• Salary Offering: $83,000-$100,000 (VALS E1.2-1.4) plus superannuation
• Office Locations: High Street, Preston
• This role is full-time (neg) fixed for 13 months (til mid March 2025)
• This position may require regional and very occasional interstate travel.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:

• 17.5% Leave Loading
• 5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
• Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) – which you may use as additional leave hours
• Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips
• Salary packaging is available via Maxxia

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE:

Working collaboratively within the Policy, Communications and Strategy team and across the organisation, the Principal Policy Advisor plays a pivotal role in undertaking high quality policy work, advocacy and research.

This includes preparing policy submissions, papers and briefs, coordinating research partnerships and research projects, developing & implementing advocacy strategies and initiatives, providing leadership and mentoring within the Policy, Communications and Strategy Team, and advising the CEO and other members of the Executive.

This is done in line with VALS strategic vision and in the context of developing and promoting VALS as a strong voice for the Aboriginal communities we serve.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategy and Planning

• Develop VALS policy, research and advocacy agenda in line with VALS’ strategic and operational plan and work with relevant colleagues across the organisation to achieve our strategic objectives.
• Identify and respond to new and emerging opportunities to influence law and policy.

Policy, Research and Advocacy

• Provide support and advice to the CEO and other members of the Executive to fulfil their role in representing VALS in external fora.
• Represent VALS in external fora - including relevant meetings, working groups, conferences and forums - as required.
• Identify and plan lobbying activities aimed at Federal and State government and government-related bodies
• Research, write and prepare position papers, reports submissions and briefs as relevant, for implementation of VALS Policy Team Strategic Plan and VALS Strategic Plan.
• Lead specific policy, research and advocacy projects and provide leadership and mentoring to VALS Policy, Communications and Strategy Team.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including VALS Legal teams and Community Justice Programs, ACCOs, NATSILS and ATSILS, research institutions, government and community legal organisations.

Please see attached Position Description for complete key responsibilities.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Relevant qualifications such as Bachelor or Masters degree in Law, Politics, Communications or Journalism alongside extensive experience in policy analysis and advocacy.
• Demonstrated high quality and authoritative advocacy, relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills and experience.
• Demonstrated high quality and authoritative policy, research and analytical skills.
• Leadership, management and mentoring experience and skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and to collaborate in a small team environment.
• High level organisational and administrative skills and ability to prioritise workload, to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills and proficiency using the Microsoft Office and other relevant software.
• Ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledge their diverse backgrounds, personalities and varying needs and the unique cultural ways in which they may be expressed.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS:

On offer of this position, you must provide:

• Copy of your current Employee Working with Children Card.
• You will be required to complete a current Criminal History Police Check.
• Up to date vaccination certificate or valid medical exemption
• Proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e., a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate, or Immigration VISA documentation
• Current valid Victorian Driver’s Licence
• Copies of any certificates or degrees relevant to this role

Please note:

Only successful applications will be contacted.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. No (search) fee will be paid in the event we hire a candidate whose resume is submitted by an employment agency to any of our employees without a valid written recruitment agreement. Such resumes shall be deemed the sole property of VALS.

Please click Apply Now to submit your application.