Assistant Director Collection Management - Photographic And Audio-Visual Materials

Assistant Director Collection
Management – Photographic and
Audio-Visual Materials
Executive level 1

This is an Identified position open to all Australian Citizens

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Our Journey
AIATSIS has a proud identity as Australia’s only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led
national cultural institution that celebrates, educates, and inspires people from all walks of life
to connect with the rights, knowledge, cultures and stories of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples. We play a vital role in developing deeper and shared understandings of
our Nation’s history and future on Australia’s truth-telling journey, working towards collective
healing.

In 2024, AIATSIS celebrates our 60th anniversary and reflects on our evolution as an
organisation during that time. Over the next five years, our operating environment will continue
to change, and we must position ourselves to respond to this change.

Our Vision
To create a world in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights, knowledge,
cultures and stories are recognised, respected, celebrated and valued.

Our Purpose
We are the only national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural institution solely
dedicated to telling the story of Australia’s First Nations peoples.

We collect, steward and appropriately share Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’
knowledge through our collection, our leadership in research and our network of collaborations
and partnerships by:

• Creating opportunities for everyone to encounter, engage with and be transformed by

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights, knowledge, cultures and stories.

• Enhancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural vitality; and
• Shaping our national narrative.

Our functions are established under the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Studies Act 1989.

AIATSIS is a statutory authority under the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth) and a Corporate
Commonwealth entity under the PGPA Act.

AIATSIS employees are employed under the Public Service Act 1999, with terms and conditions
of employment as set out in the AIATSIS Enterprise Agreement.

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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR COLLECTION
MANAGEMENT – PHOTOGRAPHIC AND AUDIO-
VISUAL MATERIALS

Vacancy Information

Job Reference 246_11/24

Classification Executive level 1

No. of vacancies 1

Salary $110,115 - $120,025

Group Collection Services

Area Collection Management

Employment Status Ongoing

Hours Full time

Close Date 11.30pm, Sunday 01 December 2024

Contact Person Rauny Worm
0408 722 848
Rauny.worm@aiatsis.gov.au

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About the Group
The Collection Services Group is responsible for the development, management, and
preservation of the AIATSIS Collection. The Group manages, describes, preserves, and digitises
the AIATSIS Collection.

About the Program Area
The Collection Management Program sits within the Collection Services Group. Collection
Management consists of the Audiovisual and Photographic Unit and the Print and Published
Unit.
Key operational activities of the program include cataloguing, accessioning, and describing the
AIATSIS Audiovisual, Photographic, Manuscript and Published collections to enhance
discoverability of, and access to, these collections for all Australians.
Collection Management works closely with the Collection Development and Care; the Collection
Preservation and Digitisation; and the Collection Access teams to support the discoverability
and accessibility of the AIATSIS collection for all Australians.

Role Summary
The Assistant Director, Audiovisual (AV) and Photographic Unit is a key leadership position
within the Collection Management program. The Assistant Director will work collaboratively
with the broader leadership group to achieve the goals of the program and the organisation,
including, making the AIATSIS collection discoverable and accessible in culturally appropriate
ways. The Assistant Director will be solution focused, show initiative, practice sound judgement,
think strategically and have a positive approach to their work. We welcome applications from
people with knowledge and experience in collection development and management,
cataloguing and metadata standards, accessioning, arrangement and description of collection
material, collection care and library and collection management systems, project management,
and / or copyright and Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights.

Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities of the role include:

• managing and leading the operation of the unit, including undertaking detailed

administration and reporting, resource management, staff management and
development, recruitment, and unit planning.

• taking responsibility for the performance and outputs of the unit. Working collaboratively

with unit staff and peers, be innovative and lead projects to successful outcomes.

• providing leadership and developing productive relationships with internal and external

stakeholders.

• taking a leading role in the research, development and implementation of policies,

procedures, projects, and strategies.

• providing high level expert / specialist advice on professional, technical and

administrative matters in relation to the AIATSIS collection in accordance with corporate,
program and project goals, as well as providing written reports, statistics, submissions
and complex correspondence.

• working effectively at the Executive level of the Australian Public Service.
  

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Cultural capability - essential
Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples and proven culturally appropriate engagement and
communications skills. The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently
demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

• understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the

outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.

• having an authentic and respectful interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

culture, policy, and implementation matters.

• engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees in a sensitive and

equitable manner.

• working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to

achieve shared outcomes.

AIATSIS embodies Yindyamarra1 in everything we do



Skills, knowledge and personal attributes

To be successful in this role, you will have well developed stakeholder engagement skills with a
strong understanding and experience in collection development and management principles
within a cultural institution or community organisation. You will come with the following skills,
experience and attributes:

• demonstrated knowledge and understanding of collection development and

management principles within a cultural institution or community organisation,
particularly in relation to the appropriate care and management of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander cultural and heritage materials, including an understanding of copyright
legislation, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Rights, Indigenous cultural
protocols and related cultural safety issues.

