Advisory Panel Secretariat

About ARENA 

ARENA is at the forefront of Australia’s renewable energy transition, funding and supporting innovative solutions that make real impact. By investing in cutting edge technologies, sharing insights with the market and collaborating with industry leaders, we’re accelerating progress towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Every role here contributes to meaningful change and shapes Australia’s transition to renewable energy. 

Join our purpose-driven team where innovation thrives and your work matters. With a values driven culture built on knowledge sharing and impact, we offer an advancing environment where you can grow your skills, expand your expertise in the renewable energy sector and make a lasting positive impact.  

About the position  

The Advisory Panel Secretariat at ARENA delivers high quality and comprehensive secretarial services to the Advisory Panel which is ARENA’s independent investment committee. This function plays a critical role in supporting ARENA’s investment processes ensuring robust and efficient assessment of projects across the portfolio. The Advisory Panel Secretariat collaborates closely with the Investment and Portfolio group as well as other teams within ARENA including finance and procurement. Reporting directly to the Investment and Program Director, the Panel Secretariat must maintain high standards of service with a focus on integrity and quality assurance.  

Sitting at the interface between the Advisory Panel, Senior Management, and the Investment and Portfolio group, the Panel Secretariat is critical in enabling ARENA’s investment decision making, requiring excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail and sound judgement. Through high quality process management, the Panel Secretariat plays an important role in ensuring the ongoing processing of ARENA’s investment pipeline at ARENA Panel meetings on a monthly basis. Success in the role will also require a high level of strategic awareness and understanding of ARENA’s operating context as well as maintaining awareness of shifts across investment and strategic priorities and programs. 

In this role, you will:  

• Act as the key point of contact for Advisory Panel members, providing guidance on ARENA processes.
• Coordinate end-to-end logistics for monthly Panel meetings (agenda development, paper distribution, meeting coordination, travel, and catering).
• Review and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Panel processes and operations, including through the use of digital and AI tools.
• Liaise with teams across the Investment and Portfolio group, ARENA Executives, and the Advisory Panel Chair on meeting inputs, processes, and outcomes.
• Manage the Panel conflict-of-interest register seeking advice from ARENA’s legal team and delegate approval on determinations in accordance with ARENA’s conflict of interest policy.
• Allocate Panel member assessment tasks in ARENA’s Grant Management System (a Salesforce platform).
• Support internal monthly reporting on Panel operations and assessment outcomes.
• Draft and quality-assure correspondence, reports, briefings, and other materials, identifying themes across investment portfolios and opportunities for improvement.
• Support Panel member contracting, including renewals and procurement activities, payments and invoice processing.
• Develop and maintain guidelines and procedures that support the functions of the role.
• Provide ad hoc support to the Investment and Portfolio team, as required.

Key skills, experience and qualifications 

To be successful in this role, you will have: 

• Demonstrated experience working in a similar capacity, performing in a fast-paced service orientated or operational environment.
• Demonstrated ability to act with discretion and tact. The role requires the Secretariat to grasp both the strategic position of the AAP as well as understanding nuances across ARENA’s investment portfolio.
• Strong IT literacy required. Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite programs, including Outlook, Word and Excel. Experience with records management systems and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms would be advantageous.
• Strong attention to detail, and high-level quality assurance skills.
• Excellent writing, communications and organisational skills.
• A strong ability to build productive working relationships with senior stakeholders (both internal and external).
• Experience improving operational processes and managing the transition to new processes and procedures.
• Ability to manage own resources effectively and prioritise competing tasks and deliverables to meet agreed deadlines.
• Prior experience in a government or public sector context is desirable. 

How to apply

Download and read the Position Description:  Position Description Advisory Panel Secretariat.pdf 

Applicants must be Australian Citizens and will be required to undergo a national police check. 

Please include a short (no more than one page) cover letter addressing your suitability for the role.

Please apply with your CV and cover letter by Sunday 31 May 5:00PM AEST.

At ARENA, we are committed to providing an inclusive culture so our employees can bring their whole selves to work and have a sense of belonging. You don’t need to be an expert in renewable energy or energy markets, but a keen interest in advancing an ambitious energy and climate agenda will be helpful. We strongly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives and background will lead to a better work environment and better outcomes for Australia.

Employment framework and classification

ARENA employees are engaged under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011. They are not the same as Australian Public Service (APS) employees, who are employed under the Public Service Act 1999. ARENA’s employment conditions and classifications may differ from those of APS departments and agencies.

Positions are classified based on the nature and scope of the duties required to be performed. Job level and remuneration are determined with regard to:

• the complexity of the role
• the level of responsibility
• the skills and capabilities required.