• This is a Targeted position that AERO particularly welcomes applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
• Contract until 30 June 2026
• Work from home (Australia-wide) 
• $120,158 to $135,841 p.a. plus super (commensurate with skills and experience)

Are you…

• An education professional looking to join a new team, all passionate about improving education outcomes for First Nations children and young people? 
• An independent thinker who can collaborate with internal and external partners, and contribute accurate and balanced evidence-based policy advice and recommendations on a range of complex educational issues? 
• Committed to producing evidence-based policy advice that is rigorous and high quality as well as useful and relevant to education policymakers? 

How to apply? – Respectfully, no agencies please.

Please submit:

• a resume and a cover letter describing your interest in and suitability for the role addressing the Skills and Experience below.

If you reside in Australia and are an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or have unrestricted work rights in Australia, and believe you meet the requirements of the role, we'd love to hear from you.

Please only apply for this role if you already have current work rights in Australia. Appointments are subject to a National Criminal Record Check (NCRC) and having or obtaining a current valid working with children check (WWCC).

About The Organisation

The Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) is Australia’s national education evidence body. AERO is working towards excellent and equitable outcomes for all children and young people by generating and making high-quality evidence accessible and enhancing the use of evidence in Australian education.

AERO is bringing together people who are passionate about evidence-informed policy and practice for schools and early childhood services. Our team is collegial, creative and committed to fulfilling AERO’s potential to make an impact. We value agile thinkers who can help shape AERO as a new, dynamic organisation, and team players who enjoy working across projects and in diverse, interdisciplinary teams. Many of our people have ongoing connections to research, policy and practice organisations, helping us to bridge the gap between evidence generation and translation.

For more information about AERO, please see our website.

Purpose of the role

The role undertakes complex policy analysis / research to support policymakers and key stakeholders in using evidence effectively to support First Nations children and communities. Serving as the conduit between policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers, this role ensures high-impact findings are accessible, understandable, and easy to enact in a policy context.

Through rigorous analysis and strategic collaboration, the position drives informed decision-making and system improvement within the education sector, particularly for First Nations children, either through direct partnerships or policy influence mechanisms.

Accountabilities:

• Conduct advanced policy research and analysis, including investigating and critically analysing issues and opportunities relating to education.
• Collaborate with the First Nations team to build relationships and provide policy advice and solutions that influence decisions and create buy-in to achieve positive outcomes for First Nations children and communities.
• Develop and implement strategies to maximise the influence of AERO’s research on system programs and policies.
• Provide high quality policy advice on a wide variety of issues in education, including schools, child and student outcomes, and evidence use in practice.
• Prepare, convene and facilitate workshops for stakeholders, and implement effective follow-up to maximise stakeholder engagement and dissemination of AERO’s work.
• Prepare advice and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders that convey complex concepts and information on education topics in an appropriate format and manner.
• Advise and support other AERO teams as required, with a particular focus on ensuring effective incorporation of AERO’s strategic policy agenda in their work.
• Supervise team members as required, ensuring deliverables are on time and to a high standard.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential requirements:

• Tertiary qualifications and/or relevant experience public policy, public administration, education, First Nations policy, education policy and/or education management and leadership.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Excellent understanding of policy landscapes and policy frameworks and governance, particularly First Nations education policy.
• Experience working in First Nations education policy to achieve positive outcomes for First Nations children and communities.
• Experience in collaborating with a team to deliver complex, high-quality products under tight timelines with competing priorities.

Skills:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to create compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Highly developed conceptual and analytical skills, including the ability to translate technical and complex information concisely for diverse audiences.
• Ability to effectively maintain productive working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including policymakers, practitioners and researchers.

The filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), and: s 27 of the Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT) / s 57 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1996 (NT) / s 105 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld) / s 65 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA) / ss 25 and/or 26 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas) / s 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) / s 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)]. The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants.

If you require any additional information to above or have technical difficulties applying, please contact: [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Policy Analyst - (First Nations Targeted) - Remote / Australia Wide enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Please do not send applications to this email address, apply through advert.