The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is a statutory agency within the Attorney-General Department’s portfolio with responsibility for:
privacy functions under the Privacy Act 1988 and other legislation
freedom of information functions under the Freedom of Information Act 1982
government information policy functions, conferred on the Australian Information Commissioner under the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010
Directors in the Dispute Resolution Branch play a key role in leading teams involved in delivering the full suite of regulatory action available to the OAIC in relation to privacy and access to information laws. The role is responsible for delivering privacy and/or information access regulatory outcomes in a fast paced and high volume environment. The role has responsibility for leading teams involving in conciliations, investigations and/or administrative review processes and in utilising all of the regulatory powers of the OAIC to achieve regulatory outcomes that benefit the Australian community.
The Early Resolution team receives and assesses all privacy complaints the OAIC receives and aims to resolve as many of them through an early resolution process. This often involves direct contact between the two parties, to discuss possible resolution of the matter, and the respondent providing the OAIC with a response to the allegations and to the outcome the individual is seeking.
Directors in the Freedom of Information (FOI) team lead a team focused on assisting the Australian Information Commissioner in the conduct of the OAIC’s FOI regulatory functions, including the external review of agencies and ministers’ FOI decisions, investigating FOI complaints and making extensions of time decisions in relation to FOI requests, issuing guidance and monitoring, investigating and reporting on agencies’ compliance with the FOI Act.
As a Director FOI you will be responsible for providing support and mentoring to a team of review and/or investigation officers. This may also include developing and maintaining subject matter expertise in relation to freedom of information, providing strategic advice on the IC review and FOI complaint processes, and contributing to the leadership and management of the FOI team.
The roles
Based in Sydney CBD, we are looking for highly motivated individuals at the Executive Level 2, full‑time or part time to fill twospecific roles.
1. Director, Enquiries and Privacy Early Resolution
The work will include:
Providing advice or respond to complex Enquiries and complaints and respond to escalations
Overseeing assessment of all privacy complaints, raise matters of risk with Executive to ensure approach
Providing advice to other teams on enquiry or complaints trends, or provide privacy Dispute Resolution perspectives on particular issues
Responding to Executive, or the communications team, as to the status of matters that may be focus of media attention
Updating the Executive on the performance of the teams
Coaching and mentoring staff and provide training to all new staff as part of OAIC induction
Clear correspondence the team has drafted on stakeholder correspondence.
Reviewing all correspondence received after a privacy complaint has been closed to make a decision as to whether any further action is required
Working closely with other Directors to ensure approaches to issues/matters are aligned across the agency
Closely monitoring the intake, sprint and decline queues to ensure matters are being progressed at an appropriate rate and identify any trends or issues.
2. Director, Freedom of Information (FOI)
The work will include:
Effectively managing a team undertaking IC reviews, FOI complaints, other FOI regulatory activity and FOI related projects in a high volume environment
Managing the assessment of IC reviews/FOI complaints and exercise statutory delegations on behalf of the Commissioner
Participating in the development and review of policy, practice and procedure related to the management of IC reviews, FOI complaints and other regulatory activities
Providing strategic advice to, and liaise with, the Executive and other sections about the work of the FOI section as required
Contributing to OAIC wide processes such as submissions, publications, policy documents, web material as required
Delivering internal and external training, representing the OAIC at external forums and responding to media enquiries/issues as required
Selection criteria
General criteria for both roles
Shapes strategic thinking
Achieves results
Cultivates productive working relationships
Exemplifies personal drive and integrity
Communicates with influence
Job-specific criteria for Director, Enquiries and Privacy Early Resolution
Expert knowledge, understanding and/or experience in privacy or information access, or the ability to quickly acquire this knowledge and understanding;
Knowledge or experience of either:
the performance auditing or risk assessments, or the ability to rapidly acquire this knowledge and understanding, or
the development of policy advice and guidance in a regulatory context, or the ability to quickly acquire this, or
statutory investigation, conciliation or merit review processes, including demonstrated experience in alternative dispute resolution and the ability to effectively manage and support teams in a high volume case management environment and appropriately prioritise competing interests;
Qualifications/experience in one or more of the following: law, public policy, auditing, risk assessment and informatics.
