About the Branch
The Workplace Relations Branch and the Bargaining Taskforce work collaboratively to deliver the Australian Government’s workplace relations policies and support agencies in their workplace responsibilities.
The Workplace Relations Branch works to deliver the Australian Government’s workplace relations policies and support agencies in their workplace responsibilities.
The Workplace Relations Branch undertakes policy development, implementation and advice on workplace relations matters related to Commonwealth public sector employment, including enterprise bargaining, remuneration and conditions of employment.
The Bargaining Taskforce supports the central negotiations of over 100 APS enterprise agreements. This is a high-profile activity working to address fragmentation in pay and conditions across the APS.
The key duties of the position include:
We are looking for workplace relations, human resources, and employment law professionals who can apply their skills to high profile, time critical workplace relations work, including APS service wide bargaining.
You will have excellent written and oral communication skills, strong strategic and analytical capability, sound judgement, and the ability to lead teams and deliver under pressure in a complex stakeholder environment.
As a Director, you will lead a small multidisciplinary team and coordinate high quality outputs that support bargaining strategy, clause development, remuneration and conditions policy, governance, legal risk management and stakeholder communications. You will operate with influence and credibility, identify and manage workplace relations risks, and drive practical outcomes that can be implemented consistently across agencies.
Key duties of a Director include:
o Providing senior strategic advice on:
o enterprise bargaining strategy, tactics and negotiation dynamics;
o terms and conditions of employment across the Commonwealth public sector;
o remuneration settings, including salary structures, allowances and related matters;
o non remunerative employment conditions, including leave types and flexible work; and
o relevant legislation, including the Fair Work Act 2009.
o Drafting and coordinating high quality briefs, correspondence, papers and other material for senior audiences, including senior executives and Ministers.
o Leading the research, drafting and refinement of bargaining clauses, ensuring positions are clear, robust and capable of consistent implementation across agencies.
o Building and maintaining effective working relationships with agencies and key stakeholders, giving consideration to sensitive organisational, political and public sector issues.
o Coordinating legal advice and managing legal risk to support compliant and defensible bargaining outcomes.
o Developing and delivering clear updates, guidance and communication products to support agencies throughout bargaining and promote consistent messaging.
o Leading, coaching and developing team members, setting priorities and ensuring timely, high quality delivery in a high profile environment.
Eligibility
Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) or, in limited circumstances, in the process of obtaining citizenship.
Successful applicants will be required to undergo the process to obtain and maintain, or continue to hold the required security clearance level for the role as indicated. All Commission staff are required to have a minimum Baseline security clearance prior to commencement.
Successful applicants will be required to undergo a mandatory National Criminal History check as part of the pre-employment eligibility checks.
Getting to know the Australian Public Service Commission
The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) is a central agency within the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio. The Commission supports two statutory office holders: the Australian Public Service Commissioner—who is also agency head—and the Merit Protection Commissioner. Their functions are set out in sections 41(1) and 50(1), respectively, of the Public Service Act 1999. About the Commission The Australian Public Service Commission is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity within the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio. Our Statutory responsibilities are detailed in the Public Service Act 1999. The APSC also provides resources to support the Merit Protection Commissioner. We operate under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. We employ around 350 staff, and have offices in Canberra and Sydney.