About the branch
The General Counsel and Integrity Operations Branch is an in-house multidisciplinary branch that provides legal advice and supports the Australian Public Service Commissioner and Parliamentary Service Commissioner in the exercise of their statutory functions under the Public Service Act 1999 and Parliamentary Services Act 1999. The Branch is made up of two teams: the General Counsel team and the Integrity Operations team.
The Integrity Operations team undertakes a broad range of activities to uphold high standards of integrity and conduct in the APS, including evaluation and assurance activities in relation to the APS Employment Principles, the APS Values and Code of Conduct. The team plays a lead role in the design and implementation of the integrity and employment framework for the APS. It manages incoming correspondence raising issues of misconduct by APS employees, including SES and Agency Heads, and where appropriate, manages the Commissioner’s review, inquiry and evaluation functions. The team also manages the Commissioner’s statutory consultation functions with respect to SES Code of Conduct processes, SES termination certificates and the use of non-disclosure agreements in employment related sexual harassment disputes.
The key duties of the position include:
This role is in the Integrity Operations team, which supports the APS Commissioner fulfil their statutory function to uphold high standards of integrity and conduct in the APS in Part 5 of the Public Service Act 1999, the Public Service Regulations 2023 and the Australian Public Service Commissioner’s Directions 2022.
The investigation, review and evaluation functions of the team span the whole of the APS, affording a unique perspective on the APS, an unparalleled opportunity to build and strengthen networks and the ability to develop a detailed understanding of the APS integrity and employment framework.
As an APS 5 Project Officer, you will have the opportunity to:
o provide policy advice on integrity issues and interpret the APS employment framework, including the APS Code of Conduct
o assist in conducting investigations, reviews, evaluations and SES Code of Conduct matters by assessing large volumes of information and drafting evidence-based recommendations for decision-makers, and working with external contracted investigators
o manage, under limited supervision, corporate functions including the team’s finances by facilitating the payment of invoices, maintaining detailed financial records, managing contract management and cost recovery processes, and ensuring compliance with governance and reporting requirements
o handle highly sensitive and confidential information on a ‘need to know’ basis; maintaining appropriate confidentiality, privacy and security
o manage central inbox and databases, including triaging incoming correspondence and prepare correspondence, including responses to stakeholder enquiries
o implement internal business processes, for example written procedures for complaints and information handling, and support continued improvements to processes
o develop and maintain relationships and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, responding to stakeholder needs and queries
o assist in the preparing of briefing materials and analytical reports that track and analyse key data sets to help inform evaluation and assurance functions, thereby informing broader integrity insights and priorities for the Commission’s future work program
o assist the Director and Assistant Directors with other duties as required
Eligibility
For detailed information about this role including what to include in your application, please refer to the downloadable Candidate Information Pack below.
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.
The Australian Public Service Commission is committed to building an inclusive and culturally diverse workforce. We welcome applications from across our community including, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, mature aged employees and carers.
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.