Governance Support Officer, Governance, Performance and Audit Branch

Who we are

You will join a collaborative and high-performing team at the centre of PM&C’s governance and corporate operations. Working across two closely connected functions within the Governance, Performance and Audit (GPA) Branch, you will contribute to the Governance Secretariat’s work supporting the department’s internal governance committees, while also providing executive support to the Assistant Secretary, Governance, Performance and Audit.

GPA Branch is responsible for PM&C’s internal governance arrangements, performance reporting, audit, risk management and integrity functions and sits within Corporate Division. The branch plays an important role in enabling the department to operate effectively, meet its accountability obligations and deliver on its priorities.

The Governance Secretariat plays a key role in coordinating PM&C’s internal governance committees, supporting effective decision-making and ensuring governance processes are delivered consistently and efficiently.

What you will do

As the Governance Support Officer and Executive Assistant, you will contribute to the Governance Secretariat’s work supporting the department’s internal governance committees while providing high-quality executive support to the Assistant Secretary of Governance, Performance and Audit Branch.

In this role, you will help coordinate key governance processes, support effective decision-making and build trusted relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders across the department. You will also provide executive support to the Assistant Secretary, coordinating competing priorities and ensuring the smooth operation of branch activities.

This position offers valuable exposure to departmental governance arrangements, executive-level decision-making and corporate operations, while developing your skills in governance, stakeholder engagement, administration and executive support.

Working within a small and collaborative team, you will play an important role in enabling the branch to deliver its responsibilities and helping PM&C meet its governance, accountability and performance obligations.

Specifically, you will:

• Support the Governance Secretariat by coordinating governance committee meetings, papers, agendas and logistics
• Maintain governance records, track actions and support the delivery of governance processes
• Build effective working relationships and provide responsive support to stakeholders across the department
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of branch administration and governance practices
• Provide executive support to the Assistant Secretary, Governance, Performance and Audit, including diary management, meeting coordination and administrative support
• Coordinate branch activities, including correspondence, records management, travel and other business support functions.

Flexible working arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis, however, 100% remote is not possible due to the nature of the position. The successful candidate will be required in the office on committee dates etc.

What you will bring

Our ideal candidate is a highly organised and collaborative professional who enjoys supporting senior leaders and contributing to the effective operation of the branch and the department more broadly.

You perform at the APS 4 level in accordance with the PM&C Performance model, and you bring strong communication skills, sound judgement and a proactive, can-do approach to managing competing priorities, solving problems and building productive stakeholder relationships. You take pride in delivering high-quality work, exercising initiative and working effectively with others to achieve shared outcomes in a dynamic environment.

You will:

• Achieve results: deliver high-quality work, manage competing priorities, take ownership of tasks and meet deadlines in a busy environment.
• Support productive working relationships: build and maintain positive relationships with stakeholders and provide responsive, client-focused support.
• Display personal drive and integrity: exercise sound judgement, handle sensitive information appropriately, demonstrate professionalism in all interactions and approach challenges with a positive, solutions-focused mindset.
• Communicate effectively: communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, and tailor messages to different audiences.
• Demonstrate strong organisational skills: coordinate competing priorities, anticipate requirements, manage administrative processes and maintain accurate records and information.
• Contribute to team outcomes: works collaboratively, shows initiative, identifies opportunities for improvement and adapts to changing priorities with a proactive can-do attitude.

Prior experience working in a governance, committee or secretariat environment, and providing executive support to senior leaders is desirable, but not essential.

• Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing. At PM&C to be eligible for this position you should be an Australian Citizen by the completion of the recruitment process, except under exceptional circumstances.
• The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance, or hold a current security clearance of an appropriate level.
• The successful candidate will be assessed through our pre-employment screening checks, such as an Australian Criminal History Check, and will normally be subject to a six-month probation period if new to the APS or has not yet completed their probation period elsewhere in the APS.

Ongoing & Non-ongoing (for a period of up to 24 months)

This role is being advertised as both ongoing and non-ongoing, with the employment type to be determined in negotiation with the preferred candidate and the PM&C delegate.

Where a non-ongoing specified term is offered, this would be for a maximum period of two (2) years. If the initial contract is for less than 2 years, it may be extended or renewed once, up to the 2 year limit.

A non-ongoing offer may result in conversion to an ongoing offer of employment, however this must occur within 18 months from the opening date of this advertisement.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) advances Australia’s national interests through high quality support to the Prime Minister and the operations of Cabinet. PM&C supports the Prime Minister as leader of the Government and of Cabinet and as leader of the country. This positions us both to provide visibility of Government priorities and influence outcomes across all Commonwealth portfolios, state jurisdictions, the Australian Public Service (APS) as an institution, and on the international stage. Our role is to provide fresh thinking and creative advice to government as stewards for the APS. We contribute ideas on the many and varied issues facing Australia, taking into consideration the views and opinions of a range of stakeholders across the private, public, not-for-profit and community sectors. The PM&C team provides pragmatic advice and finds solutions to problems so that Government policies can be effectively designed and implemented. We give particular weight to issues that are important to the Prime Minister. Our focus, put in its simplest terms, is to find new ways to improve the lives of all Australians.