Who we are The Farm Resilience Division is responsible for the department's policy response to drought, including drought and climate resilience and the Future Drought Fund, farm support policy and programs, including the Farm Household Allowance and the Rural Financial Counselling Service. It also works closely with other agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency, Services Australia, the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC), the Australian Taxation Office, and the Australian Prudential and Regulation Authority. The immediate vacancies are in the Future Drought Fund (FDF) Strategy and Delivery Branch which, along with the FDF Innovation and Adoption Branch, provides secure, continuous funding to help Australian farmers and communities become more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought. Established under the Future Drought Fund Act 2019 in September 2019, it is a $5 billion commitment with $100 million each year allocated to drought resilience programs. In the 2024-25 Budget, the Australian Government provided $519m over 8 years to deliver a range of new and continuing programs. The key duties of the position include The Jobs We would like to fill two immediate vacancies in the FDF Strategy and Delivery Branch: The director of the Strategic Policy Section guides the long-term strategic direction of the FDF through proactive policy development in line with the strategic objectives of the FDF Act, the Drought Resilience Funding Plan and broader departmental and government objectives. The team is also responsible for the legislative and policy guiding framework that guides FDF spending. The director of the First Nations Partnership Section undertakes a range of policy and program functions including implementing the FDF's Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country program and supporting the FDF's First Nations Advisory Group. The duties of an EL2 officer in the Division includes, but are not limited to: Leading the design, development and implementation of programs and policies. Consulting across the department and government and with external stakeholders. Preparing high quality briefing material for meetings and decisions, correspondence, advice and New Policy Proposals to department executive and ministers on policy and program design and implementation. Leading the development of program communications and monitoring, evaluation and learning strategies. Leading the development of strategic program implementation planning and governance, branch, and departmental activities. Financial management. Fostering and promoting a collaborative and inclusive working environment. Please note that this selection process will initially be used to fill both ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies and that the roles may be able to be performed from any of the locations listed above. The merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of 18 months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Public Service Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the branch where the duties are of a similar nature.
