Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? Are you as passionate about what education can deliver as we are? Can you see the opportunities to drive great outcomes through access to quality education and learning? We are seeking established, inspiring, and highly motivated individuals from the public, private, education and/or community sectors to join the Department of Education (the department), at the Senior Executive Service (SES) Band 1 level. As an Assistant Secretary in the department, you will be a key member of the senior leadership team and support the Executive in the provision of advice to Australian Government and provide leadership, management and strategic direction for the department. You will manage the development and implementation of major government and department initiatives, participate in departmental or whole government forums and actively contribute to the corporate leadership of the department and to the building of high performing teams. To be a strong contender, you will bring experience in the development and implementation of public policy, high-level program design and implementation, and experience in providing advice to Ministers. More broadly, SES employees in the department are expected to advise and support the Government of the day on the full range of portfolio issues and do this through the development of policies considered and the delivery of effective programs. SES employees must also ensure that the department is meeting its legislative and governance obligations, is working collaboratively to deliver outcomes, and responds flexibly to current and emerging issues. SES employees have a broader role in providing leadership across the APS in the delivery of whole-of-government policies and services, managing in a changing and devolved environment. The interim Australian Tertiary Education Commission will drive important reforms to Australia's higher education sector to grow equity participation and meet Australia's skills needs. It will work in new, collaborative ways with the sector, and State and Territory governments, to ensure the sector is responsive to local and regional needs while driving national objectives. Within ATEC Student Profiles Branch, you will help implement the Government's reforms to higher education funding, the new Managed Growth Funding System and Needs-based Funding, to ensure more students can access, participate and succeed in higher education. This will include working with the Commissioners of the ATEC to allocate student places to universities and other higher education providers. The key duties of the position include In this role, you will be responsible for the following: providing strategic policy advice on quality education service delivery. implementing the Government's reform to higher education funding. building a culture of integrity. engaging with stakeholders and states and territories. lead the priorities of a branch to support government priorities and deliverables set out in Branch/Division/Group business plan and the departmental Corporate Plan. managing a Branch of three to five teams and shaping that Branch's culture and capability. supporting the Executive in the provision of high-quality advice to the Australian Government and ATEC commissioners. supporting the Executive in the delivery of strong leadership, management and strategic direction setting for the department. representing the Branch, Division and the department at inter-departmental and cross departmental initiatives, reviews and inquiries.