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Who we are looking for?
The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) is recruiting for Research Assistant vacancy within the Law & Bills Digest section, Research branch.
The Parliamentary Library Research Branch provides information, analysis and advice to the Parliament. The Law and Bills Digest Section delivers work that is diverse and interesting, and involves responding directly to Senators, Members and their staff to provide information or tailored briefings, often within tight deadlines. The work also involves assisting with publications, with a particular focus on Bills Digests.
We are looking for a candidate with excellent research skills who is a clear and accurate writer and possesses a strong client service ethic. To be effective in this role, you will need to be able to work directly to clients under limited supervision. Communication skills—both orally and in writing—must be of a high order, as must your professionalism and judgement. The successful candidate will hold a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) qualification (as a minimum).
Eligibility and/or Job Specific Requirements
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) qualification (as a minimum).
The successful applicant will be required to obtain and maintain a Baseline Vetting (Protected/Restricted) security clearance.
DPS welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, mature age people, people from diverse backgrounds and people with a disability.
How to apply
Please upload your response to the selection criteria, noting that each criteria has a word limit of 500 words.
Your application is a chance to tell us why you are the right person for the job. We want to know why you want to work at DPS, why you are interested in the role, what you can offer us, and how your skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications are applicable to the role.
If proof of qualifications, licences or certificates are required as part of the application process, please incorporate these documents into your resume or within your applicant response before you submit your application.
Closing Date
Applications must be submitted by 11:30pm AEDT, Wednesday 28 March 2018.
Salary
Currently, the salary range for this position is $67,957 – $80,806
Duty Statement
Classification: Parliamentary Service Level 4/5
Employment Type: Ongoing
Position No.: 00100568
Local Title: Research Assistant
___________
Branch: Research
Section: Law & Bills Digest
Immediate supervisor: Enter supervisor’s position name
Security assessment: Baseline Vetting (Protected/Restricted)
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The Parliamentary Librarian is required by the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 to, among other things:
“… provide high quality information, analysis and advice to Senators and Members of the House of Representatives in support of their parliamentary and representational roles.”
The Act requires the Parliamentary Librarian to perform this function:
a) in a timely, impartial and confidential manner; and
b) maintaining the highest standards of scholarship and integrity; and
c) on the basis of equality of access for all Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, parliamentary committees and staff acting on behalf of Senators, Members or parliamentary committees; and
d) having regard to the independence of Parliament from the Executive Government of the Commonwealth.
Against this background, Research Assistants undertake duties in accordance with the agreed work level standards for Parliamentary Service Level 4. Positions at this level work under general direction within clear guidelines and established work practices and priorities, and require the application of knowledge, skills and techniques appropriate to the work area.
The work may cover a range of tasks associated with the provision of quality information, research and advisory services to parliamentary clients and the provision of support to senior officers. This may include, but is not limited to:
Undertaking less complex research tasks (including by the identification, retrieval, analysis and synthesis of information from multiple sources);
Undertaking less complex writing, advisory, information management and dissemination tasks, including the preparation of less complex reports, information products, publications and papers, section and branch resources;
Developing and maintaining professional networks, and knowledge and understanding of information sources and developments; and
Contributing to corporate activities, including by providing administrative and technical support to the senior officers in the section and branch.
Duties representing highest function: 1 & 2
Selection Criteria
1. Ability to perform complex research and analysis
- Conducts research and analysis, and provides advice on less complex issues
- Uses diverse information and database services
- Works quickly while maintaining accuracy
2. Cultivates productive working relationships
- Develops internal and external relationships to support work objectives
- Facilitates cooperation and works collaboratively
- Values individual differences and diversity
- Works constructively to resolve conflict
3. Personal and professional qualities
- Works under limited supervision and manages competing priorities
- Possesses strong client service ethic
- Demonstrates probity and accountability, initiative, resilience and good judgement
- Prepared to develop new areas of expertise, and committed to professional development
4. Communication skills
- Sound writing skills and the ability to write research and analysis products in various formats and styles
- Able to communicate clearly and appropriately, including listening, understanding and adapting to audience
- Negotiates persuasively
- Tailors responses according to client requirements
5. Understanding of the parliamentary and political environment
- Knowledge of the context, role and operations of Parliament
- Understands the role and function of key Parliamentary bodies and processes
- Deals sensitively, impartially and objectively with controversial issues
6. Eligibility and/or job specific requirements
- Applicants are required to have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) qualification
Employees of DPS are required to be able, and to be seen to be able, to provide professional advice and services to all Senators and Members without favour or prejudice.
Contact Person
Name: Michele Brennan
Phone Number: 02 6277 2764
Email: [email protected]
Working at Department of Parliamentary Services
DPS recognises and values the contribution that our diverse workforce makes and in return offers great benefits. These include a competitive salary, onsite free parking and gym facilities, a wide range of professional development opportunities so you can take your career further, and all of this in a friendly and supportive environment. Conditions of service are in accordance with the DPS Enterprise Agreement (available here).
If you think this role sounds like you and you’d like to work in a friendly, high quality team then DPS welcomes your application.
Conditions of Employment
The Parliamentary Service Act 1999 provides for mobility between the Australian Public Service and the Parliamentary Service. Employment opportunities in the Parliamentary Service may be subject to a range of conditions of engagement including:
a) Australian citizenship
b) criminal history check and security clearances
c) possession of mandatory qualifications for certain jobs
d) health clearance, and
e) probation period of 6 months
Australian Citizenship
Section 22 of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 requires that employees of the Parliamentary Service are generally required to be Australian citizens. If you are not an Australian citizen, you may still be considered for engagement on the condition that you are able to gain Australian Citizenship within a specified time. Failure to obtain citizenship within the timeframe could lead to termination of engagement.
Redundancy
If you have accepted a redundancy benefit, within the previous twelve months, from a Commonwealth employer (including the Parliamentary Service and the Australian Public Service), you cannot be employed by DPS until your exclusion period (the number of weeks for which you received a redundancy benefit) has expired. If you would like to discuss your eligibility, please contact HR Services on telephone (02) 6277 5200.
Advice to Applicants
Your application is a chance to tell us why you are the right person for the job. We want to know why you want to work at DPS, why you are interested in the role, what you can offer us, and how your skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications are applicable to the role. In a nutshell – why should we hire you?
Try not to duplicate information that can already be found in your resume, but do highlight any specific examples or achievements that will demonstrate your ability to perform the role.
If you are unfamiliar with applying for APS jobs, the Australian Public Service Commission’s fact sheet on applying for jobs will be useful: Fact Sheet 4 – Applying for APS Jobs
Some of DPS’s selection criteria are generic and are based on the Australian Public Service Commission’s Integrated Leadership System (ILS). Applicants will be expected to demonstrate how they would apply these skills to the requirements of the job as described. The Australian Public Service Commission’s ILS Leadership Pathway identifies and describes leadership capabilities at all classification levels (http://www.apsc.gov.au/working-in-the-aps/ils)
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