Business Support Officer
Canberra, ACT, AU
Job Details
EMPLOYMENT TYPE - Ongoing Full time
LOCATION - ACT
AFP BAND & SALARY - Band 05 ($99,285.00 - $107,559.00) AFP employees will receive a 4% increase to their base salary effective from 9 December 2025
JOB REFERENCE NUMBER - 15474
This advertisement is to fill current vacancies and create a merit list for future ongoing or non-ongoing vacancies arising over the next 12 months.
Did you know?
The mission of the Australian Federal Police is to provide dynamic and effective law enforcement to the people of Australia. It provides policing throughout Australia in relation to the prevention and detection of crimes against the Commonwealth, its laws and integrity, and community police services to the Community of the ACT.
Working for the AFP provides you with a diverse and rewarding career. Whether you immerse yourself in a position on the frontline, or provide critical operational or professional support, the work you do makes a big impact on the people of Australia.
We recognise your contribution to our workforce and offer generous remuneration and conditions including:
- Six weeks (30 days) of paid annual leave per year + additional paid Christmas stand down
- 4 extra days of mandatory rest leave per year
- 18 days of paid personal leave per year
- Generous superannuation of 15.4%
- 18 weeks paid Parental Leave for Primary Caregiver (and 11 weeks for Secondary Caregiver) + additional unpaid leave entitlements for up until 24 months from the child’s date of birth or placement
- Generous salaries and incremental salary progression governed by the AFP Enterprise Agreement
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangement that provides work/life balance
- Health & wellbeing services – with a focus on early intervention, education and prevention
- Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities
What is the role?
We are seeking motivated professionals to join either the Strategic External Forums (SEF) Team or the Central Secretariat Unit (CSU) within the Strategy and Performance Office. These teams play a vital role in shaping the AFP’s strategic direction through leading vital stakeholder engagement across the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and within the agency, delivering high-level secretariat support to drive effective decision-making and supporting AFP Senior Executives participation in both internal and external forums.
Strategic External Forums
SEF are responsible for leading consultation with internal and external stakeholders to shape AFP’s positioning on key strategic priorities and issues. Informed by this consultation, the team prepare briefing material and advice to support the Commissioner and Senior Executive’s participation in external forums and the AFP’s contribution to whole-of-government efforts. SEF also provide the secretariat support to the Deputy Commissioners Operational Management Meeting (DC-OMM), ensuring effective cross-jurisdictional collaboration to inform AFP participation as both the Chair and committee member.
In addition, SEF are the custodian of AFP’s relationship with the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) and support the Commissioner's membership on the ANZPAA Board, coordinate AFP representation on ANZPAA working groups, facilitate the AFP's contribution to ANZPAA information sharing processes, and socialise ANZPAA’s strategic products within the AFP.
Central Secretariat Unit
CSU provides high-level secretariat support to the AFP’s Strategic Board Framework, helping set the organisation’s strategic direction, promote effective governance, and monitor performance. The team cultivates strong partnerships with key stakeholders ensuring seamless collaboration and high standards across all boards.
CSU team members manage meeting logistics, develop agendas, prepare minutes, and maintain reference materials. The team also delivers training on secretariat processes and templates, with a strong focus on customer service and continuous improvements.
As a Team Member in the AFP you will be required to contribute to the achievement of outcomes in accordance with the regulatory framework, the AFP Code of Conduct and the AFP Governance Instruments. It is expected that the successful applicant will deliver on the core responsibilities and meet any requirements of the position as outlined below.
What will you do?
As a member of SEF or CSU, you will contribute to informed decision-making and effective governance across the AFP. Your responsibilities will include:
In SEF:
- Building effective professional networks and maintaining collaborative relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Working collaboratively with AFP business areas to develop written briefing material or advise, which determines the AFP’s position, is fit for purpose and delivered on time.
- Supporting the management of the lifecycle of a forum; such as seeking input from relevant business areas, drafting written material, actioning or circulating out of session tasks and tracking action items.
