As a member of the Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC’s) Indigenous Electoral Participation Program, you will have a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with colleagues to lead and influence initiatives that identify and address barriers to First Nations electoral participation.

Our team works in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to improve access to electoral services and strengthen participation in Australia’s democratic processes. Through your knowledge, expertise and leadership, you will help the AEC deliver more accessible, inclusive and culturally responsive electoral services.

You will use evidence, insights and best practice to develop and maintain key resources, support legislative and policy development, and contribute to the AEC’s commitment to continuous improvement. As a member of the Branch Leadership Team, you will help shape strategic priorities, foster a proactive and curious culture, and champion service design and human-centred approaches that improve outcomes for the communities we serve.

This is an Affirmative Measures position designated for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Accordingly, this vacancy is open only to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants.

In this role, you will lead and manage Community Electoral Participation Officers and other community-based staff, supporting a culturally diverse and geographically dispersed team, operating across multiple communities and language groups. You will manage contracts and partnerships, including monitoring contractual deliverables, managing risks, ensuring compliance, and supporting the achievement of program outcomes.

You will build and maintain effective relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, represent the agency in a variety of forums, and communicate the AEC’s position on complex issues. The role requires occasional travel, including to regional and remote locations.

To excel you’ll have:

• Extensive experience building and sustaining relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, ensuring Indigenous voices and perspectives are central to the design and delivery of our work.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate genuinely and respectfully with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, building trust and rapport through authentic engagement, openness and consistent leadership behaviours.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change and deliver outcomes in a complex and evolving environment, including experience in contract management or the ability to quickly acquire and apply contract management skills. 
• Demonstrated experience as a strong people leader, effectively managing a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce by supporting performance, capability and development through coaching, guidance, knowledge sharing and constructive feedback, while fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to tailor messages and information for a variety of audiences of varying seniority and in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Demonstrated organisational, problem-solving and risk management skills, including the ability to identify issues, develop practical solutions and communicate outcomes effectively.
• Demonstrated experience managing agreements and partnerships of varying complexity, including identifying and managing risks, maintaining stakeholder relationships, and completing performance reporting and financial acquittals.

Desirable

• Relevant qualifications in Indigenous Studies, Community Engagement, Education, Public Policy or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly acquire knowledge of, relevant legislation, government programs and public policy frameworks.

• AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
• Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain the security clearance required for this role.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is at the heart of Australian democracy. The AEC is responsible for conducting federal elections and referendums, maintaining the Commonwealth electoral roll and making sure the Australian public is informed about all electoral matters. Our goal is to see that all eligible Australians actively participate in our democracy. The AEC values of electoral integrity through quality, agility and professionalism drive strategic and corporate planning and assist in organising the agency in a way that will effectively deliver the business into the future. The AEC is an equal opportunity employer which upholds the APS employment principles and actively encourages a diverse and inclusive workplace. The AEC’s statutory functions in relation to the conduct of elections and referendums require that the AEC and its employees must be, and must be seen to be, impartial and politically neutral. As a result, the AEC Enterprise Agreement and Political Neutrality Policy state that it is an inherent requirement of AEC employment that employees, and prospective employees, are not publicly active in any political affairs and do not publicly engage in such activities. This includes advocating any issues associated with a referendum. Should a prospective employee fail to meet this inherent requirement, they will be ineligible for employment with the AEC.