Josh's Water Jobs – EL 2 - Director Regulatory Best Practice

Work with an independent integrity agency in a complex legislative environment.
Flexible working arrangements are available at all levels.
Regional relocation assistance available.

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 & Water (the Department). Inspector-General’s vision: Water management and use within the Murray-Darling 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 Murray-Darling Basin (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 oversighting the performance of government agencies in the management of Basin water resources, as well as ensuring compliance with various commitments under legislation. The Inspector-General currently has offices located in Albury, Mildura, Dubbo, Goondiwindi, Canberra, Brisbane, Sydney, and Adelaide.

The Regulatory Best Practice team acts as a visionary of what best practice regulation could be for the IGWC, as a strategic adviser and service provider to the Inspector-General and IGWC office as well as providing technical depth and leadership experience to run the IGWC’s regulatory policy, regulatory practice and operational assurance activities.

As the Director, you will provide compliance and regulatory policy advice to the Inspector General of Water Compliance regarding the performance of the Inspector General’s statutory functions and such operational and other matters as may arise from time to time.
The Regulatory Best Practice team is the regulatory and enforcement centre of the Inspector-General of Water Compliance, establishing the IGWC regulatory culture and frameworks in accordance with the legislative and administrative responsibilities of the Inspector-General. You will support effective, defensible, and lawful practices, processes and decisions, and ensure all activities are clearly relevant to the regulatory purpose and linked to and focused on delivering strategic, regulatory objectives.
The Director Regulatory Best Practice leads a team that applies a lens informed by policy knowledge and critical analysis to inform the Inspector-General’s ability to select the right regulatory options and enable achievement of the IGWC outcomes.
The team collaborates closely with the Legal Services branch to provide valuable advice to the Inspector General, Executive and IGWC staff within the context of the IGWC’s statutory functions, powers and obligations and relevant Basin policy settings.

For more information about us please visit our website.

The job
The role will:

Lead the Inspector General Water Compliance regulatory best practice program, ensuring delivery against the Inspector-General strategy and work plans. This will include:
- reviewing and improving the Inspector General Water Compliance published Regulatory Policy against emerging theory, reviews and assessment of Inspector General Water Compliance performance and regulatory maturity and embedding the Policy into operational plans and processes.
- communicating clearly to ensure the community and staff of the Inspector General have a thorough understanding of the regulator’s regulatory philosophy and approach.
- maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of internal procedures that give effect to the IGWC statutory functions and Regulatory Policy.
Develop and interpret regulatory policy relevant to the Inspector General Water Compliance legislated functions and powers, often in highly sensitive organisational and political contexts, and aimed at achieving the Inspector General’s objectives
Provide high level, thorough and timely analysis of issues and make a significant contribution to the management, preparation and coordination of complex inputs to policy formulation relevant to the Inspector General’s function, powers and strategic objectives.
Prepare, review and advise on policy reports, briefing papers, speeches, Ministerial correspondence, Cabinet submissions and discussion papers for presentation to senior staff
Provide specialist and/or strategic policy advice to internal and external stakeholders, the Executive and the Minister on complex regulatory policy and assurance matters
Anticipate and assess the impact of changes in Government policy on the Inspector General functions and strategic objectives, and initiate and contribute to appropriate responses.
Liaise, consult and negotiate with other Government, industry and community groups on a range of more complex regulatory policy issues.
Actively contribute to the development of the Inspector General’s strategic regulatory policy initiatives.
Facilitate and manage regulatory policy initiative changes including engagement with Departmental and Cabinet processes as required, and lead and co-coordinate Inspector General input into regulatory policy and reform processes and various inquiries and reviews.
Maintain a high level of knowledge of relevant legislative and reporting requirements, Australian and International standards, quality assurance procedures and best practice models.
Support teams across the Inspector General Water Compliance office as required in the design and delivery of operational programs to give effect to the IGWC’s statutory obligations and Regulatory Policy intent.
Lead the Inspector General Water Compliance office quality assurance and review processes to drive continuous improvement to best practice through:
- self-assessment of regulatory maturity and identification of priority regulatory maturity needs
- constant internal audit and review of IGWC office implementation of operating procedure, and effectiveness, efficiency and probity of the operating procedures o negotiating and maintaining memoranda of understanding.
Allocate and manage resources and manage the performance of employees under your direction in accordance with legislation, Australian Public Service and agency policies and instructions.

What you’ll gain from the experience

Extensive experience in regulatory practice in water management, resource management, environmental management or similar, especially an understanding and experience in:
- regulatory theory and best operational practice
- regulatory policy design
- regulatory and integrity assurance processes
An ability to work across an organisation, to elicit, analyse and reconcile views to deliver considered, strategic level recommendations.
Experience at establishing and refining internal systems, frameworks, processes and procedures, standards and guidelines to ensure functions are lawful, effective and efficient.
Ability to communicate effectively and clearly in writing and verbally to a wide range of audiences.
Staff management experience including staff management and development, teamwork planning and delegation, subject matter/issue management, resourcing and engagement of external service providers as necessary.
Experience managing key stakeholder relationships within and outside an organisation.
An ability to work independently and perform a leadership role within the Inspector General Water Compliance office.

What we are looking for
We are seeking candidates who can demonstrate the following:

Deliver results by applying critical thinking skills to complex policy, regulatory and compliance issues to provide high-level strategic advice.
Draw, analyse and reconcile views from across the Inspector General Water Compliance office and from external stakeholders, in develop regulatory policy and providing advice to the Inspector General and the office of the Inspector General Water Compliance.
Manage and prioritise tasks and requests for information, with competing priorities, to ensure timeframes are met.
Provide sound strategic, tactical and technical regulatory policy and practice advice.
Encourage and promote effective teamwork and taking responsibility for own professional development and learning.
Work within a highly complex and layered regulatory environment.
Effectively cope and adapt with change, handling risk and uncertainty, and advising decision makers based on thorough policy analysis, evidence and data.
Work within a geographically dispersed and/or regional team.

Desirable qualifications

Relevant tertiary education including in areas related to water, public administration, policy environment or natural resource management.
Qualifications or experience in regulation, compliance, enforcement, audit or similar.
Proven experience in regulatory policy analysis, design and operational implementation at corporate and program level; legislative and policy reform projects; and regulatory procedure and quality assurance processes.
Strong analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that can be applied to complex policy, regulatory and compliance issues, and the capacity to provide strategic policy advice and deliver results.
Proven ability to apply relevant government legislation, regulations, reporting directives and procedures, to achieve effective organisational outcomes.
Knowledge of the Water Act 2007, Basin Plan 2012 and Water Resource Plans, or demonstrated ability to acquire knowledge rapidly.
Strong understanding of the principles of good governance, best practice regulation, and legislative reform processes.

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 checks – 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.

For additional information, please read the Job Description below.

Candidate Information Pack [word]

Candidate Information Pack [PDF]

Job Description