Department for Environment and Water
Job reference: 848342
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE
Job status: Long Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Drive meaningful animal welfare reform in South Australia

Join us and help shape the future of animal welfare policy, legislation and governance across South Australia. This is your opportunity to influence real-world outcomes through strategic policy work, stakeholder engagement and high-level advice in a fast-paced and rewarding environment.

As the Senior Policy Officer, you’ll work across complex and high-profile animal welfare matters, supporting policy development, governance initiatives and implementation activities that contribute to positive outcomes for the community, industry and government. You’ll collaborate with stakeholders across local, state and national sectors and provide trusted advice to senior managers and executive leaders.

What you’ll do

• Deliver expert advice on complex animal welfare matters across all species.
• Contribute to the implementation of legislation, policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Coordinate and contribute to policy, governance and change initiatives.
• Prepare high-quality briefings, reports and executive correspondence.
• Build strong relationships across government, industry and the community.
• Provide executive and governance support to relevant committees.

What you’ll bring

You’re a proactive and analytical professional who can navigate complexity, communicate with influence and deliver quality outcomes in a dynamic environment.

To succeed in this role, you will bring experience in:

• Developing policy, governance or regulatory solutions.
• Analysing complex information and providing evidence-based advice.
• Writing clearly and confidently for a range of audiences.
• Managing competing priorities and delivering results under pressure.
• Building productive stakeholder relationships across diverse sectors.
• Exercising sound judgement and working autonomously within government or similarly complex environments.

What can we offer you!

• Working in an organisation that is contributing to significant environmental outcomes in the great state of South Australia!
• Be part of a fun, collaborative and supportive team.
• Hybrid working model with flexible working options including work from home available to promote work life balance.
• Free entry into DEW managed Parks in South Australia.
• Salary Sacrifice Benefits.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Access to our Fitness Passport Program.
• Meaningful and rewarding career.

Contract: 
3 year contract

Desirable Criteria (including qualifications):

• An appropriate tertiary qualification in animal health, agriculture or animal science.
• Knowledge of legislation related to the branch would be highly regarded.
• Understanding of the role and dynamic interactions between the different arms and elements of the Government system.
• Experience and current knowledge of animal welfare management and related issues.

Special Conditions:

• May be required to participate in responses to state emergencies or associated duties.
• You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or provide evidence that you hold a valid working visa that allows you to work in Australia without restrictions.
• Prior to being employed, the successful candidate will be required to provide a valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC), which is required to be renewed every three years. DEW will cover the cost of renewal.
• May be required to undertake intra or interstate travel, occasional overnight absences, and work outside of the normal hours of work.

A successful applicant who is not currently employed by the Department for Environment and Water will be required to have an original photo identification document sighted and provide a valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) issued within the last 12 months.

Remuneration: 
ASO6, $102,171 min - $108,071 max p.a.

Enquiries to:
Toni Dalziel, Manager Animal Welfare and Wildlife
toni.dalziel@sa.gov.au

Application Instructions:
Applications are to be submitted online through I WORK FOR SA.

Applicants are to submit a pre-employment declaration, current CV and letter of application (max. 3 pages) addressing the Essential and Desirable Criteria (including qualifications) as outlined in the Role Description.

The Department for Environment and Water is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds including all ages and gender identities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBTIQA+.

Applications close: 01/07/2026 11:45 PM

Attachments:
- Pre-Employment-Declaration_240522.pdf
- RD ASO6 Senior Policy Officer - May 2026 - Approved.pdf

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.