Seeking a new director to lead our Public Service Program
Applications close 5pm, 6 August
CPD’s Public Service Program combines big-picture thinking on the role of government in the 21st Century with practical research on options for public sector reform. The Public Service Research Director will need to conduct the majority of research within the program, ensure the quality and success of the program over the long term, and coordinate the development of the program’s policy agenda and publications.
The successful applicant will have strong research and communication skills, and be able combine a progressive vision for the future of Australia’s public services with an eye for detail and a knack for policy analysis. The Research Director will need to be reliable, resourceful, creative, and able to make things happen quickly and with minimal resources and supervision. This position gives you a chance to put great ideas at the heart of public debate in Australia.
Roles & responsibilities:
- Conducting and coordinating the Public Service Program’s research
- Conduct research and write high-quality, accessible reports
- Coordinate research on the program’s core themes from CPD fellows and others – this may involve coordinating collaborative research projects, co-authoring some papers, editing and arranging peer review for research contributed by others
- Promote the results of the Public Service Program’s research through the media, public forums and other forms of communication
- Program management
- Managing the resources, workflow and budget of the program
- Reporting to the Executive Director, Board and funders on the program, research projects and project outcomes
- Working with the CPD Executive Director to identify, cost and resource new research projects
- Working with other CPD staff to develop and implement communication strategies for the program and its projects
Selection Criteria
Essential
- A passion for fair, sustainable and democratic policy reform
- Excellent research skills, preferably both qualitative and quantitative
- Clear understanding of policy development and political processes
- Relevant academic qualifications
- Significant academic or professional public policy experience
- Program and project management skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Attention to detail and ability to work independently
- Excellent interpersonal skills – ability to establish and maintain good relationships with funders and stakeholders; and to work with and ensure the quality of contributions by other researchers
- Ability to coordinate research projects involving multiple contributors
- Ability to manage research assistants and volunteers
Desirable
- Significant public service experience
- Qualifications and/or experience in economic analysis
- Strong public speaking and/or media experience
- Familiarity with and aptitude for online collaboration and content management
Conditions
This is a part time position, for four days a week. Base salary is $73,200 pro rata. The position is based in Sydney. It is envisaged that the Public Service Program will run until late 2014, and that the Program Director will occupy the position for the duration of the program, with a 3 month probationary period.
How to apply for this job
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to admin@cpd.org.au with the subject
“Public Service Research Director application”
We encourage you to include links to past research publications and examples of other writing in your cover letter. We also encourage you to be as specific as possible about your quantitative and qualitative research skills and experience.
