Australian Public Service Level 3
Work Level Description
Employees at this classification level usually work under general direction within clear guidelines and established work practices and priorities, performing functions that require the application of knowledge, skills and techniques appropriate to the work area.
The work may cover a range of tasks associated with program, activity or service delivery to clients or other interested parties or administrative support to senior staff.
Direction of positions at this level is usually more detailed than at higher levels and is related to work priorities, practices and task technicalities.
Decisions taken or delegations exercised at this level may have an impact on Agency operations but they are of limited management significance.
A significant amount of on-the-job training will normally be required for employees at this classification level.
Characteristics of the Work
An employee at the APS Level 3 in AusAID will most likely occupy a position in a corporate services area of AusAID, although some positions at this level are found throughout other areas. A brief description of the type of work involved is provided below:
- Corporate services - most APS Level 3 employees work in the delivery of corporate services. They may work as part of a team involved in processing pay and conditions, financial accounts, records management, information services or personnel development.
- Country programs - involves providing administrative support to a country, regional or sectoral program. Typically this would involve, under general direction, preparing routine papers and correspondence, assisting with preparation of material for briefs and/or submissions, assisting with background material for contract negotiations, and assisting with the provision of financial management reports.
- Multilateral/Community/Humanitarian programs - involves providing administrative support to a multilateral/community/humanitarian program. Typically this would involve, under general direction, preparing routine papers and correspondence, assisting with preparation of material for briefs and/or submissions and assisting with the provision of financial management reports.
- Corporate policy - involves providing administrative support to corporate policy units. Typically this would involve, under general direction, researching information, preparing routine papers and correspondence, assisting with preparation of material for briefs and/or submissions.
- Program support - involves providing administrative support to program support units. Typically this would involve, under general direction, researching information, preparing routine papers and correspondence, assisting with preparation of material for briefs and/or submissions.
Specific tasks
Specific tasks at the APS Level 3 in AusAID may include several of the following:
- draft routine correspondence and assist in the drafting of briefings;
- coordinate travel arrangements for senior staff within the Branch;
- liaise with other Branches on a range of administrative matters;
- undertake library, internet and file research;
- provide support in the production of Branch and Section publications;
- maintain systems to handle the flow of Ministerial correspondence and submissions, Cabinet and Parliamentary material in AusAID and assist with the preparation of regular status and information reports for senior staff;
- arrange payment of accounts and sundry debtor action;
- manage the office of a Senior Executive Service Band 2 employee;
- maintain human resource budgeting systems and prepare standard reports; and
- approve the purchase of goods and services to a specified value.
