Department of Home Affairs
Assistant Secretary
Opportunity Type
Canberra ACT
Full-Time
The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for centrally
Opportunity Status
coordinated strategy and policy leadership in relation to emergency
Ongoing
management including disaster recovery and resilience, the
protection of Australia’s sovereignty, citizenship and social
cohesion, cyber systems and critical infrastructure, immigration,
APS Classification
border security and management, law enforcement, and
Senior Executive Service Band
counter-terrorism. Through our Commonwealth Coordinators and
1
the Director-General of Emergency Management Australia, the
Department enables rapid responses to threats of foreign
Position Reference
interference, terrorism, organised crime and natural disasters. The
Several Positions
Department promotes social cohesion through multicultural
programs, and manages and confers citizenship through the
Closing Date
Australian Citizenship Program. The Department also contributes to
5/11/2021
Australia’s unity and prosperity through the management and
delivery of the migration, refugee and humanitarian programs, and
Job Category
through modernising our trade and travel systems.
Organisation Leadership
The Department’s enduring purpose: A Prosperous, Secure and
United Australia; remains at the core of planning strategy and policy
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development, as well as program and service delivery. This purpose
reflects the Department’s environment and roles, both collective and
individual. The Department’s purpose is supported by a strong
culture of performance and a deep commitment to protecting and
enhancing the lives and wellbeing of Australians. In an
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ever-changing landscape, the Department’s role as a leader across
many key policy areas and functions is critical. The strategy-led
whole-of-Portfolio efforts ensure that we consistently and cohesively
deliver what the Government and the Australian community expect
of us, both now and in the future.
SES within the Department of Home Affairs provide leadership at
both the departmental and whole of APS level. All SES demonstrate
behaviours and actions that model and promote the APS Values
and Code of Conduct. Similarly, the SES represents the APS and
government externally to stakeholders. All SES roles are
characterised by a high level of accountability for outcomes. The
SES Work Level Standards identify the skills and capabilities
required at the SES Band 1 level.
SES Band 1 employees are members of the senior leadership team
and play an integral role in delivering the key outcomes and
priorities for the Department and the Australian Border Force. SES
Band 1 employees also help build organisational capability by
providing intellectual leadership in their work area and in the
organisation’s strategic agenda more broadly.
SES Band 1 employees are forward thinking, self-motivated,
resilient and adept at building relationships in large, complex and
fast paced environments. They are able to contribute to and
communicate the strategic direction of the Department. Their strong
leadership credentials and ability to engender trust and respect are
complemented by sound judgement, a strong focus on results and
the ability to solve complex issues and build organisational
capability.
The key duties of the position include:
The Department is seeking to engage experienced and talented
leaders with proven ability to provide high level and robust advice on
a range of sensitive and complex organisational strategy and policy
development issues, to fill multiple SES Band 1 roles. Vacancies
primarily exist in the Immigration and Settlement Services Group
(ISSG) and Capability Management Support Division (CMSD), with
a small number of vacancies in other Groups in the Department.
ISSG is responsible for the administration of Australia’s permanent
migration and temporary visa programs, the Refugee and
Humanitarian Program, settlement programs and client facing
services and information services. ISSG delivers the permanent
migration and temporary visa programs to maximise the long-term
economic and social benefits to Australia across the Skilled, Family,
and Resident Return visa programs, and through temporary entry to
support tourism, education and international relations. This includes
responsibility for the Office of Migration Agents Registration
Authority. ISSG also maintains the integrity of migration programs
and contributes to community protection outcomes through the
character and cancellation program, and undertakes status
resolution in detention and the community.
CMSD was established on 1 September 2021 in the Chief Operating
Officer Group. The Capability Management Support Division
provides a single view across the Department and ABF of the
overall health of significant capability to give certainty and
confidence to the executive and government around enduring
capability delivery and key capability decision points. The Division
also leads agreed specialist capability delivery on behalf of the
Department and ABF such as civil maritime surveillance and
response services and detention garrison, welfare and health
services. The Division, within its resourcing levels and
commitments, will also support other areas of the Department and
ABF to undertake Capability Delivery for services in excess of $10m
where the business area is unable to undertake such procurement.
The Department is also seeking to create a merit pool to fill
Assistant Secretary positions across the Department with SES
Officers who build and maintain capability to ensure the effective
delivery of government policies, strategies, and programs.
Several Assistant Secretary (AS) vacancies exist in ISSG, and
include:
AS, Immigration Capability and Coordination;
AS, Compliance and Community Protection Policy;
AS, Migrant English and Language Services; and
AS, Settlement Program Operations.
Several vacancies exist in CMSD, and include:
AS Capability Management Procurement Support
AS Specialist Procurement
The SES provide leadership at both the departmental and
whole-of-APS level. All SES demonstrate behaviours and actions
that model and promote the APS Values and Code of Conduct.
Similarly, the SES represents the APS and government externally to
stakeholders. All SES roles are characterised by a high level of
accountability for outcomes. The Senior Executive Service Work
Level Standards identify the skills and behaviours required at the
SES Band 1 level.
Delivery
Delivery roles manage the capability and resources of a function at
a whole-of-agency level, for example:
General management and broad executive direction.
Responsibility and accountability for a defined part of the
agency’s outcomes.
Financial, physical and human capital management.
Major program management.
Leadership in implementation and delivery of strategic and/or
major agency initiatives.
Public Policy
Policy roles provide highly critical advice in the area of operation
and represent the agency on those matters, for example:
Establish policy development frameworks.
Provide authoritative policy advice in one or more areas of
government policy.
Consult on policy options to achieve outcomes.
May provide direct advice to the Minister on a specific program
or policy issue.
