Assistant Director / Senior Officer Safeguards Inquiries, APS Level 6 & Executive Level 1, Australian Trade Remedies Commission (ATRC)

• Canberra, Melbourne
• Applications close 14 October
• The salary range for this role is $102,072 - $134,225

About the Department

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources and our broader portfolio are integral to the Australian Government’s economic agenda. Our purpose is to help the government build a better future for all Australians through enabling a productive, resilient and sustainable economy, enriched by science and technology. We do this by:

• Growing innovative & competitive businesses, industries and regions
• Investing in science and technology
• Strengthening the resources sector.

The APS and the department offer a clear direction and meaningful work. You will be able to create positive impact in people’s lives whilst contributing to improved outcomes for Australia and our people.

If you would like to feel a strong connection to your work and you are accountable, committed and open to change, join us in shaping Australia’s future.

Please see the APSC’s APS Employee Value Proposition for more information on the benefits and value of employment within the APS.

About the team

About the Commission

The Australian Trade Remedies Commission (ATRC) is a best practice regulator and a leading international trade remedies authority. We exist to support the Australian economy by securing a level playing field for local industry by investigating and remedying unfair international trade practices including dumping, subsidies and import volume surges. 

The Commission delivers against the Minister’s Statement of Expectations to ensure a more timely, effective and accessible trade remedies system, and to contribute to a Future Made in Australia.

The Commission is undergoing significant reform, including operating model improvements, legislative reform, capability uplift, and the establishment of a safeguards function. 

At the Commission, you can do meaningful work that has a real impact on Australian industry and the economy, while building specialist expertise in a supportive, flexible and values-driven environment with a united culture that values trust, safety and continuous improvement. We invest in our people, encourage continuous learning, and empower staff to shape the future of a modern, best-practice regulator. 

Safeguards branch

The safeguards function will undertake inquiries into import surges and their impact on Australian industry, using economic analysis, legal expertise and stakeholder engagement to support government decision-making. A safeguards mechanism is a trade remedy that allows a government to temporarily provide support to a domestic industry from a sudden surge in imports that is causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury to that industry.

The Safeguards Branch will be a multidisciplinary, nationally significant capability responsible for delivering Australia's trade remedies safeguards framework. The branch will play a key role in strengthening Australia's trade remedies architecture and advancing the Commission's vision to be a best-practice regulator and leading international trade remedies authority. The branch will also contribute to other investigation responsibilities as required to enable Commission to operate in an agile way.

Our ideal candidate

Assistant Director Safeguards Inquiries EL1 - 12 months or ongoing

Our ideal candidate

Our ideal candidate will be a highly capable and motivated professional who can manage complex work, exercise sound judgement and deliver high-quality outcomes in a dynamic regulatory environment.

The successful candidate will:

• Demonstrate strong analytical, investigative and problem-solving skills.
• Deliver results through effective planning, coordination and stakeholder engagement.
• Communicate clearly and persuasively with a wide range of audiences.
• Exercise sound judgement when managing complex and sensitive matters.
• Build collaborative and productive working relationships.
• Demonstrate resilience, adaptability and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Experience

• Experience undertaking complex investigations, regulatory assessments, policy analysis, economic analysis or similar activities.
• Experience preparing high-quality reports, briefs and recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing projects, work programs or complex pieces of work within competing priorities.
• Experience engaging with diverse stakeholders and managing sensitive issues.
• Experience working in a regulatory, trade, economic, legal, public policy or related environment is desirable.

Skills and knowledge

• Strong analytical, investigative and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to assess complex evidence and develop well-reasoned conclusions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management capabilities.
• Sound project management, organisational and coordination skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply legislation, policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Knowledge of safeguards, trade remedies, international trade, economic analysis or regulatory decision-making, or the demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge.

Senior Officer Safeguards Inquiries APS6- 12 months or ongoing

Our ideal candidate

Our ideal candidate will be a capable and motivated professional who can apply sound judgement, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes in a dynamic regulatory environment while working under limited direction.

The successful candidate will:

• Demonstrate well-developed analytical, investigative and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex information and identify practical solutions.
• Deliver quality outcomes through effective planning, coordination and stakeholder engagement.
• Communicate clearly and confidently, adapting messages and advice to suit a range of audiences.
• Exercise sound judgement when assessing complex or sensitive matters and identifying appropriate courses of action.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrate initiative, resilience and adaptability when responding to changing priorities and emerging issues.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and contribute positively to an inclusive, respectful and high-performing workplace culture.
• Show a commitment to continuous learning, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Experience

• Experience undertaking complex investigations, assessments, regulatory activities, economic analysis, public policy analysis or related work requiring sound judgement and analytical capability.
• Experience analysing quantitative and qualitative information and preparing clear, evidence-based advice, reports and recommendations.
• Experience preparing high-quality briefs, reports, correspondence and analytical products for senior stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Experience coordinating projects, inquiry activities or complex pieces of work, managing competing priorities and delivering outcomes within agreed timeframes.
• Experience engaging with a range of stakeholders, gathering and validating information, and managing sensitive or complex issues professionally and effectively.
• Experience working in a regulatory, trade, economic, legal, public policy or related environment, or the demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire and apply relevant knowledge.

Skills and knowledge

• Strong analytical, investigative and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to assess complex evidence and develop well-reasoned conclusions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management capabilities.
• Sound project management, organisational and coordination skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply legislation, policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Knowledge of safeguards, trade remedies, international trade, economic analysis or regulatory decision-making, or the demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge.

