Freedom of Information Lead

Job no: 0059378
Location: Parkville
Role type: Part-time (FTE 0.6); Fixed-term for 12 months
Department: Legal and Risk
Salary: UOM 8 – $115,137-$124,622 p.a. plus 17% super, pro rata for part-time

• Contribute to University compliance-by-design frameworks
• Work-life balance
• Brilliant benefits and a flexible hybrid work environment! 

About the Role
This is a great opportunity for an experienced FOI expert who values work-life balance and possesses a strong work ethic in managing requests for access to documents under current legislation. In this role, you will handle multiple and complex requests concurrently, prioritising tasks to meet deadlines effectively. Additionally, you will collaborate closely with stakeholders at all levels and engage with external parties and regulators to deliver outcomes within strict legislated timeframes.

Promoting a compliance-by-design philosophy and proactively contributing to University compliance frameworks for information, data, and records, you will play a crucial role in developing and nurturing effective working relationships with other departments. Furthermore, ensuring all information access requests comply with the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic) is paramount.

Currently, you will collaborate with another FOI expert in the team, jointly managing BAU operations. Our team is supportive and inclusive, dedicated to supporting individual development.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop and deliver expert advice on FOI legislation and the University's compliance obligations in alignment with University policies and processes and external regulatory requirements
• Implement continuous improvement activities for FOI and other information access requests
• Develop and implement mitigation plans to address any strategic, reputational, and operational risks associated with FOI and related information access requests
• Oversee compliance and quality assurance management

Who we are looking for
We are seeking an experienced FOI expert with excellent communication skills, capable of interpreting legislation for diverse stakeholders. You should possess exceptional organisational abilities, enabling you to prioritize requests and multitask effectively to meet deadlines. Additionally, autonomy in your work and strong collaboration with team members are essential qualities.

You will also have:

• Extensive experience as a FOI expert
• Expert knowledge of domestic legislation and practices regarding FOI and the ability to translate this knowledge into practical advice, tools and programs
• Proven expertise in interpreting and applying legislation in a complex organisational context and advising others on the application of legislation to new or complex situations
• Demonstrated ability to integrate knowledge of internal and external regulatory requirements with the operational requirements and objectives of a large organisation with diverse functions.  

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements please refer to the attached PD.

To ensure the University continues to provide a safe environment for everyone, this position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Your new team – Legal and Risk
Legal and Risk is a vibrant and dynamic business unit. We pride ourselves on our collegiate approach to working across teams, functions, faculties and disciplines, and touch all areas of the University’s operations. Our work is interesting, challenging and rewarding, with possibly the most diverse range of clients you’ll ever get an opportunity to work with in one organisation. The leadership team are champions of professional development and will support your growth in a way that suits you. We have a strong commitment to our values and behaviours, and we recognise and reward our peers when we see those behaviours being demonstrated. We have an inclusive culture that encourages participation in many regular and ad-hoc social and wellbeing activities.

What we offer you!
In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services, and discounts on graduate courses. For more information check out our benefits  page!

The University of Melbourne
We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website  and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn .   

Be yourself
The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities, and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality, and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion  page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact Kim Groizard at [email protected] , with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture, and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents: 

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience

Please note that you are not required  to respond to the selection criteria in the Position Description.

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Ivanka via email at [email protected] , ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

Applications close: Sunday 3 March 2024 11:55 PM Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)

Position Description:  FOI Lead PD 0059378.pdf

Position Description