About Jobs and Skills Australia

Want to work for an organisation recognised and celebrated for our excellence in leadership, stewardship and innovation? Jobs and Skills Australia may be the place for you.

Jobs and Skills Australia was established in 2022 under the Jobs and Skills Australia Act 2022.

We are an independent secondary statutory body, within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Our role is to engage, advise and assist the Australian Government and other stakeholders in decision-making on the current, emerging and future skills and workforce needs of the Australian economy, and on the effectiveness of the national skills system in meeting these needs. This includes in regional, rural and remote Australia, and on the development of new industries and new technologies.

As part of a motivated and dynamic organisation, we value being innovative, collaborative, accurate, respectful, courageous, and making a difference.

Our people include specialists in policy, data, economics, communications, stakeholder engagement, digital solutions and research who are located across Australia.

We offer a positive, productive and supportive work environment and are committed to providing an inclusive workplace where continuous learning and building skills and professional networks are a priority.

Find out more about your future workplace at www.jobsandskills.gov.au.

The Role

As Assistant Secretary, National Skills System Branch, you will lead Jobs and Skills Australia’s (JSA) analysis and advice on how well Australia’s skills system is meeting current, emerging and future skills and workforce needs, grounded in strong evidence and stakeholder engagement.

You will lead delivery of the skills stream within the agreed JSA Workplan from within your branch. This involves examining the critical role skills play in Australia’s productivity and inclusive participation agenda — monitoring, analysing and advising on the effectiveness of the national skills system. A key focus will be examining how well the VET system is meeting the economy’s skills needs and delivering student outcomes, drawing on the branch’s distinctive linked data — including the VET National Data Asset and linked tertiary and pathway data — to connect education and training to labour market outcomes. Work also includes a broad range of project work, such as supporting joining-up of the tertiary education system, the development and maintenance of the National Skills Taxonomy, surveys and research on adult foundation skills including participation in the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), with results due in 2030.

You will report to the Executive Director and work closely with the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners.





You will collaborate across DEWR and with the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), other Commonwealth departments, State and Territory Governments, industry stakeholders and research partners such as the NCVER.

The key duties of the position include:

The Assistant Secretary, National Skills System duties and responsibilities will include:

- a deep and current understanding of the Australian VET system — including its funding and regulatory architecture, the National Skills Agreement, qualifications and training-product reform, the apprenticeship system, and the VET–higher education interface — and a demonstrated ability to translate that understanding into advice that shapes how well the system meets the economy’s skills needs
- the strategic judgement to harness the branch’s analysis and research, including its distinctive linked data connecting skills supply, pathways and labour market outcomes — as a source of influential, decision-relevant insight for government and the wider skills system.
- a mature understanding of the broader dynamics of the Australian skills and tertiary education system and labour market
- a demonstrated capacity to apply multiple analytical frameworks to confidently provide advice and manage complex risks, multi-faceted challenges and high work volumes
- highly developed interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills, with the political acumen to manage and influence diverse stakeholders across multi-disciplinary responsibilities
- the capacity to create an workplace that empowers individuals and teams to deliver their best — setting expectations, nurturing talent and building capability
- outstanding organisational skills, including time management and managing competing priorities

Capabilities

The successful applicant will demonstrate capability in-line with the SES Band 1 Work Level Standards and will also have the following capabilities and qualities:

- exemplary integrity and professionalism
- excellent technical legal skills and judgment
- strong leadership and people management skills to foster a positive workplace culture
- strong risk management skills, demonstrating a commitment to identifying and addressing emerging challenges and risks
- excellent stakeholder relationship skills, including the ability to provide insightful, persuasive and trusted advice to a diverse range of senior stakeholders
- a commitment to excellence, fostering an environment that encourages innovation and continuous learning




- strong understanding of core APS frameworks, and
- ability to build and harness relationship across the APS.

Eligibility

Please note, under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the APS unless the Agency delegate has agreed, in writing.

This is a designated security assessed position. The successful candidate will have the ability to obtain and maintain a minimum of a Negative Level 1 security clearance.

This selection process may be used to establish a merit pool. The pool might be accessed to fill ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies for similar roles in the Department over the next 18 months.

Notes

Due to the nature of our outcomes, policies and programs, all senior roles are Identified Positions. All eligible candidates must address in their application their level of cultural competency and their ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and colleagues during the recruitment process.

You will require capacity to attain cultural competency, including:

- understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples,
- ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, and
- willingness and commitment to continue to develop cultural competency.

Getting to know the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

We are the department that helps job seeking Australians find safe, secure, and well-paid work while we ourselves strive to be a model employer. We provide the framework for fair and productive relationships between employers and employees. We also oversee skills development and training initiatives to support those entering the workforce or retraining to take advantage of emerging employment opportunities. Secure jobs are vital—driving future economic growth and providing people with the certainty. We focus on connecting Australians who are starting, advancing or changing their career with the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to gain or regain employment. Our work directly contributes to shaping the employment landscape. It is our unique purpose to help people realise their potential and we want you to be part of it. Underpinning our important work is our focus on culture. We recognise that how we do things is equally important as what we achieve. Our workplace is one where different perspective are encouraged, people feel a sense of belonging and draw on the expertise of their peers. Our people demonstrate the APS Values, which includes being open, thoughtful, curious and candid. We also value employee wellbeing and developing leadership through investment in capability.

📌 Assistant Secretary, National Skills System (Perth)
🏢 Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
📍 Perth