Future Acts Manager

Job No: FedCourt149

Location: Perth, WA

Closing Date: 5 Feb 2019 AEST

Registry: National Native Title Tribunal
Section: Future Acts Team
Classification: Executive Level 2
Salary: $113,390 - $132,889 per annum, plus superannuation
Job Type: Ongoing, Full-time
Position No.: 5531
Reports to: Registrar NNTT

Overview of Agency
The Federal Court of Australia (the Entity) is a non-Corporate listed entity for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and a statutory agency for the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999. The Entity supports the operations of the Federal Court of Australia (FCA), Family Court of Australia (FCoA), the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCC) and the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT). The FCA, FCoA and FCC are Chapter III Courts under the Australian Constitution and continue to operate as individual judicial jurisdictions.

Organisational Context
The National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) is an authority established by the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Act) which has offices in four Australian States.

The Tribunal comprises a President and members, who are appointed by the Governor General under the Act to make decisions, conduct inquiries, reviews and mediations, and assist various parties with native title applications, and Indigenous Land Use Agreements.

The Tribunal is supported by the Native Title Registrar (Registrar), who together with the President and members, have separate and specific functions and responsibilities to perform under the Act. Staff assisting the Tribunal and the Registrar are employed by the Federal Court of Australia.

Position Overview
Reporting to the Registrar, NNTT, the Future Acts Manager is responsible for managing the Future Acts team, including line management, supervision and review of all work and decisions, providing expert advice, and work allocation. The Future Acts Manager is also responsible for maintaining the database of future act notices and agreements received under s 41A of the Native Title Act (1993).

The Future Acts team support the President, Members and the Registrar in the performance of their functions under the future act provisions of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). The Future Acts team provide case management, client liaison, technical and administrative support to the President, Members and the Registrar in relation to future act mediations, expedited procedure objection inquiries, and inquiries into future act determination applications.

The Future Acts team also provide high-level advice, assistance and information services to internal and external stakeholders in relation to the operation of the future act regime and the NNTT’s processes and procedures relating to future acts. These activities include the processing of future act notices and the recording of agreements, as well as the provision of information to assist stakeholders to comply with their obligations under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).

Major Activities

• Maintain expert knowledge of the functions of the Tribunal and the Registrar in relation to future acts and provide information, advice and guidance as required.
• Ensure compliance with NNTT processes and procedures and foster a consistent approach to service delivery.
• Establish a culture of service delivery that is flexible, responsive, professional and accountable.
• Coordinate and manage the allocation of future act applications and workflow, and plan for effective delivery of services ensuring they are consistent with the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), regulations and administrative law principles.
• Maintain ongoing liaison with the President, Members and the Registrar, including providing strategic advice in relation to future act practice and procedural issues, and reporting on team performance.
• Prepare reports and statistical analysis on service delivery for internal and external reporting.
• Develop and maintain relationships with NNTT clients to measure effectiveness of service delivery by the team.
• Monitor and respond to changes in the broader native title, Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islander cultural heritage and industry sectors insofar as they relate to the NNTT’s future act functions.
• Manage the performance of staff, promote team cohesion, and positively manage change and uncertainty in the workplace. 
• Provide professional development and support to the team through advising, coaching and mentoring, and by contributing to the development and maintenance of professional resources.
• Ensure content quality assurance by exercising general oversight of work performance, standards and consistency of practice.
• Lead national projects and initiatives as required, including the ongoing review of practices and procedures to ensure work is conducted in a timely and effective manner. 
• Assist with and undertake administrative decision-making as required in relation to future act and other matters arising under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and other legislation.
• Manage and monitor the team’s budget and ensure objectives are met within budget.
• Assist with recruitment, including preparing position descriptions and liaising with recruitment about advertising. 
• Perform other duties as reasonably required.

Competencies & Attributes

• Demonstrated extensive knowledge and experience of native title issues and stakeholders.
• Highly developed administrative and organisational skills.
• Highly developed analytical and communication skills. 
• Sound knowledge of legal process and the jurisdiction of the NNTT and its practical application.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and the ability to represent the NNTT in a variety of forums displaying discretion, integrity and sensitivity.
• Experience and demonstrable ability in management, leadership and strategic planning.
• Sound negotiation and influencing skills to deal with internal and external parties.
• Understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• An ability to communicate sensitively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
• Legal qualifications, admission as a legal practitioner, or the eligibility to be admitted.

Formal Qualifications
Legal qualifications, admission as a legal practitioner, or the eligibility to be admitted

Selection Criteria

1. Possessing and demonstrating an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
2. Possessing and demonstrating an ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
3. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of native title, the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), Tribunal and Native Title Registrar’s functions.
4. Demonstrated ability to apply legislative, procedural and administrative frameworks to high-level decision-making and problem solving.
5. High-level communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to lead and motivate team members and to deliver information in a succinct and concise manner. 
6. Proven ability to respond effectively to a changing environment and to identify and act upon opportunities for improvements. 
7. Demonstrated ability to promote a team ‘service culture’ that is client-centred and effectively meets the needs of clients (internal / external) 
8. Demonstrating and modelling APS values and appropriate, professional conduct.

Successful applicants will be expected to provide a reference from an Indigenous referee, where possible, to confirm they can meet these requirements.
Please Note: This vacancy is advertised as an ‘identified position’ as both the role and the work of the National Native Title Tribunal have a strong involvement in issues relating to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Successful applicants are required to have knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people (criteria 1 & 2 above).

For further information about Identified Positions see http://www.apsc.gov.au/managing-in-the-aps/indigenous/identified-positions

Eligibility
Employment with the Federal Court of Australia is subject to the requirement of the Public Service Act 1999. The following requirements also apply:

• Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must be an Australian citizenship, unless the Chief Operating Officer waives that requirement.
• National Police Check – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check, and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment.
• Health clearance – the successful applicant must be fit for duties and will be required to complete a health declaration and may be required to attend a medical assessment to confirm their fitness for duty.

Interested candidates who have received a redundancy benefit from an Australian Public Service agency are welcome to apply, but note that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired, unless the Public Service Commissioner agrees.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander job seekers and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply
To be considered you will need to upload a comprehensive statement of claims against the selection criteria and attach an up to date resume by 11:55pm AEDT on 4 February 2019.

For more information contact Chris Fewings, by email christine.fewings@nntt.gov.au or phone 07 3307 5020.

Please note once you submit your application you will not be able to edit it.