About the Treaty Authority

The Treaty Authority is an independent entity with a mandate to facilitate the formation of treaties between the State of Victoria and First Peoples in Victoria.

The Treaty Authority’s work is grounded in Aboriginal culture, lore and law and led collectively by a panel of five Members committed to Aboriginal self-determination and empowerment. It engages with a broad cross-section of stakeholders including the State of Victoria, the First Peoples’ Assembly and Traditional Owners in Victoria.

The objects of the Treaty Authority’s work are to:

• Facilitate the journey towards reconciliation, mutual respect and tolerance between First Peoples and other people of the State and to
• Maintain, promote and advance the self-determination and empowerment, culture and human rights of First Peoples.

About the Role

The Treaty Authority is looking to appoint a Principal Advisor – Strategy and Policy to lead the Strategy and Policy Team, providing high quality strategic policy advice to Members and the executive team and policy development on matters relating to Treaty negotiations and dispute resolution. It will also provide technical policy advice to Members on decisions and actions under the Treaty Negotiation Framework and support the continuous improvement of the negotiation and dispute resolution functions.

Working with the Treaty Negotiation Team and the Finding Common Ground (Dispute Resolution) Team, the role will provide technical and policy support to deliver effective interventions to support parties to participate in negotiations and in resolving disputes, including capacity building.

The ideal candidate will have lived experience or experience working with Aboriginal communities preferably in Victoria, with sound working knowledge of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, Traditional Owner groups, Aboriginal histories and leaders. This coupled with extensive experience in relevant areas such as Indigenous legal or policy issues, dispute resolution, administration of administrative or legal frameworks and/or human rights along with a proven ability to in lead and manage teams with a policy or strategy focus, delivering policy solutions to complex issues is essential.

Key Duties

• Lead the provision of proactive and high-quality strategic policy advice to the Agreement-Making Department, executive team and Members and policy development on matters relating to Treaty negotiations and dispute resolution.
• Lead the development of the Treaty Authority’s internal policies and practices under the Treaty Negotiation Framework in a legally compliant and culturally strong way.
• Support continuous improvement of the Treaty Authority’s negotiation and dispute resolution functions.
• Translate policy and research into accessible resources and information for Members, Executive team and key stakeholders.
• Lead strategic policy development and policy analysis on priority issues and prepares, reviews and presents high-quality documentation including reports, correspondence, briefing materials and presentations as required.
• Contribute to the Treaty Authority’s ongoing policy work including government submissions, internal and external briefings, presentations and/or media statements to support Members and the Executive team.
• Provide policy support for the delivery of effective interventions, including capacity building, to support parties to participate in negotiations and dispute resolution.
• Manage and supervise the Strategy and Policy team and oversee professional development opportunities that will challenge and engage them.

Selection Criteria

• Passionate about being part of a reform to benefit First Peoples in Victoria.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline such as social or public policy, law, social science and / or substantial experience in a similar role.
• Extensive experience in relevant areas such as Indigenous legal or policy issues, dispute resolution, administration of administrative or legal frameworks and/or human rights (minimum 5 years).
• Lived experience or experience working with Aboriginal communities preferably in Victoria, with sound working knowledge of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, Traditional Owner groups, legislative and regulatory regimes, Aboriginal histories and leaders, democratic processes, machinery of government and the Victorian Public Service.
• A demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with members of the Victorian Aboriginal community and other stakeholders.
• Proven experience in leading and managing teams with a policy or strategy focus and delivering policy solutions to complex issues.
• Advanced planning skills and project management skills with highly developed conceptual, analytical and decision-making skills.
• Proven ability to develop innovative, sound and culturally strong policy proposals and to assist others to develop such proposals.
• Exceptional research and analytical skills with the ability to work with a range of stakeholders and recommend approaches to high-level policy issues.
• Highly skilled in drafting policy briefs, guidance documents, submissions and research reports.
• The ability to synthesise complex information and communicate it simply and effectively.
• People leadership experience and the ability to coach and develop direct reports.
• Demonstrated interest in and an appreciation of a range of different cultures and actively seeks to understand and effectively address the issues and views of others.
• Advanced written and oral communication skills including the ability to adapt writing styles to a range of audiences.

This is a full-time permanent role, based at our offices in Collingwood.

This position is open to everyone, however the nature of the Treaty Authority’s work means we strongly encourage First Peoples to apply.