AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY
BEIJING

VACANCY – Manager, Research and Visits Unit, Level 8

The Australian Embassy is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified to fill the position of Manager, Research and Visits Unit. The position will be offered at LE8 level.

Please see the attached for the duty statement and selection criteria. We are seeking high quality written applications. Your application should include a cover letter, CV and statement of claims directly addressing the selection criteria. All applicants should provide detailed contact information for two referees.

The application period will close on 19 October 2014.

Applications should be submitted to the Human Resources Section of the Australian Embassy, Beijing at: [email protected]

Please note that only applicants short-listed for interview will receive a written reply. Thank you for your understanding and your interest in working at the Australian Embassy.

Duty Statement

Post: BEIJING
Manager, Research and Visits Unit
Level: LE8
Annual salary: please contact the human resources section of the Australian Embassy
Position No: 7321

1. Management: 40%
Under the supervision of the Embassy’s Research and Visits Unit (RVU) Supervisor (Australian diplomatic officer), the RVU Manager is responsible for the day to day operations of the RVU and its staff. Duties include managing and supervising the RVU’s monitoring, collection and evaluation of information (using Chinese and English language sources) on a broad and complex range of matters relevant to the promotion and protection of Australia's national interest, and the preparation of English language related products and papers.
The RVU Manager is also responsible for coordinating tasking requests to RVU and ensuring tight deadlines are met, and responses are of high quality and meet the needs of the Embassy. The RVU Manager is also responsible for ensuring that the staff development needs of RVU officers are met, and managing RVU staffing levels and leave.

2. Visits: 30%
Managing RVU’s involvement in assisting with the heavy workload of visits hosted by the Embassy from a variety of Australian agencies, while ensuring the everyday needs of the economic and political sections are met. Reporting to a visit liaison officer, the RVU Manager is responsible for helping to oversee program arrangements and logistics for high-level and other official visits, and managing the RVU’s production of visit program booklets. The RVU Manager may also be responsible for overseeing assistance provided to Australian government departments that are hosting senior Chinese delegations to Australia. The RVU Manager oversees the RVU’s management and distribution of the Embassy’s record of official visits.

3. Research/Analysis 20%
The RVU Manager is responsible for keeping abreast of Australia’s major diplomatic and economic priorities through discussions with Australian-based Embassy staff and proactive analysis of Australian media, Australian government statements and ministerial releases and speeches. The RVU manager is also responsible for helping to build and maintain awareness of this among staff members in the RVU.
In response to, and in anticipation of, tasking from the political and economic sections on a broad and complex range of topics relevant to Australia’s national interests, the RVU Manager is responsible for allocating and supervising research assignments, translation/interpretation assignments, requests for appointments, production of programs, briefs, representation functions, quality assuring English language material produced by RVU, and other tasks as required. The RVU Manager is also responsible for the daily production of a high-quality topical English language summary of political and economic issues which affect Australia’s national interests, drawing on media reporting, academic papers, speeches and official statements, and other relevant open source material.

4. Administration 5%
Oversee the maintenance of appropriate RVU reference materials. As appropriate, liaise with other attached agencies to share research-related resources. Ensure officers within the RVU adhere to Australian Government terms and conditions of employment, and relevant Embassy security policies and procedures.

5. Liaison 5%
The RVU Manager is responsible for cultivating the RVU’s network of working level contacts in Chinese ministries, official organisations, research institutes, NGOs etc. The RVU Manager is also responsible for the managing and ensuring the integrity of the RVU-contacts database and other supporting material as required.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Manager, Research and Visits Unit
Level: LE8
Position No: 7321

A. Tertiary qualifications and ability to communicate at a high level (orally and written) in English essential. Ability to communicate at a high level (orally and written) in Mandarin is desirable.

B. Demonstrated high level of understanding of China’s political and economic environment and Australia’s interests in the region. Demonstrated interest in international relations and economics.

C. Demonstrated and superior ability to manage a team in a busy and varied environment to produce high quality outcomes. Advanced ability to allocate resources and manage and guide staff.

D. Demonstrated ability to prioritise a busy workload, work under pressure and to deadlines with great attention to detail. Demonstrated flexibility, adaptability and initiative.

E. Demonstrated ability to undertake research and produce high-quality and regular analytical reports on issues of interest to the Australian Government, including foreign affairs and trade policy.

F. Superior degree of confidence in using Microsoft software, particularly Word and Excel, databases and internet-based research.