The Project & Policy Analyst, Education plays a critical role in helping us to deliver our vision of achieving better outcomes for Australian students through leading high-quality research and analysis, translating evidence into briefings, reports and presentations for different audiences, and supporting project delivery.
Working closely with the Director of Education and the wider education team, the Project & Policy Analyst, Education will support governments across Australia to pilot the pioneering Multi‐School Organisation model, and to evaluate its impact for students. The role will also support development of McKinnon's proposals for wider education reform across Australia in areas such as teacher professional development and school accountability. The role requires strong data analytical capability, strategic policy insight, and the ability to influence decision‐makers through evidence‐based recommendations.
The role will based in Melbourne preferably but open to Sydney.
What You'll Do
Research, Analysis and Strategic Policy
* Conduct rigorous quantitative and qualitative research and analysis, utilising various methods such as statistical analysis of large education data sets, policy review, and stakeholder interviews.
* Rapidly source, distil, and translate complex information into clear and concise deliverables for internal and external audiences.
* Draft high quality, persuasive briefing notes, research reports and strategy papers, aligned with McKinnon's strategic objectives, that provide concrete and actionable policy advice and implementation pathways.
* Review and provide feedback on research and analysis undertaken by other organisations, including partners and consulting organisations.
Project Management and Delivery
* Plan and deliver discrete projects, anticipating risks and ensuring timely, high‐quality outputs.
* Develop reporting for internal leadership and boards on project delivery, risks, budgets, outcomes, and impact.
* Develop proposals, project plans and communication strategies.
* Facilitate advisory groups or panels and coordinate meetings to support project objectives.
* Monitor project progress, identifying potential risks, and implementing mitigation strategies.
Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
* Engage with sector stakeholders, public sector organisations and other ecosystem actors, alongside the Director of Education and other team members, to progress shared education objectives.
* Develop high‐quality materials that communicate McKinnon's education strategy and policy positions.
* Foster collaborative relationships across multi‐disciplinary teams and various stakeholder levels to support productive work environments.
* Contribute to McKinnon's education communications strategy, ensuring evidence and insights are communicated effectively to influence public policy debates.
What You'll Bring
* Tertiary qualification in public policy or economics, or equivalent experience.
* Track record of independently working on policy, research, or analytical projects from inception to delivery.
* Experience working with big data sets.
* A background in consulting, a central government agency or think‐tank environments.
* Experience with or a passion for public sector reform or reform of service delivery organisations.
* Strong analytical and problem‐solving skills, with the ability to draw clear insights from complex data and evidence.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences.
* Sound judgement and the ability to balance rigour with pragmatism in delivering outputs and driving impact.
* Ability to build trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including managing external suppliers and consultants.
Why Work with Us
At McKinnon, we provide:
* Meaningful Impact: McKinnon is purpose‐driven: working with us means you can contribute to shaping the future direction of governments and policy in Australia.
* Collaborative Environment: Work alongside a team driven by curiosity and a desire to foster meaningful debate and diverse perspectives. Our team is energetic and supportive and our work is fast‐paced, intellectually stimulating and deeply fulfilling.
* Professional Growth: Engage in challenging projects that offer personal and professional development opportunities. This role is for a highly motivated individual who is searching for their next opportunity to make real impact.
McKinnon is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
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