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                  Position Description

College/Division:
Executive
Department/Unit:
Office of the Vice Chancellor
Position Title:
Executive Officer
Classification:
Senior Manager 1 (Administration)
Responsible to:
Director, Office of the Vice-Chancellor

PURPOSE STATEMENT:
Reporting to the Director of the OVC the Executive Officer will provide professional support at the highest level
for the Vice-Chancellor, the Director OVC and Senior Management Group, as well as collaborating to execute
strategic projects and contributing to a professional and effective OVC.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITY AREAS:

Position Dimension & Relationships:
Reporting to the Director of the OVC, the Executive Officer provides high-level support to the Vice-Chancellor
and President, the Director OVC and other senior staff. The role is focused on the achievement of strategic goals
and delivering operational outcomes efficiently and to the highest standards. The business flow of the OVC,
alongside delivery of strategic outcomes, will be a major focus of the role. The Executive Officer works closely
with Senior Management Group members and all OVC staff, and has responsibility for coordinating the Senior
Management Group’s meetings with other staff in the Office. Other tasks include provision of strategic advice,
collaborating to achieve outcomes, and the capability to produce outstanding work quickly and across a range
of activities. The EO will also work with key internal and external stakeholders, including academic and
professional staff, government agencies and other relevant bodies.

Role Statement:
Under broad direction, the Executive Officer will:
Act as the first point of contact for enquiries and general reception tasks, providing advice on ANU Careers &
Employability services, redirecting more complex enquiries to the appropriate staff.
1.  Provide high-level support to University committees, including the Senior Management Group and the
University Leadership Group, with others as agreed.
2.  Work effectively across the Portfolio’s Divisions, driving consistency of purpose, timing, messaging
and the achievement of University priorities and strategic objectives. More broadly, be a point of
liaison and coordination between the Vice-Chancellor and members of the Senior Management Group,
Colleges and Divisions including staff and students, government agencies and other relevant bodies.
3.  Support the Director OVC in ensuring the Vice-Chancellor’s, schedule and workflow are optimised and
exemplify the highest professional standards.
4.  Provide high-level strategic advice and executive support to the Vice-Chancellor in achieving the
University’s strategy objectives.
5.  Manage new and ongoing strategic projects and various initiatives aimed at ensuring ANU meets its
strategic commitments. This will include, but not be limited to undertaking research, writing reports,
drafting submissions and high-level correspondence communicating outcomes and providing high-
level input in the ongoing review of policies and procedures.
6.  Engage with the Director OVC and Executive Officers in understanding shared priorities across the
OVC and the wider ANU Executive and, where necessary, provide support to projects across portfolios.
7.  Support the Vice-Chancellor and Director OVC in driving delivery and monitoring progress of the
University’s Strategic Plan, working with stakeholders, managing budgets and workflow, and
planning effectively to help ensure timely and effective delivery of initiatives.
8.  Comply with all ANU policies and procedures, and in particular those relating to work health and
safety and equal opportunity.
9.  Perform other duties as requested, consistent with the classification level of the position and in line
with the principle of multi-skilling.

For assistance please contact HR Division Ph. 6125 3346

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SELECTION CRITERIA:
1.  Relevant postgraduate qualifications, management expertise and demonstrated
extensive experience providing executive support in a complex administrative
environment or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and qualifications.
2.  Proven experience providing support, strategic advice and reporting to senior
management and the ability to strategically prioritise work to meet competing demands
within a busy and complex environment
3.  Demonstrated experience successfully leading and managing projects through to
completion, on time and on budget.
4.  A sound understanding of the challenges facing the Australian higher education sector
and research led universities’ operations. A knowledge of the ANU Strategic Plan and
direction would be advantageous.
5.  Demonstrated ability to use sound judgement in decision making, together with a
demonstrated track record of achievement in relation to strategic goals and process
improvements through the adoption of innovative approaches.
6.  Demonstrated high level interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral,
including demonstrated experience liaising effectively with key internal and external
stakeholders and proven experience producing complex management documents.
7.  Well-developed computer skills, including experience in the use of online data
management and reporting systems and proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite of
programs.
8.  A demonstrated high-level of understanding of equal opportunity principles and
occupational health and safety in the workplace and a commitment to the application of
these principles in a university context.

The ANU conducts background checks on potential employees, and employment in this position is conditional on
satisfactory results in accordance with the Background Checking Procedure which sets out the types of checks
required by each type of position.

References:
Minimum Standards for Academic Levels (MSAL)t

For assistance please contact HR Division Ph. 6125 3346

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Pre-Employment Work Environment Report

Position Details
College/Div/Centre
Office of the Vice Chancellor
Dept/School/Section
Office of the Vice
Chancellor
Position Title
Executive Officer
Classification
Senior Manager 1
(Administration)
Position No.

Reference No.

In accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) the University has a primary duty of care, so far as
reasonably practicable, to ensure the health and safety of all staff while they are at work in the University.
•  This form must be completed by the supervisor of the advertised position and appended to the back of the
Position Description.
•  This form is used to advise potential applicants of work environment and health and safety hazards prior to
application.
•  Once an applicant has been selected for the position they must familiarise themselves with the University WHS
Management System via Handbook guidance https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/health-safety/whs-
management-system-handbook
•  The hazards identified below are of generic nature in relation to the position. It is not correlated directly to
training required for the specific staff to be engaged. Identification of individual WHS training needs must be in
accordance with WHS Local Training Plan and through the WHS induction programs and Performance
Development Review Process.
•  ‘Regular’ hazards identified below must be listed as ‘Essential’ in the Selection Criteria - see ‘ Employment
Medical Procedures’ at http://info.anu.edu.au/Policies/_DHR/Procedures/Employment_Medical_Procedures.asp

Potential Hazards
•  Please indicate whether the duties associated with appointment will result in exposure to any of the
following potential hazards, either as a regular or occasional part of the duties.
TASK
regula
occasio
  TASK
regular
occasional
r
nal
key boarding
X

  laboratory work

lifting, manual handling

  work at heights

repetitive manual tasks

  work in confined spaces

Organizing events

  noise / vibration

fieldwork & travel

X
  electricity

driving a vehicle



NON-IONIZING

  IONIZING RADIATION

RADIATION
solar

  gamma, x-rays

ultraviolet

  beta particles

infra red

  nuclear particles

laser



radio frequency



CHEMICALS

  BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

hazardous substances

  microbiological materials

allergens

  potential biological

allergens
cytotoxics

  laboratory animals or

insects
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mutagens/teratogens/

  clinical specimens,

carcinogens
including blood
pesticides / herbicides

  genetically-manipulated

specimens

  immunisations

OTHER POTENTIAL HAZARDS (please specify):

For assistance please contact HR Division Ph. 6125 3346

Document Outline