Australian Public Service Level 6

Work Level Description

Employees at this level normally participate in the operations of an organisational or functional team under limited direction. Some employees at this level may manage the operations of a small team or activity within Central Office or an overseas post. Work is carried out in order to achieve results in line with the corporate goals of AusAID. Supervision may involve the exercising of technical or professional skills or judgement, particularly in information systems, librarian and public affairs positions at this classification level.

Characteristics of the Work

An employee at the APS Level 6 in AusAID may occupy a position in one of the following areas: country programs, multilateral/community/humanitarian programs, corporate policy, program support, corporate services, a State Office, or an overseas post. A brief description of the type of work involved in each of these areas is provided below:

Country programs - involves managing a small country, regional or sectoral program in its entirety or a smaller element of a larger program. Typically this would involve, under limited direction, research, analysis and preparation of papers, correspondence, briefs and/or submissions on relevant matters, contributing to program strategy development and monitoring, managing the activity preparation phase including project design and participating in contract negotiations, financial management, identifying opportunities for aid delivery innovation, program quality including impact, review and evaluation of programs, liaising with stakeholders, and providing or coordinating the provision of advice to senior management, the Parliamentary Secretary or to the Minister.
Multilateral/Community/Humanitarian programs - work may relate to: multilateral organisations (including development banks, United Nations and other international organisations), non-government organisations; and emergency and refugee programs. The type of work would involve analysis of information, preparation of complex papers, consultation with a range of stakeholders (eg. the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD, other Commonwealth Government Departments, UN agencies, media organisations), presentation of results and some representational work.
Corporate policy - work may relate to organisational, development and sectoral policy. The type of work would involve analysis of information, preparation of complex papers/briefs/submissions, consultation with a range of stakeholders, presentation of results and some representational work.
Program support - involves providing services in regard to contracts including preparing tender documents in consultation with other staff, responding to enquiries, assisting with contract negotiations, preparing contracts and seeking legal advice as appropriate. In program quality areas the work would involve researching information, preparation of complex papers, evaluation and review, and liaison with a range of stakeholders. In public affairs, an APS Level 6 may be employed as a journalist and be required to, under general direction, prepare press releases, publications and respond to media enquiries.

Corporate services - this would normally involve managing and/or participating in the delivery of any one of a number of corporate services. Corporate services include: services to the Minister and Parliamentary Secretary; provision of statistical reports; financial administration and preparation of budget documents; library services; internal audit, staff training and development; personnel services and information systems development. The type of work in most areas would involve analysis, coordination and/or preparation of materials, advice and information, liaison with a range of people and implementation of systems, policies and/or procedures.
Overseas posts - some employees at the APS Level 6 are the sole AusAID employee in an Australian mission overseas. However, APS Level 6 employees are more commonly part of a small AusAID team that will comprise one or more senior employees. The type of work involves: examining requests from recipient authorities for development assistance; undertaking negotiations with authorities on the formulation and implementation of approved development cooperation programs; managing a range of contracts with a focus on performance monitoring and financial management and monitoring the delivery of Australian development cooperation and advising AusAID of its effectiveness.

Specific tasks

Specific tasks at the APS Level 6 in AusAID may include several of the following:

Tasks involving written communication skills:

draft country or regional papers, policy papers, complex correspondence, briefs and submissions on a wide range of matters relevant to program management;
coordinate and prepare briefings and correspondence for the Minister, Parliamentary Secretary, AusAID Executive and Australian delegations; and
investigate, analyse and present information with recommendations for decision by senior employees.

Tasks involving oral communication, representation and negotiation skills:

represent the Agency at meetings, conferences and seminars;
liaise with all areas of AusAID, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and external organisations including other Departments, non-government organisations and the private sector;
provide feedback to staff where necessary; and
prepare and deliver occasional lectures and talks.

Tasks involving formulating, implementing, monitoring and reviewing policy, projects or activities:

assess development cooperation requests and proposals, country development plans and consultant reports and, if appropriate, develop program/project proposals for approval;
implement program/project activities, monitor the performance of projects and develop efficiency/effectiveness indicators;
monitor programs in respect of gender, sectoral, geographic, environmental, and commercial impact;
develop, review and interpret policies;
evaluate and review requests, information and proposals from recipient governments for Australian development programs, projects and technical assistance;
assist with the identification and development of forward policy directions and proposals; and
participate in efficiency and effectiveness reviews of elements of the development cooperation program.
Tasks involving financial administration:
prepare project financial estimates, coordinate budgets, maintain financial records and analyse/monitor expenditure; and
exercise financial delegations.

Tasks involving assisting and supporting other team members:

participate in formulating objectives, specific proposals and priorities;
assist in negotiations and liaison with relevant authorities and development cooperation interest groups on specific activities/issues;
assist in preparations for missions and delegations in Australia and/or overseas concerning specific activities/issues; and
contribute to the preparation of submissions, briefing material and speeches.

Tasks involving supervising and/or training:

provide feedback to staff where necessary;
provide on-the-job training to staff where necessary;
coordinate and direct the staff of a team engaged in personnel, Careers, finance or office service activities; and
train staff in the operations and techniques of processing work areas, for example, salaries, allowances, leave, compensation, superannuation and retirements.

Tasks involving the provision of advice and/or services:

provide secretariat support to high level committees;
advise on international development issues and their implications for the Australian development cooperation program and on AusAID relations with other development cooperation donors and the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD;
provide advice on corporate management of the development cooperation program including budget considerations, corporate planning, program issues and personnel management;
provide Cabinet, Ministerial and Parliamentary liaison services for AusAID;
advise AusAID management on: the impact of development cooperation programs/projects; the importance to national/regional planning programs; indicative costs of the development cooperation recommended; desirability of Australian participation; and any expected difficulties/problems;
serve as an adviser on a range of topics and assess all forms of Australian development cooperation in-country; and
brief and participate in Technical Assessment Panels and in the selection of managing agents and consultants.