Legislation development including coordinating the agency
response to Parliamentary Committee enquiries.
Regulatory
Regulatory roles provide highly critical advice in compliance, risk
management and intelligence gathering and assessment, for
example:
Lead evaluation of effectiveness of regulatory policies,
operational frameworks and guidelines.
Engage stakeholders during analytical stages of problem
solving and risk assessment.
Assess emerging issues and trends which may impact on
regulation management.
Establish and maintain standards of independence and
professionalism.
Professional/Specialist
Specialist roles provide highly critical advice in the area of expertise,
for example:
Exercise influence cross-APS, or cross-jurisdictional.
Ultimate escalation point for professional/technical matters
related to the specific discipline.
Drive strong external peer network within function/discipline.
Demonstrated ability in leading and delivering highly technical
capabilities.
Demonstrated ability in leading and delivering high risk, high
value procurements (greater than $50million) for complex
capability.
To be successful at the SES Band 1 level, you will:
show evidence of your strong leadership and management
skills;
demonstrate experience in a large operationally complex
organisation and be adept at crafting enterprise wide
solutions;
have successfully led a team in areas which are diverse and
complex;
display evidence of superior operational conceptual and
strategic thinking skills;
have the ability to forge clear directions and deliver large and
complex projects within tight timeframes; and
have demonstrated experience in successfully leading diverse
and geographically distributed teams to deliver outcomes of
government.
exemplify high levels of motivation and personal integrity.
How to Apply
Before submitting your application, please request the selection
documentation by
emailing xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx and quoting
Ref # 4846. If, after reading the selection documentation, you
require further information, please contact Jonathan Beaumont on
02 6126 4500.
Eligibility
Obtain and maintain an Employment Suitability Clearance;
Obtain and maintain an Australian Government security
clearance at a minimum of Negative Vetting level 2; and
Australian Citizenship.
Relevant tertiary qualifications are highly desirable.
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility
scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment
activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme;
declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements
for the job. For more information visit:
https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability
Contact Officer
Jonathan Beaumont
Contact Phone
02 6126 4500
Agency Employment Act
PS Act 1999
Website
Department of Home Affairs
Position Number
Multiple
Vacancy Number
VN-0696391
Getting to know the Department of Home Affairs
The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for centrally coordinated strategy
and policy leadership in relation to domestic and national security arrangements,
law enforcement, emergency management, counter-terrorism, social cohesion, the
protection of our sovereignty, the integrity of our border and the resilience of our
national infrastructure.
The Australian Border Force, an operationally independent body within the
Department of Home Affairs, is Australia's frontline border law enforcement agency
and Australia's customs service. The Australian Border Force delivers critical border
protection and national security outcomes while facilitating the movement of people
and goods across the border. The Australian Border Force's mission is to protect
Australia's border and enable legitimate travel and trade.
Our people are integral to achieving our mission to protect Australia’s border and
manage the movement of people and goods across it.
We offer challenging and diverse careers that touch upon many parts of Australian
life – industry and commerce, trade and travel, our national security, the protection
of our community and the security of our offshore maritime resources and
environment.
Our success depends largely on our ability to foster the innovation, efforts and
diverse skills of our people. We strive to create a motivating and rewarding working
environment in which we value performance, our people, integrity, service and
service standards.
We encourage applications from Indigenous Australians, people with disability and
people from other diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing a working
environment that values diversity and inclusion and supports staff to reach their full
potential. For more information
www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/careers/working-with-us/workplace-diversity
The Department offers an attractive remuneration package, including salary,
superannuation benefits and flexible working conditions appropriate to the level of
the position. For further details, refer to the Workplace Determination at
www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/careers/working-with-us
Learn More
Selection Advisory Committee Report
Summary
The Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) engaged the services of Beaumont&Beaumont to assist with the
selection process for multiple Assistant Secretary (SES Band 1) positions. Beaumont&Beaumont provided support to
the selection panel as part of this process.
The position was advertised in APSJobs on October 22, 2021 and in the Weekend Australian and Saturday Canberra
Times on Saturday 23 October 2021.
The process attracted 120 applications by the closing date of 5 November 2021.
Selection Methodology
a competitive selection process, which included a written application, face-to-face interview, and referee reports. This
assessment was based on the relationship between the work-related qualities of the candidates and the work-related
qualities required to perform the role of Assistant Secretary.
The selection panel began by reviewing each of the applications and shortlisted candidates who demonstrated
relevant skil s, and a significant depth and breadth of relevant experience. They shortlisted 34 candidates for
interview, which took place between 1 December 2021 and 21 December 2021.
This final assessment was made on the relative capacity of the candidates to achieve outcomes related to the role and
was the primary consideration in making the decision.
Assessment of Candidates
Suitable
s. 47E(c), s. 47F(1)
1
s. 47E(c), s. 47F(1)
Requires development
Recommendation
The panel recommends that the following candidates be placed in a merit pool for positions that may arise at the
same level with similar requirements:
s. 47E(c), s. 47F(1)
2
s. 47F(1)
s. 47F(1)
David Wilden
Kendra Morony
First Assistant Secretary, Refugee, Humanitarian and
First Assistant Secretary
Settlement Division
Department of Home Affairs
Department of Home Affairs
(Member)
(Chair)
Date: 17/01/22
s. 47F(1)
s. 47F(1)
Grant Lovelock
Michael Wil ard
First Assistant Commissioner
First Assistant Secretary, Immigration & Settlement
Australian Public Service Commission
Services
(APSC Representative)
Department of Home Affairs
(Member)
Date:
Date: 17/01/2022
Approved
Michael Pezzul o AO
Secretary
Department of Home Affairs
Date:
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