Senior Policy Advisor

• Join at an exciting time, as the PLACE team builds its foundational team during its establishment phase, in preparation for its first steps of growth as a new organisation.
• $110,000 - $130,000 (FTE) per annum excluding superannuation.
• Full time (1.0) fixed-term position
• Flexible national location, with hybrid conditions - available in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney or regional Australia.
• The successful candidate will undertake domestic travel regularly as part of this role.

Working collaboratively across PLACE’s Learn and Share, Enable, and Strengthen Data teams, the role is central to building a compelling evidence base and policy narrative that reflects local needs and drives systemic change.

This role leads the development of policy positions, supports strategy design to engage government stakeholders, and contributes to modelling and analysis of alternative funding and commissioning approaches. The Senior Policy Advisor also works closely with the Director and broader team to influence decision-making through well-informed discussions with senior government officials.

Requirements

Who you are (selection criteria):

• You hold relevant tertiary qualifications in public policy, government, economics or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• You bring extensive experience in government, across both policy development and program delivery, with a deep understanding of commissioning environments, budget processes, and relevant legislation.
• You have a strong track record managing or overseeing funding agreements and contracts, either within government or in partnership with service providers.
• You are skilled at working collaboratively with community organisations, service providers, and governments to co-design solutions that respond to local needs and system-level challenges.
• You have significant experience working with First Nations organisations and communities, demonstrating cultural awareness, respect, and a commitment to self-determination.
• You possess excellent facilitation and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, build alignment, and lead complex conversations with clarity and purpose.
• You are highly organised and confident managing multiple priorities and projects in dynamic or ambiguous environments.
• You are adaptable, values-driven, and thrive in fast-paced, mission-led settings where collaboration, iteration, and continuous learning are central to the work.
• You are comfortable in a start-up environment; you manage multiple competing priorities with a proactive and adaptable approach.
• You demonstrate a commitment to PLACE’s vision, values and principles, particularly around community leadership and shared decision-making.

Research indicates that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised individuals often wait until they fulfil every requirement. If you believe you have the attributes to do the job but don't match every point on the job ad, we welcome and encourage your application.

• Conduct thorough analysis and mapping of commissioning policies and programs across different levels of government, as they relate to the purchasing of services in communities.
• Lead the development of policies that support place-based approaches to service delivery.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across Commonwealth, State, and Territory Governments.
• Stay abreast of current trends, best practices, and innovations in government commissioning and place-based policy development.
• Provide leadership and guidance to staff and project teams.

Please see the Senior Policy Advisor Position Description for more.

Who we are:

Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE) is a not-for-profit organisation, committed to collaborative, community-driven approaches to create impactful and lasting change.

It is our vision to enable communities and governments to jointly decide on matters that are most important to our lives. We lead national initiatives to develop workforce strategies, enhance place-based practices and improve data monitoring and evaluation.

At PLACE, we are dedicated to creating lasting change through understanding, action and empowered governance.

Benefits

What we offer:

• True flexibility and a strong focus on agility in the workplace; we prioritise making flexible work arrangements possible for all employees.
• Access to Fringe Benefits Tax options, in addition to base salary and superannuation.
• A team of supportive and passionate people committed to maintaining a positive workplace culture and making an impact.
• 5 weeks of Annual Leave for every 12 months of employment.
• Two days volunteering leave for every 12 months of employment.
• A leadership team that truly wants you to flourish and make your mark on the organisation.
• A workplace that prioritises both diversity and inclusion, allowing everyone to bring their authentic selves to work in an environment that ensures psychological and physical safety.
• Hybrid work environment and flexible working arrangements.
• Cultural and Ceremonial leave.
• A Learning and Development budget per employee, prioritising professional development for our employees.

How to apply:

To express your interest, submit an online application through this portal and include a professional resume. All applicants must also provide brief responses to the application questions that are included as part of the online application.

Note: we do not accept cover letters as part of our application process.

This job advertisement does not have an official closure date as applications will be reviewed upon receipt, so we highly encourage interested candidates to not delay their applications.

If you require additional adjustments, or would like to discuss any access needs as a part of the application and recruitment process, then please contact us via email recruitment@shehrconsulting.com

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people from culturally- and linguistically-diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people and people of every ethnicity, faith, ability, culture, language, gender identity, age, and sex.

Employment in this position is conditional upon reception and maintenance of a Working With Children Check.

As part of our employment screening process, we do run police checks. But don’t worry—having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you.