What you will do

Assistant Director Safeguards Inquiries EL1 - 12 months or ongoing

The Assistant Director Safeguards Inquiry is a leadership role responsible for managing complex safeguards inquiry activities and supporting the delivery of evidence-based recommendations under Australia's safeguards framework. The role contributes to the conduct of safeguards inquiries by coordinating investigations, analysing evidence, managing stakeholder engagement activities and supporting robust decision-making processes.

The role will lead complex work programs within safeguards inquiries, provide specialist advice on inquiry matters, and contribute to the delivery of timely, transparent and legally robust inquiry outcomes.

The role is responsible for managing inquiry activities, coordinating the collection and analysis of evidence, engaging with stakeholders and contributing to inquiry findings and recommendations.

The role will:

• Lead complex safeguards inquiry activities and deliver high-quality outcomes within legislative timeframes.
• Coordinate the collection, assessment and analysis of information and evidence supporting safeguards inquiries.
• Provide expert advice on inquiry processes, findings and recommendations.
• Engage effectively with industry participants, government agencies and other stakeholders throughout inquiry processes.
• Support procedural fairness, transparency and sound administrative decision-making.
• Contribute to organisational capability, innovation and continuous improvement across the safeguards function.

When there is no Safeguards inquiry in progress, the role will be utilised in other types of investigations.

Key duties

• Manage and coordinate inquiry activities, including planning, evidence gathering, analysis and assessment.
• Analyse information relating to import trends, industry conditions, injury, causation and other relevant matters.
• Prepare high-quality briefs, reports, recommendations, records and correspondence for decision-makers and stakeholders.
• Support inquiry hearings, consultations, verification activities and stakeholder engagements.
• Contribute to project management, governance, quality assurance and risk management activities.
• Provide guidance and support to team members and contribute to knowledge sharing and capability development.

Senior Officer Safeguards Inquiries APS6- 12 months or ongoing

The Senior Officer Safeguards Inquiry is a specialist role that supports the delivery of complex safeguards inquiry activities under Australia's safeguards framework. Working under limited direction, the role contributes to safeguards inquiries through evidence analysis, stakeholder engagement, and the preparation of high-quality advice and recommendations.

The role undertakes complex analytical and reporting work to support safeguards inquiries. The role also contributes to the assessment of information and evidence, and supports timely, transparent and procedurally sound inquiry outcomes.

The role is responsible for supporting inquiry activities, including the collection and assessment of evidence, stakeholder engagement, and the development of inquiry findings, recommendations and operational readiness activities.

The role will:

• Undertake complex safeguards inquiry activities and contribute to the delivery of high-quality outcomes within legislative timeframes.
• Coordinate the collection, assessment and analysis of information and evidence supporting safeguards inquiries and related assessments.
• Provide specialist advice on inquiry processes, findings, recommendations and procedural requirements.
• Engage effectively with industry participants, government agencies and other stakeholders throughout inquiry processes to obtain, analyse and validate information.
• Support procedural fairness, transparency, quality assurance and sound administrative decision-making throughout inquiry activities.
• Identify emerging issues, risks and trends relevant to safeguards inquiries and escalate matters as appropriate.
• When there is no Safeguards inquiry in progress, the role will be utilised in other types of investigations.

Key duties

• Coordinate and undertake safeguards inquiry activities, including planning, evidence gathering, analysis, assessment and case management, under limited direction.
• Analyse information relating to import trends, industry conditions, injury, causation and other matters relevant to safeguards inquiries and assessments.
• Prepare high-quality briefs, reports, recommendations, records and correspondence that support inquiry findings, decision-making and stakeholder engagement.
• Support inquiry hearings, consultations, verification activities and stakeholder engagement processes, including the coordination and analysis of information obtained through these activities.
• Contribute to inquiry planning, project coordination, governance, quality assurance and risk management activities to support the delivery of timely and robust inquiry outcomes.
• Provide guidance, mentoring and knowledge sharing to team members and contribute to capability development across the safeguards function.
• Identify emerging issues, risks and trends relevant to inquiry activities and escalate matters as appropriate.

Eligibility

This vacancy is open to current APS employees only.

To be eligible for employment in the APS and the department, candidates must be Australian Citizens.

Positions require a Baseline security clearance and successful candidates will be required to obtain and maintain a clearance at this level.

Notes

The department does currently offer flexible work opportunities for many roles. This vacancy is onsite Canberra or Melbourne based, although flexible arrangements may be considered. Please reach out to the contact officer to discuss this further.

Application information

Your application must not contain any classified or sensitive information. This includes in your application responses, CV and any other documents. The selection panel may not consider applications containing classified information.

Please provide a pitch explaining how your skills, knowledge and experience will be relevant to this role and why you are the best candidate for the position. Your pitch can contain no more than 750 words and should align to the key duties listed above.

You may use AI tools to support your application. However, all content must be accurate, authentic, and reflect your own capability in line with APS merit principles. For further guidance, please refer to the APSC’s Principles for candidate use of AI in recruitment.

Please complete your application online and provide your current CV with your application. (CVs must be in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format).

Accessible application documentation is available in other formats on request. Please contact *************************** or (************* if you require assistance with your application.

Please refer to our Applying for a position information for additional information on how to apply.

Contact Information

For more information regarding this opportunity, please contact Justin Wickes via email on *********************************