Assistant Director - Modelling and Costing Unit

Australian Department of Social Services – Greenway ACT

The Modelling and Costing (MaC) Unit is a specialist analytical team that turns complex data into practical insights for social security policy. At the EL1 level, the role contributes technical leadership, judgement and stakeholder engagement to ensure analysis is robust, timely and policy relevant.

The Unit:

- leads and contributes to the maintenance, development and application of microsimulation modelling tools that draw on administrative data to assess the costs, impacts and distributional effects of current and proposed policy
- uses integrated data assets to frame and answer complex, real-world policy questions, translating technical findings into clear advice for senior decision-makers
- guides the development and improvement of self-service analytical tools that make data and modelling outputs more accessible, consistent and practical for policy colleagues
- oversees and delivers high-quality reporting, analysis and ad-hoc data products on social security and family assistance payments.

The MaC Unit provides microsimulation modelling and applied data analysis services that support social security policy development across the department and other Commonwealth agencies. The work includes modelling the effects of policy changes using hypothetical family types, costing policy proposals, preparing detailed distributional analysis of packages with multiple interacting elements, and projecting customer numbers and expenditure over the medium term. This EL1 role is suited to someone who can combine strong analytical capability with sound judgement,



communication skills and the ability to guide work from a policy question through to defensible advice.

The Modelling and Costing (MaC) Unit is a specialist analytical team that turns complex data into practical insights for social security policy. At the EL1 level, the role contributes technical leadership, judgement and stakeholder engagement to ensure analysis is robust, timely and policy relevant.

The Unit:

- leads and contributes to the maintenance, development and application of microsimulation modelling tools that draw on administrative data to assess the costs, impacts and distributional effects of current and proposed policy
- uses integrated data assets to frame and answer complex, real-world policy questions, translating technical findings into clear advice for senior decision-makers
- guides the development and improvement of self-service analytical tools that make data and modelling outputs more accessible, consistent and useful for policy colleagues
- oversees and delivers high-quality reporting, analysis and ad-hoc data products on social security and family assistance payments.

The MaC Unit provides microsimulation modelling and applied data analysis services that support social security policy development across the department and other Commonwealth agencies.



The work includes modelling the effects of policy changes using hypothetical family types, costing policy proposals, preparing detailed distributional analysis of packages with multiple interacting elements, and projecting customer numbers and expenditure over the medium term. This EL1 role is suited to someone who can combine strong analytical capability with sound judgement, communication skills and the ability to guide work from a policy question through to defensible advice.

The key duties of the position include:

- lead or coordinate analytical tasks in a dynamic team using large administrative and survey datasets to answer policy questions and produce meaningful insights
- translate legislation and policy proposals into analytical assumptions, model specifications and clear work plans for delivery
- code, test, review and quality assure policy changes using tools such as SAS, R and SQL
- engage with policy areas and external agencies, explain technical findings to non-technical audiences and support evidence-based advice for senior stakeholders
- provide technical guidance and build capability in less experienced team members.

Please review the job pack for the full position description.

Getting to know the Department of Social Services

The Department of Social Services (DSS) develops policies and delivers programs that support the lifetime wellbeing of Australians and their families. Our vision is to achieve the best health, wellbeing and safety of all Australians. Our people are critical in delivering the key priorities of DSS. We are seeking candidates that reflect our cultural values of curious, contestability, courage and collaboration.

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📌 Assistant Director - Modelling and Costing Unit (Canberra)
🏢 Australian Department of Social Services
📍 Canberra