23 March 2017
| Who we are looking for?
The Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) is recruiting for PEL 1 Senior Researcher – Law & Bills Digest vacancy within the Law & Bills Digest section, Research branch. Parliamentary Library researchers support the work of Australia’s parliament by providing high quality information, analysis and advice to members, senators and parliamentary committees. Research positions in the Parliamentary Library are highly valued because of the opportunity they provide to directly inform the work of parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. A Senior Researcher responds to client requests on legal issues, prepares publications (in particular, Bills Digests) and works on the Library’s Central Enquiry Point. The successful candidate will have strong legal research and writing skills, including an ability to use a diverse range of writing styles, while working towards tight deadlines. They will have advanced analytical and conceptual skills, along with a commitment to detail and client service. They will be comfortable working across a range of legal areas. Eligibility and/or Job Specific Requirements The successful candidate will be required to have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) qualification (as a minimum). It will also be an advantage to have an understanding of the parliamentary environment. 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. 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 AEST, Wednesday 26 April 2017 Salary Currently, the salary range for this position is $97,379.00 – $111,183.00 Duty Statement Classification: Position No.: Local Title: ___________ Branch: Section: Immediate supervisor: Security assessment: ___________ 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:
Against this background, Researchers undertake, under limited direction, duties in accordance with the agreed standards for a Parliamentary Executive Level 1. They provide high quality information, research and advisory services to achieve results in line with the organisation’s goals. The duties will include, but are not limited to, some or all of the following: 1. Providing high quality professional, specialist and technical research on complex issues (including the identification, retrieval, analysis and synthesis of information from diverse sources) for the benefit of parliamentary clients and internal stakeholders; 2. Providing high quality analysis and advice to clients and internal stakeholders in relation to the subject areas covered by the section; 3. Preparing research papers and information resources on a range of matters to inform parliamentary clients and other stakeholders, and that maintain the Library’s high standards of scholarship and integrity; 4. Actively develop working effective, collaborative and strategic working relationships across the organisation, with other organisations, and with clients and other stakeholders, and if necessary supervise, mentor and/or coaching other staff. Duties representing highest function: Selection Criteria 1. Ability to perform complex research and analysis Conducts high-quality research and analysis, and provides advice on 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 High-level 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 should have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD). 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: Phone Number: Email: 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 addressing selection criteria, the Australian Public Service Commission’s fact sheet on applying for jobs will be useful: Cracking the code fact sheet 5 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 ( |
