About the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission The Defence and Veterans' Service Commission (DVSC) provides independent oversight and evidence-based advice to government on reforms to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members. The Australian Government established the DVSC as a new Non-corporate Commonwealth Entity (NCE) on 29 September 2025 in response to the key recommendation of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Key functions of the DVSC include: monitoring, inquiring and reporting on issues relevant to suicide and suicidality for serving and ex-serving ADF members; monitoring, inquiring and reporting on the implementation of the Government's response to the recommendations of the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission, improving supports for serving and ex-serving ADF members, working with coroners to understand issues contributing to Defence and veteran deaths by suicide, and promoting an understanding of suicide risks and wellbeing for Defence members and veterans, including through engaging with people with lived experience. Working at the DVSC As a new agency, the DVSC is now recruiting staff and capabilities and will continue to do so over the coming year. You have an opportunity to join us now where your expertise can help influence and shape our strategy in support of the Commissioner's independent oversight of wide-ranging reforms across the Defence and veteran ecosystem. We are looking to recruit high performing and dedicated staff with a range of capabilities, who demonstrate integrity, independence and compassion. A key focus of the DVSC's work is the prevention of suicide and suicidality. While the DVSC has a proactive wellbeing program, applicants are encouraged to consider their personal circumstances when applying for this role. Applicants can familiarise themselves with the findings and recommendations of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide for further information. The DVSC is an independent agency. We are currently physically located in Canberra, within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet under a shared service arrangement. While we transition our employment framework, the successful candidate may be on-boarded via the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and subsequently transitioned to the DVSC. Employment with the DVSC is offered under the Public Service (Terms and Conditions of Employment) (Defence and Veterans' Service Commission) Determination 2025. About the Role The Director of Research and Analysis will be the research, data and information lynchpin of the DVSC, with the opportunity to lead a small team and work with senior leadership to develop the agency's strategic research and analysis capability. The Director will help to shape and retain stewardship over this centralised capability to ensure accurate, well-researched, evidence-based information is provided to the Commissioner and to other line areas in the DVSC for the DVSC's inquiry, oversight, evaluation, reporting, corporate, and promotion of suicide prevention functions. Located in the Chief Operating Officer functional line of the DVSC, which comprises the functions of Research and Analysis, Corporate and Governance, and People, Wellbeing and Integrity, the Director and their team will work collegiately with senior leadership and staff across the DVSC as a central enabling capability. The Director, Research and Analysis will also engage with a broad range of Commonwealth agencies and external stakeholders to gather information and data. The Director and their team will collate, analyse and manage relevant research, insights and data on Defence and veteran suicide and suicidality to inform the DVSC's work. This will be drawn from a range of sources including qualitative and quantitative information from academic research, international research, statistical data sources, the DVSC's contact and engagement activities, lived experience, official reports from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, government agencies and jurisdictions, and other data holdings in the Defence and veteran ecosystem. The Director will also support and lead research where required. The key duties of the position include Our ideal candidate We are looking for an innovative and motivated Director with: Strong strategic leadership, and the ability to build and lead a small research and analysis team that will support the statutory functions of the Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner and the DVSC Demonstrated ability to cultivate productive relationships with government agencies, research bodies, academia and other stakeholders to capture new information, data and emerging trends on suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members to inform the DVSC's evidence-based reports and advice Ability to problem solve and navigate multiple, complex data sets with accuracy and reliability, and to oversee, advise on, or conduct applied research on suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members An understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks for conducting research and information sharing, or ability to quickly acquire it A high level of personal integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the APS Code of Conduct and APS Values, with the ability to uphold the DVSC's independence and impartiality Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire, develop, and lead a high-performance team while maintaining productive and respectful working relationships across diverse stakeholder groups, including people with lived experience. Qualifications / Experience The following is required: Tertiary qualifications or professional experience relevant to the role (such as policy research, research design, data science, or a related discipline). The following is highly regarded: Data mining, data visualisation, database design skills, preparing tables for publication, thematic analysis skills Experience in leading qualitative and/or quantitative research, statistical analysis, literature reviews, focus groups, case studies, interviews, including surveys, submission analysis An understanding of suicide and suicidality, particularly among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members.
