Senior Policy/Project Officer, Initial Teacher Education

Summary about this job

Detail information about job Senior Policy/Project Officer, Initial Teacher Education. Terms and conditions vacancy

• Convenient CBD location
• Supportive team environment
• Make real impact on teaching in Australia

About Us:

AITSL is a public company based in Melbourne. We are funded by the Australian Government. The Commonwealth Minister for Education and Training is the sole member of the Company.

As a national body, we were established to promote excellence so that teachers and school leaders could have the maximum impact on student learning in all Australian schools. We work in partnership with governments, education leaders, teacher education providers, systems, sectors and the profession across all jurisdictions to provide support to advance quality teaching and effective school leadership in Australia. Everything we do is backed by evidence and research.

We operate under our own constitution, and are governed by an independent Board of Directors who bring diverse professional experiences and expertise in educational practice, research and provision to the work of the Institute. Visit: www.aitsl.edu.au for more information about AITSL.

The Opportunity:

The Senior Policy/Project Officer is an established senior position that provides opportunities to develop and manage national policies and projects which support implementation of reforms to initial teacher education across Australia. This is an exciting role with the capacity to influence the outcomes of accreditation of initial teacher education in Australia.

This position provides policy advice, stakeholder engagement and delivery of AITSL projects within the Initial teacher education team aimed at supporting the implementation of the national approach to accreditation of initial teacher education programs. The focus of the team’s work is on working with key initial teacher education stakeholders to embed and strengthen the national approach.

About You:

The role requires a person who has strong policy nous and enjoys working in a fast-paced, multi-faceted environment. You will be a confident and positive leader of projects, with strengths in project delivery and stakeholder management in a complex and politically dynamic environment.

A candidate with knowledge of and/or experience in the application of standard setting methodologies is desirable. You will also be able to demonstrate your capacity to analyse and synthesise information, deliver quality results, work on multiple tasks and be sensitive to stakeholder relations.

Working in a small team that operates in a collaborative environment, the role requires a focussed person possessing strong coordination, organisational, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Key Responsibilities:

In this role you will:

Project Management

• Design and scope project briefs and plans in consultation with the Managers of Initial Teacher Education and other team members.
• Lead project team organisation, management of project delivery, resources and budgets, ongoing project monitoring and review, project closure and maintenance of project documentation.
• Contribute to strategic business planning, including managing procurement, and implementing sound contract management practices.
• Liaise with key stakeholders, such as contractors, advisory committees, steering groups, regulatory authorities and initial teacher education providers, demonstrating a sound understanding of the collaborative and responsive environment in which the organisation operates.

Policy and Analysis

• Provide high level policy advice and guidance to Managers and the Executive about engagement with a range of dynamic stakeholders, making policy connections and proposing options and solutions, with particular emphasis on issues involving initial teacher education, in a complex national environment.
• Maintain an up-to-date awareness and understanding about the authorising environment, as well as current educational research and key thinkers, particularly around initial teacher education issues.
• Bring to bear your broad awareness of regulatory frameworks and the Australian school and higher education policy spaces.
• Conduct research, and collect and analyse data as required to inform evidence based decision making

Communication and Stakeholder Management

• Manage external relationships and steering committees with stakeholders, providers and professional associations ensuring timelines are met for delivery of a project, service or advice
• Utilise a range of communication and stakeholder engagement strategies to develop understandings and insights.
• Develop complex written reports, meeting papers and web content that is succinct and strategic.
• Take a lead in maintaining team cohesion by facilitating productive work relationships and ensure quality of outputs for the work area

• Identify own, and other team members learning needs and ensure adequate transfer of information required to achieve high performance

Key Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated high level analytical skills with the capacity to interpret and develop concise policy advice.
• Proven capacity to successfully lead projects to an efficient and timely delivery, managing competing priorities and within a complex environment.
• Proven application of innovative thinking and analysis in the identification and development of appropriate options and methods for policy and projects.
• Ability to exercise accountability for work organisation and ensuring excellence in all aspects of work outputs.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategies to maintain productive working relationships with a complex range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Broad knowledge of regulatory and school and higher education policy settings.
• Tertiary qualifications are required, with a focus on education, public policy, public management, regulation or evaluation preferred.
• Experience working with standard setting methodologies is desirable.

How to apply:

Please view the full Position Description via the below link:

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/about-aitsl/work-with-us/employment-opportunities 

Please submit your resume and a cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria.

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 22nd July 2018.

AITSL is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a culturally diverse organisation. We strongly welcome and encourage interest from Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. We also strongly welcome and encourage people with disabilities to apply for roles with AITSL.