Senior Policy Officer

• Salary packaging (reduce the tax you pay and increase your take-home pay)
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements

Supporting the Policy and Government Relations Manager (PGRM) in driving systemic change for people with physical disability across NSW, the Senior Policy Officer will produce high-quality, evidence-based policy outputs, lead systemic projects, and identify, prioritise, and research current and emerging issues to facilitate the full participation, equality of opportunity and inclusion of people with a physical disability in NSW community.

Duties to include:

• • Identify, prioritise, and research current and emerging issues to facilitate the full participation, equality of opportunity and equality of citizenship of people with a physical disability across NSW
  • Identify, research, and respond to relevant enquiries, submissions and reports and take lead in responding to enquiries, submissions, and reports
  • Assist in the determination of priority proactive focus areas and in developing policy positions on issues relevant to people with a physical disability in NSW
  • Provide input into PDCN planning, development, and delivery of projects
  • Lead strategic projects and assist in identifying new projects which facilitate the full participation, equality of opportunity and equality of citizenship of people with a physical disability
  • Conduct surveys, collate survey data, and produce final analysis of data responses for inclusion across evidence-based policy outputs 
  • Design and facilitate consultations with people with physical disability 
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to exchange current information, and best practice principles
  • Assist facilitation of the PDCN Lived Experience Advisory Panel group and other advisory bodies
  • Attend advisory boards/committees as a representative of PDCN and to promote the collective interests of the physical disability community

• Provide support to the PGRM and Chief Executive Officer in relation to media inquiries

• Represent PDCN at external meetings, forums, expos
• May provide supervision to junior staff, students, and volunteers 
•  

Key Selection Criteria

Talent and Capabilities

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice issues

• Excellent analytical skills and the capacity to think strategically
• Demonstrated capacity to take initiative, responsibility for tasks, and work independently
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a small, tight-knit team
• Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to manage competing priorities 
• An ability to build and maintain strong relationships and collaborative partnerships with member groups and other stakeholder

Selection Criteria

• At least 3 years’ experience in an equivalent role
• Qualifications in law, public policy, social work, or political economy 
• Demonstrated high level research skills, including the capacity to design surveys and analyse data responses, as well as a track record of high quality, evidence based, policy outputs 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice 
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders 
• Demonstrated high level organisational skills, including the capacity to prioritise, meet deadlines and respond to time sensitive issues
• Demonstrated capacity to manage complex projects 
• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate consultations
• Capacity to show initiative, and work independently 
• Capacity to support junior policy staff, students and/or volunteers 
• High-level computer literacy, including the ability to use Microsoft Office suite, and work with online databases
• The ability to travel within NSW at times to undertake role requirements

Desirable

• Lived experience of physical disability is highly considered for this role

• Prior knowledge and understanding of systemic issues impacting the disability community 

Other Requirements

• NSW Police Check, Working with Children Check, COVID 19 Vaccination 
• Current driver’s licence (preferred)

Benefits

This position is paid under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award Level 6 plus Govt guarantee superannuation and leave loading)

You will have the opportunity to also access a range of benefits including:

• Salary packaging (reduce the tax you pay and increase your take home pay)
• Professional development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements