EL2 Director, Civil Maritime Force Design

Overview of the Branch and Section:

The ABF protects Australia’s national interests by generating and synthesising awareness of activity in Australia’s maritime jurisdiction and responding to mitigate, or eliminate, the risks posed by civil maritime security threats. To deliver this objective, the ABF works across Government, including States and Territories, and internationally to advance and protect Australia’s interests through strong, integrated and adaptive national civil maritime security.

The Civil Maritime Strategy and Policy Branch is responsible for the delivery of the ABF’s civil maritime strategic policy and planning, capability planning and policy (Cabinet) program. The Branch engages with diverse stakeholders across the Commonwealth government, international partners, industry and civil society to address risks by planning ahead and delivering future-focussed civil maritime security strategy, policy and capability. The Branch undertakes strategic engagement, advice and communication, and ensures the prioritisation of civil maritime security issues for consideration by Government. The Branch leads whole-of-government analysis on emerging civil maritime security threats, risks and capability. It supports the delivery of civil maritime security policy, strategic planning in capability development, as well as the delivery of Cabinet Submissions and New Policy Proposals for consideration by Government. The Branch is looking to fill the Director, Civil Maritime Capability Force Design to support delivery and implementation of a cohesive and integrated capability planning framework. A merit list will be utilised to fill any future vacancies.

Civil Maritime Capability Force Design Section

The Civil Maritime Capability Strategy Force Design Section integrates policy and force design to ensure a comprehensive approach to managing and uplifting ABF civil maritime security capabilities. The Force Design section is responsible for the development and implementation of the ABF Capability Plan that integrates strategy, policy, force directives and capability to ensure civil maritime security capabilities meet current and evolving civil maritime security challenges. The Force Design section works across Government, including with Department of Defence, to develop ideas and concepts to position ABF to confront the future civil maritime operating environment.

About the role:

As a Director, you will lead whole-of-government efforts to strengthen Australia’s civil maritime security arrangements to advance and protect Australia’s strategic interests. You will work under limited direction to establish ABF civil maritime force design capability, work closely with the ABF civil maritime capability development team, and advocate for strong civil maritime security arrangements. You will be responsible for review and planning of current, planned and future ABF civil maritime force structures in the context of strategic direction. You will ensure that force concepts are deliverable and sustainable, integrated within the ABF and with partner agencies, and that they account for whole-of-capability and whole-of-life considerations including all fundamental inputs to capability. You will identify issues, undertake research and analysis, and consult with a range of stakeholders to develop and implement civil maritime security strategic direction.

In this role, you will deliver complex advice to Government on ABF force design priorities and directives. You will support the delivery of strategic priorities,through delivery and continuous improvement of internal force design policies and procedures. You will respond to complex requests for advice and emerging issues, with thoroughly researched evidence-based recommendations.

Our ideal candidate:

We are looking for enthusiastic leaders to support the work of the Branch to deliver future-focussed civil maritime security strategy, policy and capability. Our ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills, good judgement, the ability to solve complex policy and strategic problems; and capability development and implementation skills. They will also have strong communication skills, be adept at managing competing priorities and be comfortable leading teams. They will be confident and able communicators, with an ability to establish enduring partnerships internally and more broadly across Government and with international partners.

Confident leaders: Applicants need to be effective managers, skilled at managing workloads and team members, and capable of taking staff on a journey where they grow, develop and learn.

Forward Thinkers: The Branch is looking for people who enjoy working in a rapidly evolving and forward thinking environment. With a focus on innovation and progression, our ideal candidate will help to maintain and further develop our innovative processes to deliver strong, integrated and adaptive national civil maritime security.

Problem solvers: The Branch operates in a complex regulatory and policy space and needs officers capable of matching big, complex and long-term problems with effective solutions. Applicants need to be problem solvers, skilled at navigating issues, thinking outside of the box, and providing innovative solutions.

Eager learners: We don’t expect you to know everything about Australia’s civil maritime security arrangements; however, applicants need to be enthusiastic and open to new learning opportunities and experiences. We are after people who have a demonstrated ability to learn quickly and develop links across Government to deliver positive outcomes.

Strong communicators: The Branch operates in a unique stakeholder space and engages, and negotiates, with a diverse range of stakeholders. Applicants are required to be persuasive communicators, with the ability to connect to a broad range of audiences and build and maintain strong networks and relationships, across government, industry and internationally.

Specific duties/responsibilities:

The successful applicant may be required to:

• Deliver capability planning and force design activities to ensure the Australian Border Force is positioned to meet the threats of today and the future.
• Deliver the ABF Capability Plan to integrate strategy, policy and capability to uplift civil maritime security capabilities.
• Lead and manage input into civil maritime security strategy, policy and capability, including through new policy proposals for Government consideration.
• Contribute to the leadership and objectives of the Australian Border Force.

Role Requirements / Qualifications

The Civil Maritime Strategy & Policy Branch values diverse skills, qualifications, perspectives and backgrounds. While there are no mandatory requirements, the following experience and/or qualifications are well regarded for some positions:

• Capability design, development and implementation.

Applicant response:

As part of your application, in addition to your CV please prepare and submit a one page response document (minimum 11pt font in MSWord or PDF format).

Please ensure you read the instructions carefully, noting failure to address identified requirements may lead to your application being deemed ineligible.

Please prepare a one-page Applicant Response in relation to the advertised role, outlining:

• how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role
• why you are interested in the role and what you can offer us
• any specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role.