Organisation: Australian Public Service Commission
Job Title: Property and Office Services
Word Limit: Maximum1 page
Location: Canberra
As a Technical Officer with the Department of Human Services, Infrastructure Engineering Branch, I demonstrate my experience and knowledge through effectively planning and prioritising my workload and completing my responsibilities autonomously, with limited supervision. Within this role, I have a high degree of accountability in managing the administrative functions of the Branch in support of 188 staff members that are tasked with running the hardware and software in support of the day-to-day operations of the Branch. Solely responsible for my work output quantity and quality, my diverse responsibilities include the creation and maintenance of information technology (IT) business plans, work plans, capital and running costs, financial and contract management support and coordination, assisting with recruitment, managing internal and external stakeholders, including technical specialist and IT vendors, as well as reporting responsibilities for the Chief Information Officer and General Manager. My current position brings with it many challenges that require the ability to make timely and accurate decisions, and I am confident in my ability to do so. Additionally, I possess strong problem solving skills that aid in my ability to work autonomously as an individual with limited supervision. All of my decisions are made following appropriate research, sound verification, and documentation however; I am able to make sound judgements as to when I am required to consult with others prior to making key decisions.
The key to my successful interactions with others is based on my strong interpersonal, consultation and negotiation skills. On a daily basis, I consult with high level technical contractors in order to provide progressive solutions to often complex recruitment issues. This involves consulting with the contractors to negotiate start and finish times, as well as rates per hour. As the Branch has stringent payment standards and pricing structures, I am often required to negotiate the prices until we can reach a mutual agreement. Additionally, as first point of contact for all procurement requests, I consult with staff regarding a variety of workplace requirements. For example, recently I was approached by a staff member requesting a workstation assessment. Utilising my knowledge of the Branch guidelines, I advised the staff member of the appropriate steps involved to gain approval for the request. Subsequent to approval, I was required to negotiate with external agencies to source the best price available to carry out the assessment. Moreover, I have been proactive in the delivery of training and mentoring to executive assistants and graduate employees completing the graduate program. In doing so, my strong interpersonal and consultation skills have been evident through my ability to deliver appropriate education in promotion of employee self sufficiency. As a result, new employees and graduates are well-informed and have the required knowledge to confidently access important information and associated documentation.
Having worked for the Department of Human Services for over six years, I have been afforded the opportunity to work closely with the Building Management Team and as such, have gained a sound understanding of leasing and tenancy arrangements, in addition to day-to-day property issues and property related projects. Moreover, within my current and previous roles as Branch Accommodation Officer, I have been responsible for the management of all accommodation related services for staff, including strategic planning and floor plan management across a range of Branches. With staff members often relocating for due to secondments, I have implemented a staff tracking sheet to monitor their whereabouts so that I am able to make best use of space available. Additional similar role experience that I possess includes maintaining workplace health and safety requirements and documentation, processing security clearances and associated documentation, analysing, interpreting and preparing detailed documentation to enable teams to deliver reliable infrastructure environments, as well as general office services such as mail delivery and records management. Furthermore, in demonstration of my high-level skills and experience, I have been requested to act in the Assistant Director role on multiple occasions where I have assisted the Director and Technical Managers in the day-to-day management of teams and individual staff members. These opportunities have not only enhanced and built on my extensive skill set, but have also provided me with a thorough understanding of the complexities of staff management.
Consulting and working effectively with external service providers and contractors is a significant aspect of my current role in support of the Branch’s capacity to deliver appropriate technology solutions. This includes maintaining contracts and facilitating workshop to elicit project requirements and recruit subject matter experts, particularly with large service providers such as IBM and Microsoft. When doing so, I maintain a consistent focus to balance quality and costs to ensure the best possible service delivery, including developing and coordinating strategies for providing quality service, in addition to negotiating contract terms and agreements. Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a record of achievement for providing exceptional customer service, working collaboratively and initiating processes necessary to support broad customer service objectives and organisational approaches for service delivery.
