This Federal Government agency is delivering one of the largest national social policy reforms in recent history. With demand for services growing rapidly and a new framework underway, understanding provider viability and sector-wide needs is essential.

You will be joining a specialist modelling team responsible for forecasting, scenario testing, and financial viability analysis. They translate complex data into evidence-based advice that directly informs policy, funding, and market strategy. Their models are used to anticipate future system needs, assess reform impacts, and guide national decision-making with precision and clarity

The Opportunity

You’ll be working on two complex models that measure and forecast the financial viability of the sector which includes scenario testing of NPPs.

These models have recently been brought in house (previously created and updated by external consultants). The models were built in Excel with the plan to transition them to R.

You’ll be joining as one of two newly created contract positions (EL2 and EL1) that have recently been approved by SES. It is a highly technical & independent team of four permanent EL1s and a couple of contractors (data engineer, BI & data governance), helpful in answering technical questions in the chat, who work autonomously and just get on with it.

Additional projects in the pipeline include scoping a new demand model for the sector.

The Role

These roles will be central to designing and building new financial viability models in R, helping the department understand how policy changes may affect service providers and broader market dynamics.

Working closely with policy and program teams, you'll scope requirements, translate them into model designs, and ensure outputs are meaningful, interpretable, and decision-ready. One role is more engagement-focused, collaborating across six internal business areas; the other is more technical, ideal for someone who prefers to focus deeply on model development and code quality.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop, enhance, and maintain forecasting and viability models using R (including R Shiny)
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand modelling needs, constraints, and priorities
• Source, validate, and integrate financial and operational data from internal systems
• Optimise model performance and ensure outputs align with business and policy objectives
• Contribute to the planning, documentation, and continuous improvement of modelling approaches
• Provide technical advice and contribute to the broader uplift of modelling capability across the team

The Ideal Person

These roles require a combination of technical skills in R, but just as important is the communication skills, curiosity and problem solving skills to build a solution (new model) that is not just technically complex but also supports policy and program areas make informed decisions.

A background in actuarial science, data analysis, engineering, finance, or economics would be highly relevant, but strong, hands-on proficiency in R is essential.

Salary / Rate

There are two positions available at either the EL2 or EL1 equivalent. Initial contract is 30/6/26 with likely extension.

Proposed guideline for rates:

• $110/hr - $150/hr + Super depending on your skills and experience in similar type of projects

Australian Citizenship and existing clearance is mandatory.

How to Apply

To apply online, please click on the appropriate link.

Alternatively, for a confidential discussion, please contact Lucas Walker on 0483 911 561 quoting ref no. 20675

HorizonOne is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and we encourage applications from people of all cultures, capabilities and backgrounds.