Assistant Secretary, Research Branch

Job Details

Job Title: Assistant Secretary, Research Branch

Employment Type: Ongoing

Classification: Senior Executive Service Band 1

Closing Date: 11:30pm AEDT, 7 May 2025

Contact: Steven Fox, (02) 6277 7102, Steven.fox@aph.gov.au

The Opportunity

The Parliamentary Services Act establishes the office of the Parliamentary Librarian, whose primary function is ‘to provide high-quality information, analysis and advice to senators and members of the House of Representatives in support of their parliamentary and representational roles’.  The Parliamentary Librarian is supported by a staff of 170 professional and technical experts working to support the Parliament through the provision of timely and impartial information, analysis and advice. 

These services are provided through two subprograms: 

•    Research services: these services include responding to requests from individual parliamentary clients, their staff and committees for information and research, and producing print and electronic publications. 
•    Library collections and systems: these information services are provided to the Library’s clients by acquiring and providing access to information resources, including by selecting and processing material for library and media databases in ParlInfo Search.

This vacancy is for the Senior Executive responsible for research services.

The Parliamentary Library is a division within the Department of Parliamentary Services.  DPS comprises over 1,200 staff that support the Parliament of Australia through innovative and client-focused services. The department delivers a broad range of services to support a working parliament including enabling engagement with the public and acting as custodian and stewards of Australian Parliament House. DPS provides innovative, unified and client-focused services to the Australian Parliament and Parliamentarians. As custodians of Australian Parliament House, we deliver a broad range of services, experiences and large-scale construction projects that enable Australian parliamentary democracy and engagement with it.  Employees at DPS work across a diverse range of professional, customer service and trade-based roles.

DPS also has responsibility and oversight of functions including retail outlets, commercially licensed operations and own-source revenue streams.

As a member of the DPS Senior Executive cohort, you will be expected to:

•    Provide leadership to your Branch while working collaboratively with the other business areas to deliver on the department’s strategic priorities as outlined in DPS Corporate Plan.
•    Provide high quality strategic and technical advice to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, members of the DPS SES team and other internal and external stakeholders.
•    Contribute to the overall strategic, planning, operational capability and accountability of DPS.
•    Develop an environment that ensures sound planning, a culture of innovation, effective risk management, continuous improvement and a strong service delivery focus.
•    Model contemporary aspirational leadership behaviours and work collaboratively to drive a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and a strong service delivery focus.
•    Appear with the Secretary at Senate Estimates hearings when required.

Please note: This selection process will also be used to establish a merit pool that may be used to fill roles as they become available within the following 18-month period.
 

Who we are looking for

DPS prides itself on leaders who can support the high-tempo needs of a modern parliament through contemporary leadership practices. Diversity is our strength, and we seek to continue to build high performing teams comprised of industry-best talent. Interested applicants will need to demonstrate experience in leading a large, complex and diverse workforce and driving change within a client-focused service environment. Strong personal accountability, managing complex stakeholder relationships, being agile and adaptable, and the capability to deal with ambiguity and change are crucial to succeeding in this role.

Selection Criteria:

Senior Executive Service roles require (essential): 
•    Established leadership skills that inspire and motivate teams, creating a common purpose and direction and a high-performance culture, to support the work of the Parliament and DPS.
•    Excellent stakeholder relationship management skills, including the ability to provide insightful, persuasive, and trusted advice to a diverse range of important stakeholders in a politically complex environment.
•    Strong strategic judgement, political acuity, and ability to manage ambiguity to resolve complex issues as they evolve.
•    Demonstrated achievement of delivering quality results, within budget, tight time frames and across multiple stakeholders.

Desirable:
•    An understanding of the institution of parliament and the role of the parliamentary library in our parliamentary democracy.
•    A university degree, tertiary qualification or relevant professional qualification in a related field.
•    Successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting 1 security clearance.

DPS welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, mature age people, people from diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities.
 

