Director, Research, Evaluation and Data

Classification: EL2 (full-time, ongoing)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer, ASSEA
Location: Sydney
Salary: $138,429 - $166,214
Position number: 24038
Contact person: Jodie Deakes

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 directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) alongside other leaders, providing strategic oversight and leadership across ASSEA’s research, evaluation and data functions. Leading the delivery of complex programs of work aligned to National Strategic Plans, in consultation with diverse stakeholder groups and committees, is key to the role. The Director will represent ASSEA in various senior level engagements, influencing the strategic direction of critical cross agency, stakeholder and community meetings and forums, securing ASSEA’s reputation for providing credible, transparent, and quality outcomes.

Relevant tertiary qualifications, and experience aligned to the functions is highly desirable. Knowledge and familiarity of leading relevant technical, legislative, and APS policy requirements to develop advice, prepare complex reports and briefs in support of the national strategic plans.

The key responsibilities for the position include:

• Lead the development and implementation of complex research, evaluation and data programs ensuring high-quality outcomes aligned to ASSEA functions, plans and external commitments.  
• Contribute to agency wide strategies and planning, while leading the development of aligned team plans and individual performance and development plans, ensuring a line of sight for all agency staff.
• Achieve results delivering complex projects, using effective project management approaches, involving diverse stakeholders, sensitivities, and multiple interdependencies.
• 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.
• Provide a strategic level of specialist, professional and technical expertise, potentially relating to the work of different functional areas and external partners.
• Identify and lead innovation solutions to perceived barriers and challenges, while implementing and promoting change and continuous improvement that enhance the agency’s success.
• Leading 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 public sector requirements and aligned delegations, including the management of team budgets, procurement, resources, risks, people wellbeing and performance, and information security.
• Provide information and advice to Senior Executives and various business areas, oversee, and prepare a range of written material including business cases, submissions, parliamentary documents, Ministerial and agency briefs and other high level corporate documents. 

Skills and capabilities

• Demonstrated experience providing strategic level specialist, professional and/or technical expertise relevant to the role.
• Demonstrated experience in anticipating and establishing priorities, monitoring progress and working to deliver organisational functions and programs.
• Highly developed capabilities in the Identification and management risk across all areas of decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to operate under broad direction while exercising a significant degree of independence.
• Excellence in making balanced decisions using professional judgement, evaluating ambiguous and incomplete information, factoring in risks while being sensitive to the situational context.
• Experience in developing, coaching and/or mentoring employees, performance management, conflict resolution, and identification of development needs.
• Understanding of work health and safety risk management including knowledge of asbestos and respirable crystalline silica risks with the ability to interpret, prepare and present technical information in multiple formats.
• Proven ability to work with a high level of complexity, discretion, and sensitivity requiring negotiation and influence within these contexts.
• Understanding of government financial, legislative and administrative frameworks, and government decision making and well-developed verbal and written communication skills.

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.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility 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