NEMA Senior Executive Assistant

Job Req ID

NEMA - 139751

Location

ACT 

 Employment Type

Ongoing, Full-time 

Classification

APS Level 6 - $94,775.00 and $106,505.00 plus 15.4% super (part time pro-rata)

Contact Officer

Linda Joicey on 0475 507 571 or linda.a.joicey@nema.gov.au  

Office Arrangements

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

Applications close on 24/09/2025 at 11:59pm AEST (midnight) - Late applications will not be accepted.

About our opportunity

This process is being used to fill 1 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 the National Emergency Management Agency:

The National Emergency Management Agency's work has a real impact on the lives of Australians, particularly those living in rural and regional areas.

The National Emergency Management Agency's guiding principle is “Locally led, locally understood and locally implemented” and we bring together local communities, government, non-government and key industry representatives to support disaster recovery and resilience across the country.

Your work will help people who are recovering from natural disasters and prepare them for the future.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was established on 1 September 2022 as a single, accountable Commonwealth authority that delivers a whole-of-nation approach to reducing disaster risk, planning, preparing for, responding to and recovering from all hazards across the emergency management continuum. 

NEMA works closely with states and territories to deliver the best outcomes for communities across Australia. To help communities respond and recover, while also preparing Australia for future emergencies, we:

• Fund programs and initiatives, large and small, that help communities in times of emergency as well as to recover and prepare, including through disaster recovery funding and the Disaster Ready Fund to help reduce the risk and impact of disasters
• Have officers located across Australia, working in partnership with states and territories to support disaster-affected communities to collectively build resilience, reduce risk and harm, and effectively respond to and recover from disasters
• Provide national leadership to share knowledge, situational awareness, and trends in disaster efforts to inform, guide and shape the national picture and decision-making at the Commonwealth, state and local Government level – including through policy development and strategy to improve risk reduction, resilience and recovery
• Provide round-the-clock all-hazards monitoring and operational coordination for domestic and international emergencies, including supply chain disruptions, critical infrastructure outages, biosecurity risks and widespread cyber-attacks, and through supporting preparedness and response activities, including through the operationalisation of the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework.

For further information on NEMA’s purpose, vision and values, please see the NEMA website.

Overview of the Branch and Section:

The Senior Executive Assistant (EA) reports directly to the Executive Officer within the Disaster Resilience and Recovery Group. The APS6 Senior EA works closely with the Deputy Coordinator-General and Executive Officer as part of a small, motivated and high performing team to achieve an all-encompassing range of highly complex administrative support work within a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. This is a position of high trust and discretion that requires creative thinking and exemplary judgement to manage a wide range of complex and sensitive issues/situations as they arise.

About the role:

The APS6 Senior EA is required to share information/expertise, monitor work practices, set work priorities and develop procedures based on professional judgement, evaluating risks within the context of a complex and changing environment. They are responsible for maintaining excellent stakeholder relationships and assisting with the resolution of moderately complex issues. The Senior EA will also form part of the broader Executive Support team to deliver and enable key business outcomes as required. The Senior EA exercises autonomy and accountability as well as undertakes objective and systematic research and analysis activities as a part of this role.

At times, staff within NEMA may be required to work outside of standard business hours, particularly during the higher-risk weather season.

Our ideal candidate:

We are looking for a candidate who enjoys working in a rapidly evolving and forward thinking environment, and who enjoys being part of a small and highly performing team. With a focus on critical thinking skills, or the ability to quickly acquire critical thinking skills, our ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, experienced, self-driven and highly motivated to make a difference to directly influence the key objectives of the Agency.

We encourage applications from First Nations people, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature age people and people from other diverse backgrounds. We are committed to providing a working environment that values diversity and inclusion and supports staff to reach their full potential.

Specific duties/responsibilities:

• Organising, scheduling and coordinating meetings with internal and external stakeholders and coordinating venue bookings, audio visual equipment and other meeting resources as required
• Addressing highly complex telephone and email enquiries and independently responding to internal and external queries, and/or exercising judgement in referring matters or seeking advice from the Executive Officer
• Establishing and maintaining high level, constructive and collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders. This includes providing a responsive service and assisting junior EAs and other team members to cultivate and foster collaborative relationships with stakeholders
• Providing quality assurance (including proof reading, editing and drafting) of documents such as briefs, minutes and other advice in accordance with agency guidelines
• Identifying, designing, implementing and overseeing business improvement processes, including working with other Executive Assistants and staff across the organisation to support key business outcomes.

Role requirements/qualifications:

• Exemplary verbal and written communication skills
• Exemplary organisational skills, including time management and dealing with competing priorities
• Exemplary stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to work highly effectively and collaboratively as part of a small, high performing team, and the ability to liaise with internal and external stakeholders at various levels
• Has the highest level of discretion and integrity, including the ability to deal with confidential and sensitive business matters
• Demonstrate responsiveness to changing priorities in a dynamic environment

Desirable

• Resilience and the ability to work with an agile mindset, adapting to new and changing priorities
• Interpersonal effectiveness to build rapport and maintain stakeholder relationships
• High-level of initiative, flexibility and resourcefulness
• Resilience to maintain and meet performance standards in pressured and unpredictable environments
• Self-awareness and responsible for own actions
• Experience with IT Systems such as PDMS, Expense8, EasySAP, Microsoft Office

Applicant response:

As part of your application, you will be required to prepare a one page response document (minimum 11pt font in MSWord or PDF format), which you will upload in the next section.

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 will your skills, knowledge and experience be relevant to this role
• what are specific examples or achievements that demonstrate your ability to perform the role
• when have you used your knowledge and skills to engage constructively and effectively with stakeholders and how successful was the engagement
• how have you demonstrated the highest level of integrity and discretion in previous roles you have held

Please do not duplicate information that can be found on your resume, but do highlight any specific examples or achievements that will demonstrate your ability to perform the role.

How to apply:

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 System information relevant to the classification. You are required to submit your application in the online recruitment system (ourPeople).

As part of your application, you will need to provide:

• Your CV
• Your Applicant Response document
• Details of two referees
• Include your full name and the Requisition Number - 139751 in the footer of any documents being uploaded.

Eligibility and Specific Conditions of Employment

To be eligible to work with the NEMA you must:

• Be an Australian Citizen
• Fulfil the Agency's minimum requirements by satisfactorily answering all screening questions during the application process and successfully undergo a National Police Check
• Obtain and maintain a Negative Vetting Level 1 (AGSVA) security clearance
• Satisfy a probation period (if applicable)
• Undergo a health assessment (if applicable).
   

Technical Assistance

If you are experiencing problems submitting your application online, please email the nature of the issues you are experiencing to Recruitment (recruitment@homeaffairs.gov.au) including screen captures if necessary. A response will be sent during business hours.

Notes

Remuneration: The Agency offers an attractive remuneration package, including salary, superannuation benefits and flexible working conditions appropriate to the level of the position.

If you have identified as having a disability, please indicate whether you require any support throughout the selection process. For further information please contact Recruitment: recruitment@homeaffairs.gov.au.