The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is looking to fill the roles of Senior Governance Officers (APS6) & Principal Governance Officers (EL1) Various Branches to contribute to delivery of priority work programs.

About the roles

The responsibilities of the roles vary according to the activities being supported and may include:

• Undertaking governance assessments and activities to broker data sharing agreements with data providers, requiring close collaboration with legal, privacy and operational teams.
• Managing strategically important relationships with internal and external stakeholders across Australian and State and Territory governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners.
• Strategic development of ABS data governance policies, processes and procedures.
• Supporting the national approach to progressing data under the Data Policy Partnership priorities.
• Developing insights and products to inform climate risk and resilience policy development.
• Providing secretariat support for high-level strategic fora and stakeholder meetings.
• Contributing to strategic briefings for senior executive for governance fora, especially external meetings.
• Maintaining client relationship management, corporate registers and other governance artefacts.

Principal Governance Officers (EL1) are also responsible for leading teams to achieve results, deliver timely and quality outcomes in line with their section’s program responsibilities and priorities.

Identified Positions

Some of these positions are Identified which signifies that these roles have strong involvement in matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Those positions are required to liaise with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and service providers.

What we are looking for (selection criteria)

To be suitable at the APS6 level you should have most or all of the following skills, qualities and experience:

• Understands, supports and promotes organisational strategic objectives and alignment to operational activities.
• Critical thinking and reasoning, including the ability identify and implement solutions to address complex problems.
• Experience leading and/or working in and contributing to high performance teams.
• High level written and verbal communication skills.
• Stakeholder engagement including managing complex and sensitive relationships.
• Project management: able to apply appropriate project management methodologies and techniques for the successful delivery of project outcomes.

To be suitable at the EL1 level you should have most or all of the following skills, qualities and experience:

• Shapes strategic thinking and understands, supports and promotes organisational strategic objectives and alignment to operational activities.
• Strong critical thinking and reasoning, including the ability to problem solve in changing environments under pressure.
• Leadership skills to enhance staff capability and lead teams through change.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate complex concepts.
• Stakeholder engagement including managing complex and sensitive relationships.
• Project management: able to apply appropriate project management methodologies and techniques for the successful delivery of project outcomes.

If you are applying for any the identified positions you will also need to demonstrate:

• Understanding of the matters impacting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Capability and commitment to continue to develop cultural competency.

For all levels, desired knowledge, or applied experience in:

• Data governance, including implementing or managing data projects or data asset management.
• Understanding of Australia’s data landscape, awareness of data sharing, ethics and privacy policies and laws and a commitment to supporting public trust in the government’s responsible use of data.

How to apply

To apply, complete an online application form on the ABS e-recruitment system

You will need to select the level/s and positions you wish to be considered for, upload your current resume, provide referee details and respond to the following:

In no more than 500 words, provide a statement of claims of how you have demonstrated the skills, qualities, and experience (outlined in Section 1 of the Applicant Information Kit) required for these roles.

Note: if you wish to apply for both the APS6 and EL1 levels, you will only be required to submit one application and statement, pitched at the EL1 level.

Important: responses fewer than 200 words will not be considered.

Please read the attached Applicant Information Kit for more information about the position and the recruitment process.

Applications close at 11:30 pm (AEST), Wednesday 30 April 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.