Senior Policy Officer

Summary about this job

Detail information about job Senior Policy Officer. Terms and conditions vacancy

Job Title: Senior Policy/Planning Officer

Job Grade / Classification: PO2

Employment Type: Part Time (3 days a week), temporary position for up to 12 months.

Location: Sydney CBD (Relocating to Parramatta at the end of 2019)

Agency overview

The Department of Planning & Environment is the lead NSW Government agency in planning for a growing NSW. The Department is going through an exciting period of organisational and operational change.

The Department’s vision – “Planning for growing NSW: inspiring strong communities, protecting our environment” – provides the benchmark for our partnership and leadership approach to engaging and working collaboratively with key State and Local Government, community and industry stakeholders to deliver better outcomes in the areas of planning, local government and the environment.

The Department’s two related agencies - the Office of Environment & Heritage and the Office of Local Government - support the conservation and protection of the environment and an effective local government sector in NSW. Several other entities associated with the Department include the Environment Protection Authority, statutory trusts responsible for zoos, parks and gardens, independent assessment and planning bodies, and development corporations.

About the Role:

The Department of Planning & Environment’s Biodiversity and Sustainability Branch is seeking to fill two roles to help undertake strategic conservation planning in several locations in NSW.

The branch’s key focus is currently on delivering the draft Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan – the strategic plan that brings together impact assessments for the priority growth areas and landscape scale conservation planning for Western Sydney. The team is progressing this work in line with the government’s housing commitments and to deliver the best outcomes for the environment while Western Sydney continues to grow.

This work requires approval processes through both the NSW legislation (Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016) and the Commonwealth legislation (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).

The Biodiversity and Sustainability Branch is also seeking to create a talent pool from which candidates may be selected for any additional roles if and as they become available. Part time or job share arrangements are supported and may be considered for these roles.

Primary purpose of the role

The Senior Policy/Planning Officer/s will:

· Manage and coordinate allocated policy development, implementation and review projects and initiatives to contribute to improved conservation planning directions and outcomes

· Provide timely, expert and accurate advice to enhance informed decision making across the Department about policy and planning issues and initiatives

· Undertake qualitative and quantitative research and analysis to evaluate issues and formulate evidence based options and recommendations to support policy and program development and implementation

· Develop policy and contribute to ongoing policy monitoring and evaluation to assess the social and economic impacts of policy and to enhance consistent policy execution and quality service delivery

Essential requirements:

· Degree in a relevant discipline

· Demonstrated knowledge of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979, other legislation governing land use and environmental planning in NSW and the implementation of State Environmental Planning Policies

To be successful in the role, ideally you will have:

Experience working in the NSW Government preferable in an environmental, natural resource management, policy or planning capacity.

Please read the following documents prior to preparing your application:

· Role description

· Application Guide

· Applying for a role in the NSW public Sector

Job Notes:

A Recruitment Pool may be established for future temporary and ongoing roles with similar focus capabilities. The Recruitment Pool may be available to hiring managers from DPE and other NSW Public Sector agencies over a 12-month period.  

To Apply:

Complete all the questions in the online application. Two of the questions will require you to provide specific examples from your experience (4000-character limit per question). These questions are shown below. Do not address these in your cover letter.

Q1. Please provide an example of where you used your problem solving skills and managed internal or external stakeholder relationships to achieve project goals.

Q2. Please provide an example of where you have coordinated and delivered a complex policy or project constrained by tight timeframes.

The information provided in your application needs to show how you meet the focus capabilities and other essential requirements of the role. (Refer to the role description for details about the capabilities and the associated behavioural indicators. The role description also lists the essential role requirements.)

Our commitment to diversity:

The Department of Planning and Environment values diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse groups and those with a disability.

Applications Close: Sunday 22 July 2018 11:59PM

Should you require further information about the role please contact Elizabeth Irwin (02) 9995 5126. If you have any enquiries regarding the recruitment process please contact Carlo de los Santos on (02) 9585 6460.