• Talent Pool for Ongoing and Temporary opportunities  
• Parramatta - flexible working arrangements available
• Department Professional Officers III, Base Salary ($113,746 - $124,2589) plus superannuation

Your role

The Policy and Reform & Legislation Branch sits within the Law Reform and Legal Services Division of the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). The Branch contributes to the development of policy for the justice system and to delivering government reform priorities, including complex legislative reform projects.

As the successful candidate you will possess strong research and analytical skills and advanced verbal and written communication skills. You will be able to manage competing priorities within a high-pressure work environment. You will have an ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholder groups. You are a person with high levels of integrity and professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and initiative.

What you’ll do

The Policy, Reform and Legislation Branch requires a dynamic individual to work within a team of policy officers and to assist Policy Managers and Directors to ensure Ministerial and Departmental objectives are achieved.

In this role you will:

• undertake research, draft legal policy advice, and develop legislative and non-legislative projects.
• contribute to development of major reforms of the criminal and civil justice systems and reforms relating to families, communities, and disability services.
• provide support for the legislative program for Communities and Justice Ministers, including the Attorney General, the Minister for Families, Communities and Disability inclusion, The Minister for Youth Justice, the Minister for Corrections, The Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and The Minister for Seniors.

We are interested in suitably qualified candidates with skills and knowledge in law and/or policy.

What we’re looking for

Law degree or equivalent (i.e., a degree relevant to a role in legal policy work)

Appointments are subject to reference checks. Some roles may also require the following checks/ clearances:

• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014
• Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

Download the role description.

For more information about the work of the Policy, Reform and Legislation branch click here PRL - About us information.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families, and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

You can see a small snapshot of what we do on our YouTube channel here.

Are you ready to join us?

When clicking "Apply Now" you will need to:

• Attach a resume (maximum 5 pages), and
• Attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and capabilities of this role as specified in the role description.

Answer the two pre-screening questions below (maximum 1 page):

• Describe a situation where you had to explain a complex legal or policy concept. How did you ensure your advice was clear and appropriate for the audience?
• Describe a time when you have been responsible for multiple projects. How did you balance competing priorities and deliver results?

Got a question?

If you’ve got a question about applying or require an adjustment in the recruitment process, please, contact Paola Pina via [email protected].

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager, Kate Peltonen, Senior Policy Officer via email at [email protected] using the subject line: Policy Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit.

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit our careers site.

Other Information

A Talent Pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

Some interviews and assessments may be performed using alternative methods. For more information visit Our Process.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

A position description is attached.