General information
/Title: Senior Policy Officer / Classification: ASO6
Division: Regions South Australia / Type of appointment:
Branch: Regional Policy / Ongoing
Business Unit: / Term contract
Location: / Casual
Hours of duty: 37.5 hours per week / ANZSCO code: 1324
HRMS No: PR4422 / Objective ID: A2026649 / File reference:
Our organisation
Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) assists South Australia’s primary industries and regions to grow, innovate and maximise their economic growth potential.
We lead the delivery of the State Government’s Premium Food and Wine Produced in our Clean Environment and Exported to the World economic priority.
Within the framework of South Australia’s Strategic Plan, PIRSA maintains a key focus to grow the contribution made by South Australian food industry to $20 billion by 2020.
We also lead and coordinate the state’s regional development agenda to improve economic and social outcomes for regional South Australia through the Government’s Charter for Stronger Regional Policy.
We involve and engage with all levels of government, industry, academia and the broader community. This ensures we make good decisions, have clear and relevant policies, plan and implement effective programs and broker shared responsibility.
PIRSA comprises approximately 900 people working in locations across metropolitan and regional South Australia.
Our industries and regions
South Australia’s primary industries and regions are crucial for the prosperity of state, and are continuing to grow in importance. The rapidly increasing global demand for high quality food and wine, combined with South Australia’s strong reputation for food safety, biosecurity and product integrity creates significant opportunities for the state.
The agriculture, food, wine and forestry industries are a vital part of the state’s economy, our largest export sector and a major employer. In 2015–16 they generated about $21 billion in revenue, accounted for 52% of the state’s merchandise exports, and employed about 150,000 people or one in five working South Australians.
Our regions also make a substantial contribution to the state’s economy, not only through agriculture, food, wine and forestry but also through mining and minerals processing, manufacturing, tourism and energy production. Our regions contribute about $25 billion to the state’s economy every year and produce about half of our merchandise exports, and they do so with just 29% of our population. Strong regions are the foundation of a strong state, and key to providing a prosperous future for all South Australians.
PIRSA’s focus on growing the state’s primary industries and regions includes a range of diverse areas associated with policy development, agribusiness development, biosecurity and emergency management, fisheries and aquaculture management, rural services, and research and development.
Our values
The South Australian public sector values are central to the way we work. Service, professionalism, trust, respect, collaboration and engagement, honesty and integrity, courage and tenacity and sustainability are the cornerstones for how we interact with industry, community, other government agencies and each other.
PIRSA is embedding the Premier’s vision of a modern and capable public sector that works together with citizens, business and community to deliver results for South Australia.
Our expectations
· You accept responsibility for your own and others safety and will adopt appropriate hazard management practices consistent with the role, including contributing towards the completion of the Site Safety Management Plans.
· You uphold the ethical behaviour and professional integrity standards as contained in the Public Sector Act, 2009.
· You familiarise yourself with the Code of Ethics for the South Australian Public Sector and ensure that you follow it.
· You participate in PIRSA’s Performance Management and Development Program.
· You may be assigned alternative duties consistent with PIRSA’s business needs and/or the developmental needs arising from your performance review conversations.
· You contribute to whole-of-agency working groups developing PIRSA policy responses to significant and emerging issues as required.
· You undertake training and participation in emergency management activities as required.
· You implement and maintain security in line with whole-of-government and agency policies.
· You adhere to the PIRSA Smoke Free Policy.
About the role
Regions SA provides a clear, strategic focus to state government regional development activity and provides regions with a strong voice in government to better engage with and deliver outcomes to regional communities.Regions SA provides an integrated cross-sector, cross-government and regionally focussed approach to policies, strategies and programs in order to ensure government policy is developed to promote improved economic and social outcomes for regions with input from regional stakeholders.
Regional communities will benefit from having a clear point of entry to government, while the government will be able to leverage Regions SA’s expertise to better engage with and deliver outcomes to regional communities.
Regions SA will have significant capabilities in terms of the development and implementation of regional development strategies, supporting increased economic activity in the regions, and maximising the collective impact of government activity in the regions.
The Senior Policy Officer will be a key member of the Policy team within Regions SA, contributing to the objectives of the Division by providing effective advice to the Minister for Regional Development in an appropriate and timely manner. The Senior Policy Officer will be responsible for planning and development of policy and strategies and work across Regions SA contributing to various functions, projects and programs, as required.
