About our team
The Protocol and International Visits Branch (PIV) is responsible for administering the state occasions and official visits program in a manner which enhances Australia's International relationships and the image of Australia and the Australian Government. The principal activity of this position is to plan, manage and coordinate complex arrangements for a range of events relating to ceremonial and visits activities.
The position involves extensive liaison with the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General, Prime Minister's Office, Ministers' offices, diplomatic representatives, other commonwealth departments and state and territory governments in relation to visits and events. This position will involve managing a team of up to ten staff.
What you’ll be doing
In this role you will be based in Canberra and will be responsible for leading a team to plan, manage and coordinate a range of event or visit activities for PM&C, including (but not limited to):
High-level Guest of Government visits to Australia
Prime Minister’s overseas travel
National and official events, including meetings, hospitality, ceremonial occasions, state funeral and memorial services and other official events
Virtual meetings between the Prime Minister and international leaders
Other duties include:
Managing, supervising and training staff engaged in project work relating to state occasions, visits and events.
Providing policy and strategic advice for the Prime Minister and the departmental executive on matters relating to state occasions and events.
Providing protocol advice regarding Commonwealth Protocol standards.
Representing the Department and undertaking high-level and intercultural liaison and negotiation.
Writing complex briefs and responding to FOI requests, parliamentary questions and ministerial or general correspondence of a sensitive nature.
Improving the delivery of services by implementing policies, systems and procedures that meet the needs of principal stakeholders and improve efficiency.
Why you’re the ideal candidate
Our ideal candidate will perform at the level in accordance with the PM&C Performance model.
The role of the Director of Protocol will involve working in a variety of interesting, dynamic and often high-profile environments where you will work independently or lead a team. A strong understanding of protocol is highly desirable.
You will need to:
Provide expertise across a broad range of activities potentially relating to the work of different, and at times, competing, program areas.
Demonstrated maturity, confidence and high level leadership and organisational skills, including drive, flexibility and attention to detail in leading work that is very complex and/or sensitive.
Operate under broad direction, exercising independence to deliver quality outcomes.
Ability to remain professional while working under pressure, display resilience and steer change by dealing with uncertainty in a positive and flexible manner.
Challenge assumptions and generate new ideas, approaches and strategies. Implement change and business improvement strategies in the workplace.
Be responsible for team achievements and contribute to building team capacity through coaching and mentoring of new/current staff, providing performance feedback and encouraging career development.
Demonstrated personal qualities of integrity, discretion and sound judgement.
Understand cultural sensitives and value individual differences and diversity to enhance interactions.
This role will involve extended and varied work times.
A willingness to work outside core hours when required, and travel interstate and overseas at short notice is essential. Where additional hours are completed outside of PM&C’s ordinary hours of work, employees will be compensated through the Department’s Time Off In Lieu or Overtime provisions.
A merit pool may be established and used to fill the same or similar vacancies for 18 months from the date of advertising.
Flexibility arrangements
At PM&C we recognise the broad benefits of offering flexibility in how, when and where work is performed. We consider flexibility first from a starting position of ‘how can we make this work?’ and consider individual circumstances and operational requirements in making genuine attempts to establish mutually beneficial arrangements. Please reach out to the contact officer if you would like to explore what flexibility might look like for you, such as part time work, variable start and finish times or working from home.
Eligibility
· To be eligible for this position you must be an Australian Citizen.
· The occupant must be able to obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 1 (Secret) level security clearance, or hold a current security clearance of an appropriate level.
· The successful candidate will be required to be assessed through our pre-employment screening checks, such as an Australian Criminal History Check
How to apply
If this sounds like the opportunity you are looking for, we want to hear from you! Submit an online application through the Apply link by Sunday 2 February 2025 at 11:30pm AEDT.