• proven ability to manage change, competing priorities and strategic directions, with the

ability to deliver high quality projects and outcomes, as well as the ability to deal with
uncertainty positively and flexibly.

• strong leadership and management skills, including the ability to supervise, inspire and

motivate staff, as well as building team capacity through coaching, performance
feedback and management, and creating career development opportunities.

• demonstrated ability to communicate with influence, in writing and verbally, to advise,

liaise and effectively and respectfully negotiate with a wide range of internal and
external stakeholders.

• prior experience engaging and collaborating with key stakeholders, both internal and

external, to achieve the goals of the program and organisation, with the ability to
develop and implement operational activities and projects that align with organisational
objectives.

• identify and use resources wisely.

• experience undertaking research and providing analysis, guidance and briefing on

complex matters as well as the ability to develop policy and procedures.

1 Yindyamarra is a shared Wiradjuri and Ngunnawal word meaning honour and respect. More broadly it implies

thoughtfulness, graciousness and kindness.

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Tertiary qualifications in Indigenous studies, cultural heritage, library and information
management, archives administration or a related field are highly desirable. Equivalent relevant
skills and experience will be recognised.

What we offer

We understand that you will work best when you have a healthy work-life balance and can
attend to your family commitments. That is why we offer,

• Great salary conditions
• 15.4% Superannuation
• Competitive leave entitlements, including 20 days annual leave, 18 days personal leave,

Cultural, ceremonial and NAIDOC leave, up to 18 weeks parental leave, and the ability to
purchase extra leave.

• Health benefits including, reimbursements for health promotion activities, eye health and

flu vaccinations.

• For eligible employees, generous study leave, course fee and materials assistance, to

undertake relevant accredited study.

• Paid leave during end of year shutdown
• Flexible working conditions
  

Who to contact
For enquiries about this job please contact
Rauny Worm
Director Collection Management
0408 722 848
Rauny.worm@aiatsis.gov.au

If you are experiencing any difficulties accessing or submitting your online application, please
contact the AIATSIS Recruitment Team recruitment@aiatsis.gov.au

How to apply
If this sounds like the opportunity you are looking for, we want to hear from you! Apply

through our online recruitment system (eRecruit)

Closing Date 11.30pm (AEDST) on Sunday 01 December 2024

You will need to address both the Cultural Capability (no more than 500 words) and skills,
knowledge and personal attributes (no more than 750 words) sections, in your response.
Provide a succinct summary outlining why you are interested in this position and why you
believe that you have the cultural capability, skills, knowledge, and experience to be
considered for this role. Please provide examples which demonstrate your ability to perform
the duties of the position.

Your cultural competency will carry more weight than other factors in the assessment. These
requirements are based on the information provided to you as part of the job opportunity.

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Do not simply state that you meet the requirements - it is essential that you provide
examples from your current or past role(s) which demonstrate how you meet each of the key
areas or points. You should focus on how your experience, achievements and capabilities
will enable you to successfully undertake the responsibilities of the role(s).

Applicants are also required to submit a current CV/resume.

If you need assistance developing your response, you may want to refer to the applying
for jobs on the Australian Public Service Commission website:
http://www.apsc.gov.au/working-in-the-aps/applying-for-jobs-in-the-aps

Identified positions
Identified positions are roles that require people to understand the issues affecting Indigenous
Australians and a proven ability to communicate sensitively with them. These requirements are
generally for jobs that involve providing services or developing policies for Indigenous
Australians, and/or direct interaction with Indigenous communities.

Identified positions are crucial in ensuring that the APS has the right people working on
initiatives to improve the delivery of services and close the gap between Indigenous and non-
Indigenous Australians and are open to all Australian citizens.

At AIATSIS all positions are Identified positions where candidates are required to demonstrate
an understanding of the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their cultures,
and their issues and to be able to communicate respectfully with them.

You must provide the name and contact details of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
referee. This referee will be contacted to determine your cultural capability.

What is Cultural Capability?
As all positions at AIATSIS are ‘Identified’ each position will have various elements of
involvement with the delivery of Indigenous specific services, programs, and policies as part of
AIATSIS core functions. AIATSIS therefore needs to also identify the cultural knowledge; skills
and personal attributes needed to deliver the required outcomes.

Every part of how we work, who we work with and for, requires varying levels of knowledge of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, protocols and an understanding of issues that
enable effective communication and ultimately effective performance in the role. To assist you in
determining the required cultural capabilities of this role, you can refer to the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability – A Framework for Commonwealth Agencies

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