Indigenous Employment & Business Coordinator - Affirmative Measure

The Australian Government is seeking an Indigenous Employment & Business Coordinator to support the Indigenous Employment Pathways Program. This role focuses on enhancing employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, connecting job seekers with employers, and assisting Indigenous entrepreneurs with business planning. The position is based in South Australia, with locations including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, and Sydney.
• APS 6 - $91,944 - $104,393 per annum plus superannuation
• Parks Australia Division
• Adelaide, SA,Brisbane, QLD,Canberra, ACT,Darwin, NT,Hobart, TAS,Melbourne, VIC,Sydney, NSW

An exciting opportunity has become available in the Indigenous Employment Pathways team who is responsible for implementing innovative programs and solutions focus on this priority and provide Traditional Owners and local Aboriginal people better employment opportunities and career pathways, aligned to their aspirations in the management of their land and waters.

Affirmative measure
The filling of this vacancy is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the 'Racial Discrimination Act 1975'. This vacancy is only available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Who we are
Australia’s natural and cultural heritage is unique. Our land and seascapes are distinctive, home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, and to some of the oldest living cultures on earth. These environments and cultures are an essential part of our national identity, and visitors travel from across the country and the world to experience them. The Director of National Parks (the Director) is responsible for six national parks, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, 58 Australian Marine Parks and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Parks Australia is the federal park agency that supports the Director, and they are a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (the Department). We work to showcase these natural and cultural wonders to the world, demonstrating to all why these places are so special, and inspiring communities to become more invested in their care and future.

Indigenous Employment Pathways Section was established to create employment opportunities and recruit First Nations Australians to key positions that will continue to improve the capability of critical operations and to deliver leading environment, sustainable land management and cultural heritage practices. The Section works closely with Senior Leadership within Parks Australia to develop culturally safe practices when it comes to Employment and Business opportunities.

The Job
The Indigenous Employment and Business Coordinators play a key role in delivering the Indigenous Employment Pathways Program (IEPP) that was established in 2022. They will support the delivery of key initiatives under the IEPP including the establishment of career pathways for First Nations people and developing the Indigenous Business Incubator for Parks Australia.

The role will include the following:
• Connecting Indigenous job seekers with employers, facilitating recruitment, retention, and career growth, and providing cultural awareness training.
• Assist with Co-designing Indigenous employment and business programs, including scoping appropriate pathways for local Aboriginal people.
• Assisting Indigenous entrepreneurs with business planning, funding, and networking while promoting supplier diversity and procurement opportunities.
• Building relationships with Indigenous communities, organisations, and organisation job fairs and workshops.
• Ensuring initiatives align with policies, Indigenous rights, and best practices for engagement.
• Support the implementation of change and innovation through change management and Indigenous engagement to deliver key projects, including the embedding of Traditional Knowledge and Skills in the employee lifecycle.
• Support management to deliver career development for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff, undertake Stay Interviews to understand retention needs.
• Provide advice, solutions and strategies around complex problems including managing sensitivities in engagement approaches and activities.

Knowledge and experience
• Advanced knowledge of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• Proven ability to communicate sensitively and appropriately with other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Advanced knowledge of Indigenous employment strategies and program design methodologies.
• Knowledge of or the ability to gain quickly, policy and legislation requirements including the EPBC Act and Joint Management arrangements for the jointly managed National Parks.
• Strong networks and ability to build and maintain positive relationships.

Skills and capabilities
• A proven ability to show initiative, problem-solving, working in a fast-paced environment, and thinking strategically.
• Demonstrated capability to provide high level leadership in a culturally diverse workplace, including planning complex projects and managing and mentoring staff.
• Experience in managing highly effective relationships with Traditional Owners, managers, employees and external stakeholders including other APS agencies and Aboriginal organisations as appropriate.
• Demonstrated competence in co-design approaches with a particular focus on the development of Indigenous employment strategies, policies, programs, and delivery of outcomes.
• Well-developed oral and written communication skills and the capacity to liaise at senior levels, both internally and externally, including highly developed negotiation and interpersonal skills.

Eligibility
Citizenship - To be eligible for employment with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water you must be an Australian citizen.

Security Clearance - This position requires a Baseline Vetting security clearance. You will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Pre-employment Check - Your suitability for employment will be assessed through a pre-employment screening process. This process includes a requirement to undergo and satisfy a National Police Check, referee checks, character clearance and where required a pre-employment medical assessment, specified mandatory qualification(s) validation and a probation period of 6 months.

For additional information, please read the Job Description below.

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