Government Relations Liaison and Executive Officer

• Exciting Opportunity for an experienced Government Relations Liaison and Executive Officer to join Swinburne University of Technology
• Ongoing / full-time position at our vibrant Hawthorn campus
• HEW 8 position | 17% super | flexible/ hybrid options available

About the Role
Are you passionate about public policy, political engagement, and shaping the future of higher education Swinburne University of Technology is seeking a proactive and politically savvy Government Relations Liaison and Executive Officer to join our dynamic team.

In this pivotal role, you will support the Director of Government Relations in delivering Swinburne’s government relations strategy. You'll play a key part in the development and implementation of communication and advocacy campaigns, prepare research and analysis for high-impact submissions, and draft briefing materials that inform and influence public policy.

You’ll regularly engage with Ministers’ offices, Members of Parliament, senior public officials, peak bodies, and policy influencers, making your experience in liaising with government stakeholders and understanding political protocols essential.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who:

• Understands the Australian political system and has experience working with political advisers or government officials.
• Has excellent writing, research, and project management skills.
• Thrives under pressure and can manage multiple projects in fast-paced environments.
• Can confidently navigate the intersection of public policy and higher education.
• Values collaboration and is effective in managing both internal and external stakeholders.

If you’re a self-starter with a passion for strategic advocacy and the future of education, this role offers the opportunity to make a real impact, working at the heart of Swinburne’s engagement with government and the broader policy community.

About You
To be suitable for this role you will need to have extensive experience and demonstrated ability in a medium to large sized organisation, in the key accountabilities below:

• Demonstrated ability to understand and shape the policy environment to support the university’s government relations objectives.
• Demonstrated capacity to develop strong, supportive cross-functional relationships and partnerships, particularly with internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting, advising, counselling and influencing management.

Qualifications

• A degree in a relevant field and some previous experience.
• Relevant experience in government relations, public policy or related roles e.g. ministerial adviser, public servant, research assistant.

About Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne’s strategy draws upon our understanding of future challenges. We choose to build Swinburne as the prototype of a new and different university, one that is truly of Technology, of Innovation and of Entrepreneurship. We are committed to a differentiated university proposition in education and research.

To Apply
Please submit your CV and cover letter addressing your suitability for this position.

To review the Position Description and to apply, please scroll down to the bottom of the page.

If you are viewing this advert from an external site, please click ‘apply’ and you will be redirected to Swinburne’s Jobs website to access the Position Description at the bottom of the page.

Please Note: Appointment to this position is subject to passing a Working with Children Check.

If you are experiencing technical difficulties with your application, please contact the Swinburne Talent Acquisition Team on [email protected].

Applications Close: Friday 27th June 2025 at 5pm.

Swinburne offers flexible working options contained in our leave and parenting/carer policies to support work-life balance.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Swinburne has become a world-class university, driving social and economic impacts through science, technology, and innovation. As a dual-sector university, our vision is for people and technology to work together to build a better world.

Central to our vision is our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer focused on attracting, retaining, and developing great talent. We work to remove barriers related to gender identity, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, and age.

We strongly encourage applicants from diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our Moondani Toombadool Centre leads our Indigenous education and culture at Swinburne, guided by community wisdom and leadership.

We support applicants with disabilities. Adjustments can be requested at any time during the recruitment process. For Reasonable Adjustment requests, including accessible formats for the PD, application form or any other document, please contact at [email protected] or call +61 3 9214 3550.

Please note the above number and DCR email address are for disability or reasonable adjustments queries only. General enquires about the role can be sent to [email protected] (general enquires will not be answered by phone).

Victoria’s Commitment to Action: Improving international student employment outcomes
As a signatory to Victoria’s Commitment to Action, Swinburne seeks to remove barriers to international graduate employment. We welcome and encourage applications from international graduates.

As a Circle Back Initiative Employer, we commit to responding to every applicant.