Policy Officer

Description:

Why work with us:

The Office for Early Childhood Development was created to champion change and to help build a system that gives all South Australian children a flying start to life.

Guided by the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, the Office for Early Childhood Development is the steward of the early childhood development system in South Australia.

The Office is tasked with a significant responsibility: bringing together a holistic, connected system for early childhood development across South Australia, with the goal of reducing the rate of children entering school developmental vulnerable. Critical to this is the roll-out of universal 3-year-old preschool from 2026, giving every child access to 2 years of teacher-led, play-based early learning before school.

About this role:

The Office for Early Childhood Development in South Australia is looking for a Policy Officer to join our Government Relations and Strategy team.

The Policy Officer will play a crucial role in supporting the Government Relations and Strategy team within the Office for Early Childhood Development . This role offers a dynamic and fast-paced environment where you will contribute to strategic policy design and support high-level government relations activities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Drafting briefings and papers for senior executives on national issues.
• Undertake comprehensive research to inform policy development in early childhood education and care.
• Coordinating intergovernmental meetings and stakeholder engagement efforts.
• Assisting with the management of workflow, communications, and project coordination within the directorate.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of tools and templates for continuous improvement.
• Promote a safe and healthy working environment in line with Work Health and Safety guidelines.

This role provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders at all levels of government and contribute to a meaningful policy agenda that shapes the future of early childhood education in South Australia.

Who You Will Work With:

• Executive Director, Government Relations, Workforce and Strategy
• Assistant Director, Government Relations and Strategy
• Manager, Intergovernmental Relations
• Other Officers within the Office for Early Childhood Development
• Officers across the Department for Education and other relevant agencies

About you:

If you're eager to contribute to policy development and engage with key stakeholders, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

To be successful in this role, we are looking for someone who brings below competencies:

• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Policy Support: Experience in policy design, research, and development.
• Organisational skills: Ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Stakeholder management: Build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders.
• Analytical skills: Strong problem-solving and research abilities.
• Teamwork: Collaborative and positive approach to contributing to a cohesive team culture.

Role benefits:

The successful candidate will:

• be part of a forward-thinking team that influences policy at a state and national level.
• gain exposure to high-level decision-making processes within the government.
• opportunity to engage with key stakeholders across the public, private, and non-government sectors.
• work in a supportive environment that values your professional growth and well-being

Application Instructions and Information:

Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.

Applicants must submit a CV, Pre-employment Declaration, and a cover letter outlining their suitability against the key selection criteria in the attached Position Description.

Additional Note:

This is a full-time 2-year long term contract role (1.0 FTE) with potential to be made ongoing.

Remuneration:

ASO4-$76,561 -$80,256 (1.0 FTE) per annum, plus superannuation.

Enquiries:

Enquiries can be directed to OECD.HR@sa.gov.au

Special Conditions:

The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employed which is required to be renewed every 5 years before expiry. The incumbent will be required to undertake RRHAN –EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education Care) Facilitator Lead (Masterclass) extended course or the online (Fundamentals) course which will be required to be updated every 3 years.

For all other Special Conditions please refer to the attached Position Description

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.