Duty Statement

Classification: Senior Executive Service Band 1 

Branch: Research 

Immediate supervisor: Parliamentary Librarian 

Under limited/general direction undertake duties in accordance with the agreed standards for the Senior Executive Service Band 1 classification. The duties will include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Lead the strategic and operational management of the Research Branch, delivering the Parliamentary Library and Department’s priorities including providing information, research and analytical services to Senators and Members and their staff, parliamentary committees and the parliamentary departments to support parliamentary and representational duties.
2. As a member of the Parliamentary Library and department's senior management team, ensure effective communication, governance, risk management, people management and budget management across the Branch.
3. As a member of the department's senior management team, contribute to the overall strategic direction and leadership of the department.
4. Achieve results by building effective strategic partnerships, negotiating business priorities, budgets, setting performance expectations, monitoring and evaluating performance outcomes.
5. As a member of the department's senior management team, be responsible for the talent management and development of staff within the Branch and Library.
6. Develop an environment that delivers innovation and enhanced Branch performance including accurate and timely advice to the Parliamentary Librarian, Secretary, Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Library and the Presiding Officers.
7. Actively developing and maintaining strong working relationships across the department and with external agencies and organisations as needed, including representing the Branch and/or the Department at various internal and external committees and boards.
8. Develop and maintain a strong working relationship with the other parliamentary departments including the Chamber Departments.
9. Foster and model a positive and respectable work culture that is focused on client service delivery excellence.  
10. Other duties as directed by the Parliamentary Librarian or Secretary.

Employees of DPS are required to be able, and to be seen to be able, to provide professional advice and services to all Senators and Members without favour or prejudice.

How to apply

Please upload an up-to-date CV/Resume, contact details of 2 referees and a two-page statement of claims (approximately 1000 words) outlining:

•    why you are interested in the role
•    what you can offer DPS in context of the job specific requirements
•    your relevant skills career history and achievements, and
•    your leadership attributes.

Our purpose and values

We proudly provide innovative, unified, and client-focused services to the Australian Parliament and parliamentarians. We are a values driven department, placing our values at the heart of everything we do; from our service offerings and decision making to our interactions with stakeholders and each other.  
 
Our people are employed in a broad and unique range of professional, customer service and trade-based roles, all joined by a shared purpose: to make an enduring contribution to Australia’s parliamentary democracy. We have an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. While we come from all walks of life, we share a commitment to care for and protect our iconic workplace. 
 
Every year, almost one million people visit Australian Parliament House to experience the parliamentary process, the building’s architecture, nationally significant art collections, events, tours, and food and dining experiences – all made possible by our people, who are active participants in an environment where no two days are the same.

What we can offer

Join our community based on innovative, unified, and client-focused services, where your skills and development will be nurtured. You will also enjoy:  
 
•    access to flexible work arrangements 
•    ongoing opportunities to learn and develop new capabilities 
•    a competitive remuneration package
•    secure parking
•    gym membership and access to recreational facilities
•    access to on-site childcare, banking services, post office, dining options and more within APH.

Salary

A highly attractive salary will be negotiated with the successful candidate/s. This is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the lifestyle Canberra has to offer as well as having the opportunity of working in a dynamic organisation that enables Australian parliamentary democracy, engages our citizens and visitors with the parliament, and is custodian of one of Australian Parliament House. Other attractive benefits include the cost of relevant professional membership fees, designated parking, onsite health and recreation centre membership and airline lounge membership.

Conditions of Employment

The Parliamentary Service Act 1999 provides for mobility between the Australian Public Service and the Parliamentary Service. Employment opportunities in the Parliamentary Service may be subject to a range of conditions of engagement including:
a)    Australian citizenship
b)    criminal history check and security clearances
c)    possession of mandatory qualifications for certain jobs
d)    health clearance, and
e)    probation period of 6 months

Australian Citizenship
Section 22 of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 requires that employees of the Parliamentary Service are generally required to be Australian citizens. If you are not an Australian citizen, you may still be considered for engagement on the condition that you are able to gain Australian Citizenship within a specified time. Failure to obtain citizenship within the timeframe could lead to termination of engagement.

Redundancy
If you have accepted a redundancy benefit, within the previous twelve months, from a Commonwealth employer (including the Parliamentary Service and the Australian Public Service), you cannot be employed by DPS until your exclusion period (the number of weeks for which you received a redundancy benefit) has expired. If you would like to discuss your eligibility, please contact HR Services on telephone (02) 6277 5200.