Head Of Policy & Advocacy

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• Employment Type: Permanent / ongoing basis.
• Full-Time Equivalent: Ideally 1.0 FTE - 0.8 FTE (37.5 - 30 hours per week) negotiable.
• Location: Hybrid (Melbourne-based employees) and fully remote / working from home available for interstate (ACT-based employees).

About OTA

Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) represents and supports the continually evolving occupational therapy profession. Its vision is to support the profession so that people and communities are engaged in occupations that bring meaning and purpose to their lives, fostering health, wellbeing participation and inclusion.

OTA champions occupational therapists to support their community. As Australia's professional association for occupational therapy with over 12,000 members across Australia, OTA fosters evidence-based practice, enables lifelong learning and promotes the future of occupational therapy.

What does the role involve

We have an exciting role for an experienced and motivated Head of Policy and Advocacy who has a background in public or health policy to lead high-level government and stakeholder relations, advice, and engagement that supports OTA's strategic direction.

Reporting to the Chief Occupational Therapist, this role will require you to work collaboratively across the organisation and membership to ensure consistency across federal, state and territory advocacy efforts. This role is based in our National Office in Fitzroy, Melbourne (2-3 days a week in-office, the rest WFH) supporting our hybrid workforce.

What we need in the role

As a strong communicator and collaborator, the Head of Policy and Advocacy will have a demonstrated ability to build relationships with a range of stakeholders to enhance policy outcomes for the organisation and profession, as well as lead the delivery of projects relating to the representation of, and issues facing, the profession of occupational therapy.

The Head of Policy and Advocacy will bring experience leading teams and will be responsible for creating and fostering a culture of achievement and high performance across the portfolio and for their own team.

The team

You will be part of the Policy, Practice and Professional Development team and lead a team comprised of a Principal Policy Officer, a Senior Policy Officer, a Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor and a Stakeholder Advisor.

What responsibilities form part of this role?

• Leading OTA’s advocacy and government relations strategy, ensuring alignment with OTA’s strategic priorities and effective outcomes.
• Facilitating OTA’s policy development, positioning, and communications to drive influence within the allied health sector.
• Fostering strong, collaborative relationships with key internal and external stakeholders to enhance policy outcomes for the OT profession and continuously improve work practices and processes.
• Leadership and the provision of support to the Policy and Stakeholder Relations team, fostering a high-performance culture and aligning team objectives with OTA’s broader goals.
• Operating within the scope of the annual allocated budget and delegations.
• Drive and facilitate OTA’s representation on external stakeholder groups, represent OTA to Local, State and Federal Governments and other organisations, and coordinate policy-related inquiries.
• Prepare and issue reports to key stakeholders to enable effective decision-making and planning.
• Manage the engagement, wellbeing, and performance of the team by creating a culture of achievement and performance.

Why you should work with us

OTA offers our staff a professionally satisfying, rewarding and flexible working environment. In addition to a hybrid working environment, OTA cares for our team with a Wellbeing Program and initiatives to support work-life balance that includes the following initiatives:

• Flexible Work Arrangements: Melbourne-based employees can enjoy the flexibility of our hybrid work model (2-3 days in the office, and 3 days working from home) and flexible hours (choose when you start and finish), to help achieve a seamless work-life balance.
• Employee Assistance Program: We partner with Acacia EAP to provide our OTA staff with free and confidential assessments, short-term counselling, referrals, and follow-up services for personal and / or work-related problems.
• Half Day Off for Health Checks: As part of OTA's commitment to staff wellbeing, our employees get half a day (4 hours) off each calendar year for health checks ranging anywhere from a dental appointment to a mammogram or even just a regular check-up - no sick leave required!
• Birthday Leave: Celebrate your Birthday with an additional day off.
• Working From Anywhere Policy: Our new initiative could see you working interstate or internationally for up to 4 weeks a year.
• Professional Development & Networking Opportunities: OTA supports role-specific professional development and this role in particular will provide you opportunities to network and connect with key stakeholders within the government and the allied health industry.

You will be joining a dedicated team with a fun and hardworking culture who love what they do and are genuinely passionate about supporting occupational therapists across the country. This is a great opportunity to make this role your own and be part of an exciting evolution for the organisation whilst making a difference when it comes to helping us achieve our purpose of protecting and progressing occupational therapy in Australia.

Specific skills / qualifications needed

The successful candidate for this role will bring with them to the role:

• Extensive experience in senior government relations, advocacy, or corporate affairs, engaging with senior government, parliamentary, and industry stakeholders on complex issues.
• In-depth knowledge of social / health policy, advocacy strategies, and the Australian political and health and disability policy landscape, with strong research and analysis skills.
• Proven ability to synthesise diverse data into strategic, evidence-based decisions and effectively solve complex problems.
• Skilled in navigating bureaucratic structures, leveraging influence, and translating insights into compelling policy and advocacy.
• Experienced in issues management, media relations, and aligning local strategies with broader corporate objectives.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams and achieving high-performance outcomes, with a solid grasp of policy-making and regulatory processes.

If you are passionate about occupational therapy, policy, and / or advocacy, and have the relevant qualifications and experience, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

If you would like to join our team and be a part of our growing success story, or wish to receive a copy of a Job Description, then please contact hr@otaus.com.au.

Interviews will be conducted throughout the application process, and should the right person be identified, applications will close immediately.

OTA as an Equal Opportunity Employer is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and gender, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those who identify as LGBTIQ+, and people with a disability.

OTA is not accepting inquiries from recruitment agencies for this position.