In order to ensure the accountabilities of the role are achieved, it is essential that the Senior Policy Officer possesses experience in economics and data analysis skills. The position also requires a high level of consultation, engagement and networking skills, and political nous.
Other requirements specific to the role includes:
· Some out of hours work may be required.
· Inter and intrastate travel may be required.
Essential qualifications
Not applicable.
Key results
· Facilitate responsive policy advice by identifying emerging issues, advising appropriate staff, and initiating action as required.· Prepare documents of a complex and sensitive nature, including briefings, Cabinet Submissions, policy documents, project plans and presentations.
· Undertake high level economic and data analysis to form evidence based recommendations, and present economic and technical information to suit the audience.
· Establishment and maintenance of relationships across government, industry and community to ensure efficient and effective communication regarding regional development policy objectives.
· Achievement of results through a strong team approach, including working with other Regions SA teams as required.
Key relationships
· The Senior Policy Officer reports to the Manager, Regional Policy.· Works collaboratively with all Policy team members and Regions SA staff
· Develops and maintains strong and effective networks and working relationships with regional stakeholders, industry, communities and state, federal and local government agencies.
Capabilities profile
Capability (maximum of 8)
/Behaviours (maximum of 3; Professional & Technical Knowledge unlimited)
Professional & Technical KnowledgeDemonstrates and applies sound knowledge across all key areas of professional/technical competence relevant to the role / · Provides high level professional and technical advice to support regional economic and social development decision making
· Able to provide complex policy advice simply and within a Government context
· Explains economic and technical information accurately and clearly to non-technical people
· Aware of the major issues facing regional areas
· Understands the general issues facing the agriculture, horticulture and viticulture industries
Innovation
Generates innovative and creative new, high quality ideas and approaches / · Thinks outside the box to develop genuinely novel concepts for products or services or to radically redesign processes to meet business needs
· Shows discrimination and good judgement in applying innovation in the government environment
· Creatively matches strategies to desired outcomes
Communication
Communicates effectively with a wide range of people, adapting style to match the audience and the situation; communicates complex ideas clearly, coherently, fluently and articulately, both verbally and in writing / · Writes skilfully and fluently, conveying complex information clearly, in a way that the reader will understand.
· Listens reflectively and empathically, actively demonstrating interest and preparedness to consider others’ ideas and experiences
· Respects others' viewpoints and incorporates these into building understanding and making final decisions
Flexibility
Demonstrates flexibility in thinking, and adapts to and manages the increasing rate of change; is prepared for the unexpected; responsive to emerging issues / · Matches manner and approach according to the situation
· Knows that there is more than 'one way'
· Demonstrates openness to new structures, procedures and technologies
Initiative
Proactively identifies opportunities and issues and takes decisive action; initiates activities and accepts responsibilities beyond the specific job description / · Identifies and seizes opportunities to produce successful outcomes
· Actively suggests and pursues new and different conclusions to problems
· Seeks out others involved to understand their perspectives
Political Nous
Sound understanding of organisational, political and social contexts; applies this understanding to get things done for area of responsibility; maintains awareness of, and works constructively with, power relationships in all contexts. / · Reads situations well, and adapts approaches and processes to ensure success
· Exercises tact and discretion in dealing with politically sensitive and complex issues
· Recognises the impact of changes in own business group practices and processes on stakeholders
Building Networks
Develops and maintains network of contacts across the government, industry and community sectors to facilitate achieving objectives, for exchange of information and for mutual benefit / · Builds and proactively pursues cohesive networks with agency and industry stakeholders
· Demonstrates an outgoing and active involvement with stakeholders in resolving issues associated with policy development or implementation
· Uses networks to pursue / identify opportunities to produce successful outcomes
Analytical Thinking
Sizes up information; uses logic to evaluate and draw sound conclusions; assimilates and analyses information that is high volume and complex. / · Assimilates, interprets & summarises large amounts of complex information and draws logical conclusions
· Quickly perceives the implications of information and makes strategic judgments based upon this
· Critiques information from a number of viewpoints to discern its value
Approvals
Manager / Chief Executive/DelegateName / Name
Signature / ___/___/___ / Signature / ___/___/___
Occupant
I have read and understood the key results and expectations of this role. / Name
Signature / ___/___/___