Experience in managing a team and demonstrated leadership.
Job-specific criteria for Director, FOI
High level knowledge, experience or understanding of current information policy and issues, particularly related to FOI, or the ability to quickly acquire this knowledge
Demonstrated experience in merit review processes, including demonstrated experience in alternative dispute resolution and decision making and the ability to effectively manage and support teams in a high volume case management environment and appropriately prioritise competing interests
Degree in law
Experience managing a team and demonstrated leadership
Total remuneration package will include up to $158,507 (ranging from $120,356 to $137,355 plus 15.4% superannuation) dependent on your experience, skills and abilities.
The OAIC is committed to enabling its people to perform at their best and offers the following benefits:
Opportunity to work at the cutting edge of privacy and data protection, paving the way for future career opportunities.
Access to ongoing professional development, with a capability framework to guide skill enhancement.
Genuine flexibility to help achieve a balance between work and home life.
Additional paid leave over the Christmas to New Year period as well as access to other leave (e.g. for study or moving).
Contribution to your wellbeing through subsidies for eye health, flu vaccinations and a wellbeing allowance.
Section 22 of the Public Service Act 1999 requires that APS employees must be Australian citizens
There are restrictions on employment of people who have, within the previous 12 months, accepted a redundancy benefit from an APS agency or a non-APS Commonwealth employer.
For the duration of your employment with the OAIC you will be required to obtain and maintain an Australian Government security clearance.
How to apply
Please complete the attached application sheet as part of your application. You are asked to provide a covering letter of up to two pages explaining your interest in which particular Director role, motivation and fit for the role, including the skills and experience you will bring to the organisation and the position. All items should be sent as one document, including your full resume, to: jobs@oaic.gov.au
Closing Date: 5pm, Thursday 19 March 2020.
More information: visit www.oaic.gov.au or contact: Mr David Stevens, Assistant Commissioner, Dispute Resolution on (02) 8231 4224 or Ms Rocelle Ago, Principal Director, FOI on 02 9284 9621 for more information.
If you are shortlisted, we will contact you to arrange an interview.
If you are not shortlisted, you will be notified by email.
Application sheet
Please complete this form to apply for a position with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
Any personal information you provide is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and will be used for recruitment purposes only.
You can view our privacy policy on our website.
Vacancy details
Please select your preferred position(s):
Preference
Position
EL 2 Director, Enquiries and Privacy Early Resolution
EL 2 Director, FOI
Personal details
Title
Given name
Surname
Preferred name
Address line 1
Address line 2
Suburb
State
Postcode
APS employment
If you are currently employed in the Australian Public Service (APS), please provide the following information
APS employer
Response
Australian Government Service Number (AGS)
APS Classification
Employment status (ongoing or non-ongoing)
Eligibility
Requirement
Response
Are you an Australian citizen?
Have you received a redundancy benefit, severance payment or similar benefit from an APS Agency or a non-APS Commonwealth employer within the last 12 months?
Accessibility adjustment of selection process
The selection process may include a range of assessment activities for example, cognitive testing, work samples as well as an interview. Most assessment activities are timed and are likely to include reading from a computer screen or paper.
We understand that you may not wish to share information about your disability at this time, however the responses you provide will help us in making the selection process inclusive and give you the opportunity to request any necessary adjustments.
Adjustment
Response
Are there any adjustments that you may require to the selection process?
If you do require adjustments to the selection process, please tell us what type of adjustments you require.
Submitting your application
When you are ready to submit your application, please send the following document (as one document) by email to jobs@oaic.gov.au:
✓
I have included as one document
Completed job application form
A covering letter of up to two pages explaining my interest, motivation and fit for the role, including the skills and experience I will bring to the organisation and the position(s)
