Program Assurance Officer

Description

The Seasonal Work Programs Branch is responsible for managing and implementing seasonal work programs that assist Australian employers in the horticulture and agriculture sectors and employers in selected locations in the accommodation sector to have access to a reliable seasonal workforce.

The Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) has two key objectives:

• To contribute to the economic development of nine Pacific Island countries (Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) and Timor Leste.
• To assist Australian employers to meet seasonal labour needs in the agriculture sector, and, in selected locations in the accommodation sector, subject to local labour market testing.

The department managers SWP as the lead agency, in partnership with the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT); the Department of Home Affairs; and the Fair Work Ombudsman. The branch manages aspects of the SWP including the contract management of the SWP Approved Employers, systems development and data analytics, program assurance and monitoring placements of seasonal workers. Information about the SWP is available at: https://www.employment.gov.au/seasonal-worker-programme.

The branch operates in a fast paced, dynamic environment that requires ongoing stakeholder engagement. The business areas within the Branch (Program Assurance and Contract Management), along with business areas in the Seasonal Work Policy Branch (Policy and Program Management), work very closely together.

The key duties of the position include:

The Branch is interested in hearing from motivated, high performing people who will be able to undertake responsibilities and activities including:

• Managing compliance of SWP employers with the deed and conducting targeted assurance activities. This should include the investigations of incidents and regular, preventative audits based on sound policy and evidence.
• Managing difficult conversations with employers and showing a high degree of personal resilience.
• Supporting enhancements to the SWP Online business system and undertaking complex analysis of SWP data to reduce program inefficiency and promote deed compliance.
• Managing the department's risk and incident response for branch programs.
• Conducting announced or unannounced monitoring visits at short notice.
• Drafting clear and accurate compliance correspondence.
• Supporting and developing the branch's Compliance & Assurance Framework.
• Drafting breaches, suspensions, terminations and specific recruitment conditions based on policy and evidence and monitoring their application.

The successful candidate for this role will have the following skills and knowledge:

• Demonstrated experience in successful program management activities in areas such as data analysis, assurance, contract management, business improvement or policy development.
• Excellent written and interpersonal skills, with an ability to communicate effectively with external stakeholders and simplify complex information.
• A demonstrated ability to build positive working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and negotiate outcomes that are mutually beneficial.
• Highly developed abilities in leadership and teamwork with a track record of supporting other staff.

Additional requirement:

• The ability to travel domestically for multi-day trips on a regular basis and sometimes at short notice.

Eligibility

This is a designated security assessed position. The successful candidate will have the ability to obtain and maintain a Baseline security clearance.

This selection process may be used to establish a merit pool. The pool might be accessed to fill ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies for similar roles in the Department over the next 12 months.

Please note, under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency delegate has agreed, in writing.