Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer

Transcription

1 Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer Position Description Position Summary Position: Reports to: Remuneration: SCHCADS Classification Hours: Start date: Term: Location: Policy and Advocacy Officer CEO $80, (pro rated at 0.6 EFT) Level 8, PP1 0.6 EFT between Monday-Thursday (negotiable) As soon as possible! Permanent, subject to recurrent grant funding Level 2, 491 King Street, West Melbourne About Volunteering Victoria Volunteering Victoria is the peak body for volunteering in Victoria. Our membership is drawn from volunteer-involving organisations (VIOs), volunteer support organisations (VSOs) and volunteers from across Victoria, including (but not limited to) the community sector, health, sport, emergency services, arts and culture, the environment, animal welfare and the corporate sector. Our purpose as the peak body for volunteering in Victoria, is to provide dynamic and transformative leadership that will promote and build a vibrant, prosperous and strong volunteering community that is inclusive, respected and sustainable. Our vision is resilient communities and empowered and active citizens through volunteering. We will achieve our purpose and vision by focusing on the following strategic themes that underpin all our objectives and activities. We will: Build a vibrant, diverse, satisfied and growing membership and network of stakeholders that is truly representative of the entire Victorian volunteering community Facilitate an innovative and collaborative approach to develop and deliver quality programs and resources to support the growth and empowerment of the Victorian volunteering community Position Description: Policy and Advocacy Officer Page 1 of 5

2 Demonstrate and support the delivery of marketing and business development excellence to promote the value, importance and impact of volunteering on the Victorian community Champion and model governance and management leadership, excellence, accountability and good stewardship Establish a robust and sustainable financial base that demonstrates commercial acumen, supports sustainable growth and enables us to invest in the future of volunteering Position Purpose The Policy and Advocacy Officer is responsible for developing intellectual capital to support Volunteering Victoria s thought leadership and peak body positioning, our strategic priorities, and our members and Victoria s volunteering community. This will be achieved by developing policies and advocacy campaigns, identifying emerging issues and trends, research, and undertaking government relations and stakeholder management. Position Responsibilities Policy Provide high level policy advice and analysis to the CEO and other stakeholders Develop policy positions to support our strategic priorities in collaboration with stakeholders Make submissions and respond to inquiries and discussion papers as they relate to the volunteering sector Maintain up-to-date and relevant policy content for use by members and for publication on the Volunteering Victoria website Advocacy and Government Relations Develop and oversee the implementation of Volunteering Victoria s government relations plan for the 3-tiers of government Prepare Volunteering Victoria s annual State Budget submission and other relevant submissions Support the advocacy work of the CEO and other stakeholders Develop and implement advocacy campaigns to support our strategic priorities. Research Consult with members to determine research priorities Chair and provide leadership for the Research Roundtables Manage the production of the Research Digests Oversee skilled volunteers who will assist in research and preparing research documents Identify existing research to support our strategic priorities, key projects and grant applications Contribute to the development of new research projects in collaboration with stakeholders. Position Description: Policy and Advocacy Officer Page 2 of 5

3 Writing Write and coordinate input from stakeholders to produce high quality documents, including: Policy papers Submissions, including the annual State Budget Submission Position statements and discussion papers Funding applications Fact sheets Correspondence Website entries Other documents as required. Stakeholder management Cultivate and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders, including representing Volunteering Victoria at meetings, including VCOSS Peaks, and the Victorian Volunteer Support Network (VVSN) Respond to stakeholder enquiries about policy, advocacy and research issues Provide support from time to time to Volunteering Australia s policy and advocacy campaigns. Other Pro-actively work with the: o Marketing & Communications team to develop and implement creative, effective campaigns to leverage, promote and support Volunteering Victoria s government relations and research priorities o Learning & Development team to identify subject matter and content for L&D program o HelpOUT and Melbourne/Gippsland Volunteer Support Services team to help identify opportunities for Government support and funding Engage and manage skilled volunteer(s) and staff (as funding allows) to support this position Comply with Volunteering Victoria s policies, processes and values Other relevant duties as required. Qualifications, Skills & Experience Essential A good working knowledge of and experience in relevant policy, advocacy and/or research work Strong analytical, conceptual and critical thinking skills Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills A demonstrated ability to meet urgent deadlines whilst contributing to a team environment Experience implementing campaigns or advocacy strategies Strong research skills Position Description: Policy and Advocacy Officer Page 3 of 5

4 Strong project management and organisational skills. Desirable Relevant tertiary qualification (for example, legal studies, policy or political science, or the humanities) Demonstrated understanding of the not for profit sector and volunteering issues Demonstrated understanding of relevant government policy and regulation Experience working in or with government in relevant policy and advocacy areas Experience working in a membership association Personal Attributes All Volunteering Victoria staff and volunteers are expected to demonstrate Volunteering Victoria s values, which are to be: Collaborative, supportive & inclusive Transparent, accountable & professional Innovative, flexible & proactive Other personal attributes required to do this job effectively: Proactive self-starter with a high degree of self-management and the ability to work independently Willingness to work as part of a team and to share information and expertise Ability to develop strong relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders Professional, energetic and efficient approach, with a strong attention to detail Ability to undertake multiple tasks at one time Ability to work in a changing, complex and demanding environment Strong work ethic and a desire to get the job done Key Relationships All Volunteering Victoria staff and volunteers Existing members and potential members, especially key volunteer-involving organisations (VIOs) and volunteering support services (VSSs) Relevant Victorian peak bodies and statewide organisations, including VCOSS and the MAV Victorian State Government and Federal Government Volunteering Victoria project partners Volunteering Australia and other State volunteering peaks Policy and Advocacy Advisory Committee members Research Roundtable participants. Position Description: Policy and Advocacy Officer Page 4 of 5

5 Key Success Areas Develops high quality volunteering policies Persuasive advocacy Provides good support for volunteering research Writes compelling documents Manages stakeholders well Manages policy volunteers(s) well Other KPIs to be agreed. Position Description: Policy and Advocacy Officer Page 5 of 5