#998 Branch Manager, Legal and Framework Policy, SES Band 1, Safe Work Australia

Safe Work Australia is a leading national policy body for work health and safety and workers’ compensation, representing the Commonwealth, states and territories, as well as workers and employers. It plays a significant role in the lives of 13.5 million working Australians and their families by maintaining the work health and safety regulatory framework and producing guidance to create safe and healthy workplaces and preventing work-related death, injury, and illness.

As Safe Work Australia’s Branch Manager, Legal and Framework Policy, you will report to the Group Manager, Policy and Consultation, and be responsible for developing and overseeing national policy related to the model WHS laws. A new best practice review of the model WHS framework which is likely to set the direction for WHS policy over the coming years will be among your top priorities. You will lead national WHS policy on psychosocial risks, including harmful behaviours such as sexual harassment, workplace bullying, and violence, and develop proposals to improve the WHS framework and workers’ compensation arrangements nationally. The branch also provides the in-house legal function.

You will contribute to the broader leadership and policy development of the Agency, delivering on the Agency’s workplan in consultation with Safe Work Australia Members and WHS ministers. You will drive the implementation of Safe Work Australia’s priorities, identify and analyse new and emerging policy issues, and lead the Agency’s policy direction.  You will strengthen relationships with stakeholders, including other government agencies, Safe Work Australia Members and others who have an interest in or can influence WHS and workers’ compensation outcomes, to explore opportunities and solve complex problems.

In this role you will be actively involved in executive decision-making and exemplify the APS Values and the Secretaries Charter of Leadership Behaviours (DRIVE).  You will support the CEO and work collaboratively with other members of the Executive to provide strategic leadership and drive a culture of high performance. Your role will focus on ensuring that teams have the capability to support the CEO and Safe Work Australia Members by being strategic, consultative, collaborative, influential, and providing high-quality advice and direction.

To excel in this leadership role, you will be forward-thinking, self-motivated, resilient, and adept at building relationships. You will have a strong focus on results and be adept at managing sensitive issues under significant pressure. Your ability to engender trust and respect will be complemented by high level personal integrity, sound judgement, intellectual rigor, first-class communication skills, and impressive interpersonal and relationship-building skills.