Policy Manager in Sydney

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) is seeking a Policy Manager to play a key role in ensuring ASFA – as the voice of super - maintains effective engagement between the sector and government on superannuation policy. As the superannuation sector peak-body, ASFA’s policy team is responsible for consulting with members, developing sector positions, and then representing those sector positions to government.

As part of ASFA’s policy and research team, and reporting to the Head of Policy, this role will assist in member consultation, undertake policy writing and submission drafting, monitor public policy developments in superannuation and the financial services sector, and represent the sector’s views externally. The ideal candidate will have a collaborative mindset, strong communications skills, and the ability to work alongside a high-performing team across a breadth of policy issues, while maintaining a strong working knowledge of key issues impacting the superannuation sector.

Key responsibilities include:

• Support the co-ordination, management and development of policy positions in consultation with ASFA’s membership and prepare submissions that enable ASFA to represent these positions to government.
• Monitor the policy and political landscape of superannuation and update on legislative and regulatory developments relevant to the sector and prepare policy-related communications for members.
• Build and maintain a strong knowledge of superannuation policy and the financial services sector landscape, including key policy issues, relevant stakeholders, and important decision-makers.
• Provide strategic advice to leadership on emerging trends or issues that may influence further policy development or research work.
• Prepare policy briefs for senior leadership to communicate recommendations of interest to stakeholders including government and member organisations.
• Build and maintain relationships with ASFA’s membership, coordinate and prepare responses to member enquiries, and provide secretariat support to policy forums and working groups.
• Collate, analyse and distil policy positions from government, regulators, industry associations and other actors in the sector to inform policy development.
• Stay informed about emerging issues and best practice in public policy and contribute to uplifting the overall capacity of the team.

Experience and qualifications:

• Tertiary qualifications in public policy, political science, economics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in policy, research and analysis.
• Background or knowledge in the financial services sector desirable but not required.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and information and provide summaries and recommendations to leadership.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Capability in effective stakeholder management and engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across a team, as well as the ability to independently undertake specific projects, oftentimes simultaneously.

Please Note: Due to the anticipated number of applicants for this opportunity, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.