- Supporting the team’s secretariat function to DC-OMM including; assist with logistical arrangements for each meeting, tracking membership, action items, paper dissemination and support the development of Chair Briefs and papers.
- Responding to external stakeholder requests for information, including coordination of AFP input into whole of government efforts.
- Using existing team practices for record keeping and task tracking, and contribute to continuous improvements through incorporating lessons learned into SEF standard practice.
In CSU:
- Supporting the AFP’s key internal Strategic Board Framework which sets the strategic direction of the AFP, promotes effective governance and decision-making, and monitors the AFP’s performance.
- Supporting the AFP boards and advisory forums in functioning effectively and efficiently by managing the business considered at the Board meetings, helping to shape critical papers and providing strategic advice to Chairs and teams across the AFP, ensuring decision-making is made at the most appropriate level, outcomes are being referred to the other decision-making committees in the Strategic Board Framework; Ensure accountability for decisions made by: tracking and monitoring decisions; following-up and reporting on implementation and delivery; and communicating decisions taken to affected audiences.
- Modelling best-practice secretariat behaviours, including promoting awareness of processes across the AFP, and
- Cultivating the AFP’s secretariat capabilities, including providing guidance and support to Business areas secretariats and users.
Essential Requirements
- You must be an Australian Citizen at the time of application.
- A Negative Vetting 1 (Secret) security clearance or the ability to obtain one.
- High level of attention to details.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Desirable Requirements
The following skills and/or experience would be highly regarded:
- Possession of highly developed liaison skills.
- Experience in secretariat or similar services.
- Strong administration and organisational skills.
- Highly motivated and self-driven.
Additional Information
- This role is located in Canberra and applicants are expected to be based in Canberra.
Selection Criteria
- Organising your work, making sound decisions and achieving outcomes
- Communicating and working effectively with other people
- Applying technical knowledge, expertise and skills
Application
Please submit the following documents via our Jobs portal prior to the closing date and time:
- Resume/CV - This will form the basis for determining your suitability against the position requirements and give the panel a clear outline of your current knowledge and qualifications along with previous experiences. Please include your work history, responsibilities and achievements.
- Applicant pitch (maximum two pages). Ensure your pitch tells us why you are the best fit for the role, with examples that demonstrate your capabilities addressing the selection criteria, role requirements and work level standards for the role.
Only complete applications will be considered. Please review and ensure the uploaded documents are correct for this application after submitting your application.
Employment Suitability
Should you successfully progress from the application stage all applicants must:
- Complete an Employment Suitability Questionnaire (ESQ) and provide a traffic history check and proof of Australian citizenship. This aids in the assessment of your character and your ability to comply with the AFP's professional standards both in an official and private capacity. Please review our AFP Character Standards to ensure that you meet our requirements before you submit your application. Applicants will not receive feedback if they are unsuccessful at this gateway.
- Have your fingerprints taken if an offer of employment is made.
- Undertake mandatory drug testing for illicit drugs. This sample could include; urine, saliva or hair.
- Satisfactorily undertake a security clearance to the level specified for the position.
Recruitment Process
Applicants who have demonstrated their suitability for employment through their resume and application, may be asked to complete additional assessments or activities to determine suitability for the role. This may also include a formal interview. Using the relevant AFP work level standards as a guide, you may be asked a range of questions to demonstrate your skills and abilities. These could include behavioural based scenario questions. Read our guides for applicants to find out how to prepare for your interview.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
At the AFP we value the different perspectives, approaches and lived experiences of our people, and recognise that our collective intelligence and diversity is what makes us stronger. As such, we encourage applications from people from all walks of life, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, First Nations people, women, the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disability.
Contacts and Closing Information
Contact Officer: Penny Stanton,
Contact Officer Phone: (02) 5126 7618,
Contact Officer Email: penny.stanton@afp.gov.au
Applications Close: 11:59pm (AEDT) 01/12/2025
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