Senior Project and Research Officer

Public Skills Australia has been appointed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) as one of 10 Jobs and Skills Councils. We work with employer and employee representatives from the Public Safety and Government industry-sectors Police Fire and Emergency Services Correctional Services Defence and all levels of Government to ensure Australias vocational education and training (VET) system delivers better outcomes for learners and employers. A primary function of our work is to provide workforce planning industry intelligence and training product development in support of industry needs and government priorities.

The Position

The Senior Project and Research Officer is accountable to the Manager Workforce Planning and Insights and plays a pivotal role in delivering high-quality research and project support to deliver Public Skills Australias business and project plan items. This position will be responsible for leading the end-to-end delivery of research projects resulting from strategies developed in Public Skills Australias Workforce Insights Reports ministerial priorities industry sector requirements and/or the strategic direction of the Board. This role will also be required to prepare evidence-based briefings that support executive decision-making.

Working across teams and with external stakeholders the role will undertake applied qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and will facilitate consultations coordinate projects and ensure outputs are aligned with governance requirements and deliver value to Public Skills Australias industry sectors. This position is suited to a methodical outcomes-focused professional who thrives in dynamic environments and is committed to delivering defensible high-impact work.

Responsibilities

In partnership with internal stakeholders and external service providers with the intent of ensuring compliance with relevant legislative grant and company compliance obligations the Senior Project and Research Officer will:

coordinate and deliver research projects that respond to workforce strategies ministerial expectations industry sector requirements and/or board directives.

high-quality reports discussion papers and recommendations grounded in rigorous analysis and stakeholder input.

end-to-end project delivery including scoping planning implementation monitoring and evaluation.

drafting of key products meets quality standards and expectations and are of value.

robust applied research utilising quantitative and qualitative methodologies including the facilitation of consultations workshops and interviews with internal and external stakeholders to gather insights and build trusted relationships.

teams in research and analysis best practices fostering a culture of robust innovative and evidence-based deliverables.

complex datasets and research findings to identify trends risks and opportunities.

governance and compliance are maintained though project documentation risk registers and reporting in line with organisational requirements.

across teams and disciplines to align research and project outputs with broader organisational goals.

cross-sector and cross-team collaboration and coordination ensuring relevant information is shared and considered in the development of work.

opportunities to enhance research methods project delivery and stakeholder engagement practices ensuring a high degree of political acumen and corporate maturity is maintained.

originality of thought and promote new and innovative approaches when developing workforce planning research and policy products.

Key Selection Criteria Essential

1.A Higher Education qualification such as a relevant Bachelors or Masters degree.

research and policy skills and experience at a senior level in an applied setting.

written and verbal communications skills with applied knowledge of formulating communication to achieve impact.

capability to engage negotiate and build consensus with stakeholders while maintaining trusted relationships.

ability to facilitate workshops and deliver engaging presentations.

an understanding of complex research methodologies.

with a high level of political acumen and corporate maturity to build relationship with senior and executive level stakeholders.

in a project-based delivery environment.

to promote a curious and innovative culture across the company.

capability work on multiple products in a fast-paced environment.

independent problem-solving skills and initiative.

in a senior supervisory and/or team leader role.

How to apply

Your application should include a CV/Resume of no more than 4 pages and a Cover Letter of no more than 2 pages. The Cover Letter should not repeat information contained in the CV but specifically address the essential Key Selection Criteria. Any queries should be directed to the HR and Recruitment Officer at Applications close at midnight Monday 5 January 2026.