Vacancy Details

Agency Purpose

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent statutory authority established by the Australian Government to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services, and targeted education and public awareness programs.

The AEC’s values and commitments

The AEC values and commitments are an essential component of our operating environment and frame how AEC staff work. The AEC's focus is on electoral integrity through the values of quality, agility and professionalism.

The Team 

The Contingent Divisional Returning Officer (CDRO) Program is seeking to create a pool of Team Leaders for deployment nationwide to support the successful delivery of an upcoming electoral event.

You will be joining a network of Team Leaders and Assistant Team Leaders across the country, responsible for managing your work unit to ensure the proper conduct of the electoral event. You will work closely with our State Office, National Office and the other States and Territories.

A Team Leader typically leads a team of around 2–10 staff members. The team size increases significantly during an electoral event to accommodate the temporary election workforce. During the delivery of the election, the Team Leader will undertake the legislative responsibilities of the Divisional Returning Officer (DRO) for a federal electoral division and will work to ensure that the division delivers an election result with transparency and integrity. 

At the AEC you will develop strong connections with colleagues and supportive networks, as we all work to deliver an impartial and independent electoral system with high integrity.

The Opportunities

The AEC’s CDRO Program has multiple opportunities and are looking for agile, energetic and results-driven government employees who can lead and manage divisional election event planning, delivery, and evaluation. You will join a leadership team committed to learning and self-development and responsible for building technical capability and fostering career development of its people.

Under the direction of the Assistant Director, Operations, you will contribute to the development of team objectives for short term tasks and strategic planning for longer-term initiatives, including setting priorities for the work area, maintaining team cohesion, and ensuring quality of outputs for the work area. Successful candidates will be self-motivated team players who have the ability to work well in a fast-paced environment and whilst under pressure. 

Working in a high-pressure environment, this position requires a highly organised individual with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks efficiently. You will work independently under limited guidance while adhering to internal processes. 

To excel you will have demonstrated ability to:

  • work with others - building team spirit, listening and communicating proactively, and recognising the contribution of others.
  • lead and supervise – delegating effectively, providing clear direction, motivating, and empowering others to support the expanding workforce requirements seamlessly and efficiently.
  • prioritise and remain agile – assess tasks, manage competing priorities and keeping to schedules and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • adhere to principles and values – always demonstrating integrity and upholding ethics and values.

You will undertake 2 weeks of in person/online or hybrid training from early-September 2024. Once completed you will be deployed between 3 to 6 month period in various parts of the country unless requirements are within your jurisdiction.

Further details on the position requirements can be found in the attached position description. 

Eligibility

  • Be a current ongoing APS or state government employee.
  • AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
  • Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
  • Applicants will be asked to identify current classification level, availability, notice period and confirmation that you are able to be released by your Home Agency.
  • Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
  • Applicants are required to satisfy any mandatory qualification or skill requirements applicable to the position being considered for.

Note

  • This is a rolling recruitment round, applications will be reviewed and assessed as they are submitted.
  • Due to most APS agencies' security settings, it is recommended that interested applicants apply using their personal email address.