth environmental water.
Identifying impediments and risks to the management of Commonwealth environmental water and developing and coordinating strategies to resolve and manage them, including influencing broader policy settings.
Managing and analysing complex information to provide written and verbal briefings and advice to senior executives and the CEWH.
Procurement and managing contracts with service providers, assessing milestones and variation requests, supporting the delegate to make appropriate decisions in line with contract requirements, operational policies, legislative and regulatory requirements.
Actively engaging with stakeholders within and outside the department to drive business improvement practices for the division and continue to support water reform.

Knowledge, skills and experience

The following experience, skills and capabilities form the selection criteria that candidates will be assessed against.

Experience in policy and/or program delivery, project planning and management, including the application of departmental legislative, financial and administrative frameworks and processes.
Experience in maintaining productive working relationships and working collaboratively and productively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, such as state government agencies, First Nations people, local communities, industry representatives, scientists and non-government organisations.
Effective liaison, written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to adapt your communication to a variety of internal and external stakeholders, and negotiate confidently.
Effective organisational skills including the ability to manage available resources to complete multiple tasks in tight timeframes. Demonstrated capacity to identify, articulate and manage risk.
Effective analytical skills, including the ability to identify and analyse complex datasets, manage complex issues, consider options and implement appropriate and timely solutions.

We thrive when our teams are made up of people from different backgrounds, cultures, genders, education, training and skills.

Desirable experience/qualifications

Experience or qualifications in natural resource management or related disciplines, particularly water management in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Demonstrated ability to understand and work with technical and scientific information in the context of environmental programs including operational policy and program development.
Experience or qualifications in economic analysis, accounting or data analytics.

Eligibility and other requirements

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.

The successful applicant must: