Policy Officer - Multiple Branches

Job Req ID

ABF - 138615

Location

ACT; NSW; NT; QLD; SA; TAS; VIC; WA 

 Employment Type

Ongoing (Permanent), Full-time 

Classification

Executive Level 1 - $115,443.00 and $134,865.00 plus 15.4% super (part time pro-rata)

Contact Officer

Joshua Hutton - joshua.hutton@abf.gov.au  

Office Arrangements

Flexible; Onsite  - Flexible working arrangements can be negotiated in accordance with our Enterprise Agreement and the operational requirements of the role.
 

Applications close on 27/07/2025 at 11:59pm AEST (midnight) - Late applications will not be accepted.

About our opportunity

This process is being used to fill 5 immediate position/s. 

Applicants suitable for the role but not offered the position for the current vacancy may be placed in a merit list or pool to fill similar vacancies for up to 18 months anywhere in ACT; NSW; NT; QLD; SA; TAS; VIC; WA.
 

About our team

Strategy & Capability | Strategy & Policy | Customs & Trade Policy 

The Australian Border Force (ABF) is Australia's frontline border law enforcement agency and customs service, both operational and policy, playing a critical role in protecting Australia's national security. The ABF is an operationally independent body within the Department of Home Affairs.

Our vision is to be a global leader in border law enforcement and a trusted partner that helps build a safe, secure and prosperous Australia. We facilitate the legitimate movement of people and goods across the border, working closely with the Department of Home Affairs, external partner agencies, international counterparts and industry stakeholders to share knowledge, expertise and intelligence to detect, deter and prosecute those who attempt illegal activity at the border.

Strategy & Policy is seeking a diverse range of capabilities and skills across our division. This is your opportunity to take inspired action towards shaping the future of Australia by contributing your valuable experience. We are seeking to connect with your various backgrounds in policy, program/project management and stakeholder engagement, to envision, plan and deliver tangible outcomes for Australia and the ABF.

Please visit our website for more information about the Department of Home Affairs or Australian Border Force

Overview of the Division

Strategy and Policy division leads a complex and diverse portfolio of work, with staff from a broad range of specialisations and disciplines located across Australia. The division is responsible for considerable trade and traveller modernisation and policy agendas. It also supports the ABF through strategy, capability, evaluation and investment decision making, while also leading support and enabling functions including management of the ABF Governance structure, industry engagement, performance reporting and business planning.

Branches in the division include:

Customs and Trade Policy

Policy officers in Customs and Trade Policy Branch deliver operational and strategic outcomes for the Australian Border Force as well as the Australian Government more broadly. The role of these officers links directly to ABF operations and works hand in hand with industry and ABF officers to ensure that the policy framework is fit for purpose.

Customs and Trade Policy Branch is looking for policy officers who want to actively contribute to the critical capability for ABF officers and industry at the border. If this is you, you will be exposed to a variety of work which expands across the ABF and other agencies. Your work may involve working on legislative reform, supporting whole of government trade agreements, and negotiating international standards for Australia.

Strategy Capability and Investment

The Strategy, Capability and Investment (SCI) Branch enables the ABF with strategic planning capabilities, helping business areas align their strategy, capability, evaluation and strategic policy needs with Government priorities and the agency’s strategic objectives. This includes supporting ABF business areas with their investment planning requirements and performance reporting obligations.  The SCI branch seeks strong leaders who can contribute to a range of matters, including but not limited to:

• The development of ABF strategic objectives and alignment with Government priorities, commitments and Ministerial charter letters
• The development of strategies, blueprints and roadmaps within the ABF including alignment with Government priorities
• Provide strong and cohesive strategic policy advice to government enabling the ABF to more effectively deliver government priorities, including through uplifting ABF strategic policy capability
• Oversight of the Budget Process for the whole of ABF and support ABF investment development for capabilities and initiatives
• Support evaluation-related activities within the ABF, including uplifting capability to support evidence based assessments of programs, including performance assessment against policy objectives
• The delivery of performance reporting related activities through the Corporate Plan and Annual Report.

Traveller Policy and Modernisation (TPM)

TPM provides a critical enabling functions for the ABF. The Branch delivers innovative and responsive traveller and port policy functions and initiatives to modernise and reform the traveller experience and optimise border controls. TPM works extensively with air and sea port operators and coordinates ABF input into port operator requests for the provision of border services at new or redeveloping air and sea ports, ensuring ABF has appropriate resources, funding and infrastructure to undertake border clearance functions in air and sea ports, including Western Sydney International Airport.

TPM drives participation in international traveller forums. The Branch scopes, trials and delivers new business processes and operating models to reduce operational risk and effort and enhance security outcomes. TPM is at the forefront of developing, trailing and delivering a roadmap to modernise and streamline border processing. The Branch seeks to deliver a future traveller landscape that facilitates passenger movements with world-class technology and improves all aspects of our business while making border services more convenient, seamless and digital.  TPM’s work includes collaborating with industry stakeholders and partner agencies on future policy, regulatory and concepts of operations initiatives at Australian air and sea ports. 

Customs and Border Modernisation

Customs and Border Modernisation (CBM) Branch drives the Home Affairs Portfolio’s trade modernisation agenda in support of the Simplified Trade System (STS) – a critical reform priority for Government. The STS agenda is a whole-of-government, micro-economic reform agenda to modernise Australia’s trade system and provide a simplified, tell-us-once digital model for Government business interaction on Australian import and export movements.

CBM is developing a range of innovative policy, regulatory and technology reforms in the trade and customs context for consideration in upcoming Budget and Cabinet processes. The Branch is also taking forward modernisation trials, working with industry and overseas counterparts to explore RegTech solutions for cross-border paperless trade and to progress examination of the Secure Trade Lane concept.

To help deliver these functions, CBM works in close partnership with stakeholders across the ABF, Home Affairs Portfolio and industry. The Branch is also responsible for managing the relationship with the whole-of-government Simplified Trade System Implementation Taskforce and works closely with key border agencies and other Government agencies.

Governance and Strategy Partnerships

ABF Governance and Strategic Partnerships (GSP) Branch is a centralised business area within the ABF that provides critical and unique value added services across four primary domains – governance, legislation, industry engagement and select forums and processes.

Our ideal candidate

The skills and capabilities we need:

• You will be excited about the work we do and the policy, strategy, investment, and technology challenges we face. 
• You will bring fresh ideas and enjoy working in a dynamic environment to shape the border of the future; think laterally and strategically; enjoy solving problems and provide innovative evidence-based solutions. 
• You can communicate with ease and present complex concepts concisely and clearly to a wide audience; work flexibly and to (sometimes short) timeframes with a high professional standard. 
• You will contribute to, and lead, an inclusive work culture and build and navigate a broad range of relationships across Government and with industry partners, as well as ABF and Home Affairs colleagues.

Duties and responsibilities

As a member of Strategy & Policy Division, you may be responsible for:

• Driving work that delivers tangible outcomes for Australia, coordinating and undertaking complex or sensitive policy issues that have operational and strategic outcomes for government and industry.
• Reviewing and developing policy, engaging with other Government stakeholders, and working on legislative reforms that support whole-of-government trade initiatives, including providing evidence-based policy advice.
• Under broad direction, assisting to design, develop, implement and embed enterprise policies and procedures for the ABF relating to strategy and policy, capability planning, investment, evaluation and performance reporting.
• Contributing to the delivery of the ABF reform agenda in consultation with industry stakeholders and external partner agencies across Government. 
• Producing written materials including cabinet submissions, new policy proposals, ministerial and senior executive briefings. 
• Managing program and projects, including facilitating input from a range of stakeholders, managing timeframes and delivering against project requirements and objectives.

Additional information

In Strategy & Policy you will work in a Division that is critical to the implementation of Government directives to support a prosperous, safe and secure Australia. You will be part of a team that enables the ABF to conduct its core business at the border, work in a supported, dynamic and geographically dispersed team environment, and gain exposure to all work domains across the ABF and Home Affairs, with other government departments, and peak industry bodies.

Officers in Strategy & Policy develop and use critical skills in policy and program management, legislative reform, strategic and financial analysis and representing the ABF at various domestic and international fora. Your skills in these areas will be honed while you work with a diverse and invested range of people and teams.  You will also have the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of how people and goods move across Australia's border, and the laws and policies that govern this movement.

Alongside existing vacancies, we are seeking to establish an order of merit for expected future vacancies.

Some positions require officers to undertake domestic travel and occasional international travel. Some positions manage geographically dispersed staff.

How to apply

Submit your application and CV through the Home Affairs’ recruitment system (ourPeople) before the closing date on 27/07/2025 at 11:59pm (midnight) AEST  – Late applications will not be accepted.

As part of your application you will be required to prepare and submit a one-page applicant response document 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.

Please include which of the following branches you are applying for in your response document  

• Customs and Trade Policy
• Strategy Capability and Investment
• Traveller Policy and Modernisation (TPM)
• Customs and Border Modernisation
• Governance and Strategy Partnerships.

Applicant response documents must be a minimum 11pt font in MSWord or PDF format, include your full name and the Requisition Number – 138615 in the document footer.

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Prior to preparing your response it is recommended you review the Work Level standards relevant to the classification you are applying to. It may also be useful to refer to the Integrated Leadership Systems information relevant to the classification.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the position you must be an Australian Citizen.

The successful candidate will be required to obtain and maintain a Baseline Vetting (AGSVA) security clearance, and:
 

• ABF Workers will also be required to obtain and maintain an Employment Suitability Clearance (ESC).
• Home Affairs Workers will also be required to obtain and maintain an Onboarding Check.
   

In certain circumstances, an Employment Suitability Clearance (ESC) may be required in addition to, or in lieu of, an Onboarding Check, which will be determined by the delegate as necessary.  

Diversity and inclusion

The Department is committed to workforce diversity and applicants who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, come from a diverse cultural or linguistic background or have a disability are encouraged to apply.

RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme you will be invited to participate in further assessment activity for the vacancy if you choose to apply under the scheme; declare you have a disability; and meet the minimum requirements for the job. For more information visit: https://www.apsc.gov.au/recruitability

Technical assistance

For technical enquiries please call or email for assistance:

• Email: recruitment@homeaffairs.gov.au
• Phone: 1300 793 883 (within Australia) or +61 2 6196 0444 (outside of Australia)

Please include any applicable screen captures, a response will be provided during business hours.

Notes

The Department of Home Affairs offers an attractive remuneration package, including salary, superannuation benefits and flexible working conditions appropriate to the level of the position. The Australian Public Service (APS) Employee Value Proposition (EVP) highlights the top reasons our employees enjoy working in the APS.

The Department may provide relocation assistance to eligible APS employees required to relocate. The level of assistance will vary depending on the reason for relocating and your personal circumstances. For further information please enquire with the contact officer listed in the advertisement.

Information about employment and advice on how to apply for vacancies can be obtained from the Department’s website at https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/careers

Candidates should be aware that in roles where vaccination against COVID-19 is required by public health orders/directions or other legislation proof of vaccination will be required. If a candidate is not fully vaccinated or is unwilling to be vaccinated within a reasonable time period, they may not be offered that role.