Project Officer - Workforce & Skills

Description:

Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and detail-oriented individual to join our dedicated team and support meaningful employment outcomes for veterans and their families in South Australia.

We are seeking a highly organised Project Officer – Workforce & Skills with strong research, policy development, and stakeholder engagement skills to drive workforce initiatives that enhance employment opportunities and workforce integration. Reporting to the Director, Veterans SA, the successful applicant will play a key part in leading workforce-related projects, analysing employment trends, and collaborating with government agencies and industry partners to develop evidence-based policy solutions.

The successful candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of programs that recognise military-acquired skills, support veteran transition pathways, and strengthen South Australia’s veteran workforce strategy. This role offers a unique opportunity to work across government and industry sectors, shape policy recommendations, and drive initiatives that create sustainable employment outcomes for the veteran community.

This is a full-time position for up to 24 months, ideal for someone looking to advance their career in workforce development and policy while making a tangible impact on the lives of veterans and their families. You will be part of a collaborative team committed to delivering impactful programs and fostering strong relationships within the veteran community.

About You

You are a dynamic and driven professional with a strong sense of self, deep understanding of workforce development and a genuine passion for supporting veterans and their families. Your ability to navigate complex policy environments and engage with government, industry, and community stakeholders allows you to develop innovative solutions that enhance veteran employment opportunities.

With a strategic mindset and a forward-thinking approach, you excel in analysing workforce trends, identifying gaps, and shaping policies that drive sustainable outcomes. You are a strong collaborator who values teamwork, fostering productive relationships that lead to meaningful change.

As a consummate professional, you demonstrate integrity, adaptability, and a commitment to delivering high-quality results. Your excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities ensure that workforce initiatives are not only effective but also responsive to the evolving needs of the veteran community.

With your passion for making a tangible impact, you are ready to take on this role and contribute to initiatives that create lasting employment pathways for veterans in South Australia.

About Us

Veterans SA was established in 2008 as the first state jurisdiction to recognise the importance of a veterans’ affairs portfolio. Veterans SA is dedicated to advocacy for current and former serving members of the Australian Defence Force and their families.

We work across all levels of government, with private industry, and with ex-service organisations and associations to advise, inform and educate on the unique nature of military service as it relates to the uniformed member and to their families, and provide information and guidance on the value and skills that this cohort of people can bring to the community.

We also play a role in sharing information about services, supports and programs that are available to veterans across the State of SA, and we provide advice to the Minister's Office and the South Australian Government in relation to veterans' matters, as well as administering and distributing grant funds and providing secretariat support for the Minister's Veterans Advisory Council.

Veterans SA sits within Defence SA, a small and dynamic agency that advocates for the defence and space industry sectors as well as supporting the Australian Defence Force in South Australia.

Benefits

Veterans SA is a small and agile portfolio which provides employees with challenging and rewarding work and great opportunities for learning and development and flexibility.

Role Purpose/Context:

The Project Officer – Workforce & Skills for Veterans SA is responsible for workforce development initiatives aimed at supporting veterans and their families.

The role involves developing policies, programs, and projects that improve employment opportunities and workforce integration across South Australia.

This position is crucial in shaping policies and programs that create positive employment outcomes for the veteran community, specifically:

• Leading research, policy development, and implementation to support veterans in finding sustainable employment and recognising their military skills.
• Managing workforce-related projects, collaborating with stakeholders to address employment challenges, and analysing workforce trends to inform policy recommendations.
• Preparing reports for senior leadership, administering workforce grants, and providing advice on best practices for veteran employment.
• Promoting veteran employment initiatives and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

The Project Officer – Workforce and Skills will:

• Work with key South Australian government social policy-orientated agencies to establish a baseline of policy and program considerations for veterans and their families.
• Undertake gap analysis relating to the problem sets and develop a strategy to explore and consider reducing these identified gaps.
• Work with identified South Australian based organisations to clearly articulate the opportunities for increased state government engagement in the transition process for veterans and engagement with families of current or recently former serving Australian Defence Force members.
• Support the Director Veterans SA in Commonwealth engagement opportunities to improve cross-jurisdiction information sharing and collaboration on initiatives of mutual interest.
• Identify opportunities, benefits and risks associated with establishing mechanisms to gather evidence to inform possible policy and/or program development recommendations.
• In partnership with lead policy agencies, develop fiscally prudent and evidence-based policy and/or program reforms with clearly defined benefits for the South Australian veteran community.
• Support whole-of-government responses to, or as a result of, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
• Work across internal agency and other relevant government communications and/or community engagement teams to promote opportunities for engagement with the veteran and wider South Australian community.

Key Selection Criteria:

• Demonstrated experience in workforce development, policy analysis, or program implementation, with the ability to develop evidence-based solutions that enhance veteran employment opportunities.
• Proven ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, industry partners, and community organizations, to drive meaningful employment and workforce initiatives.
• Strong research and data analysis capabilities to assess workforce trends, identify gaps, and provide strategic policy recommendations that support veteran skills recognition and integration.
• Experience in leading and managing workforce-related projects, including planning, execution, and evaluation, to ensure successful delivery of initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare high-quality reports, briefings, and policy recommendations, as well as advocate for veteran workforce programs.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment, managing multiple priorities while demonstrating initiative, critical thinking, and a proactive approach to addressing workforce challenges for veterans and their families.

Our Commitment to Diversity

The South Australian Government is committed to building a flexible, diverse and inclusive culture, planning for and promoting diversity. We welcome and encourage applications from diverse community groups and ages including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQ, people with disabilities, women and other diversity groups.

The South Australian Government also strives to be an employer of choice for military veterans and their family members. We encourage applications from those with military experience and support employees who undertake active Reserve work for the Australian Defence Force.

Special Conditions

• This is a contract / term vacancy up to 24 months.
• The incumbent is required to enter into an annual performance agreement.
• Work outside of normal hours may be required in times of peak activity.

Enquiries

Contact: Bianca Wheeler, Director, Veterans SA

Email: DefenceSA.Enquiries@defencesa.com

Application requirements

All applications must be submitted online via www.defencesa.com/careers .

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your resume, together with a Covering Letter (no more than two pages) outlining your skills and experience giving consideration to the key selection criteria and the experience and skills listed in the role description. Applicants must include the contact information of at least two referees with one being your immediate supervisor/manager and a completed “Pre-Employment Declaration in the SA Public Sector” form.

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.