Organisation Unit Expert Panel Projects, Family Policy and Practice Research
Agency classification APS 6 or Executive Level 1
Immediate Manager Executive Manager, Family Policy and Practice Research
Term Non-ongoing until 30 June 2020 with the possibility of extension to 30 June 2021
Status Full-time or part-time (0.6 FTE minimum)
Location Melbourne
Review date November 2019

Background

We are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic team member to fill a Maternity Leave vacancy. We are looking for an experienced evaluator or researcher with superior project management skills, strong stakeholder engagement experience, and a keen interest in working collaboratively with service providers in the child and family sector to build their program planning and evaluation capabilities.

Our team is dedicated to supporting practitioners to use and respond to the best available evidence and we are looking for someone who shares our drive to work towards better outcomes for Australian families.

Who are we?

The Expert Panel Project provides support, tools and resources aimed at building the capacity of service providers in the families and children sector to use evidence in practice.

The Expert Panel Project was established in 2014. This work is undertaken by a team at the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) and funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS).

Our aim is to help service providers to deliver more evidence-informed programs for parents and children, so as to achieve better outcomes for those parents and children who use their services. We do this by developing and publishing online resources, delivering workshops and other capacity-building activities and working individually with service providers on different tasks related to program planning and evaluation.

Within the Family Policy and Practice Research team more broadly, we undertake research and evaluation projects in the child and family welfare sector, and in relation to different aspects of family policy and systems.

About the role

This role can be filled at either an EL1 or APS6 level, depending on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

The role includes opportunities to take the lead on a range of tasks, and to guide and develop the strategic direction of the team’s capacity building work. Tasks may include:

• Project management, including administrative reporting, contract management, stakeholder management, and strategic planning
• Developing and contributing to written and other evaluation and planning resources
• Undertaking small qualitative research projects and literature reviews
• Designing and delivering workshops and other activities related to program evaluation and planning
• Working individually with service providers to develop evaluation capacity, including reviewing programs as part of the Communities for Children evidence-based requirement
• Working with the Expert Panel Project Advisory Group
• Contributing to the evaluation of the Expert Panel project
• Contributing to other evaluation work undertaken within the Family Policy and Practice Research team.

In the first half of 2020, the Expert Panel team will be designing and hosting several events with the families and children sector, including the Families and Children Forums in Brisbane and Adelaide. The team is also working with the Centre for Evidence and Implementation to deliver a series of capacity-building workshops in Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide.

As an experienced evaluator, project manager and/or researcher, you will have a key role in engaging collaboratively and constructively with key partners and stakeholders, with the aim of working together to strengthen the capacity and capability of the sector.

Conditions of employment

The position will be offered on a non-ongoing basis until 30 June 2020 (with the possibility of extension for a further 12-month period) on a full-time or part-time basis (0.6 FTE minimum). The position can be offered as either an EL1 role or as an APS6 role, depending on the skills and experience of the successful applicant.

Our salaries and conditions of employment are set out in our Enterprise Agreement.

How to apply for this job

Apply now, applicants are being considered on an ongoing basis. As soon as a quality pool of applicants is identified, shortlisting and interviews will commence.

Please email your AIFS application form [PDF, 269 KB], CV and covering letter to  jobs@aifs.gov.au .

For further information, contact Human Resources on (03) 9214 7888.

The Institute welcomes applications from the diverse Australian community including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability, people of all ages and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.