About the Senior Executive Service

Introduction

The Government's commitment to an effectively led and efficient Tasmanian State Service is demonstrated by recruiting, developing and retaining a professional leadership cohort of highly skilled senior executives.

Members of the Senior Executive Service have responsibility for high-level policy advice and a variety of complex organisational and project management challenges across a diverse range of areas. Senior Executives are responsible for providing frank, impartial and timely advice to government and high quality services to the Tasmanian community.

Members of the Senior Executive Service:

• are appointed to the Tasmanian State Service not to a particular Agency;
• have a particular accountability for the achievement of Agency and Government goals reflected in their statement of duties, instrument of appointment and performance management system;
• furnish high level policy advice and undertake high level responsibilities in and across agencies to achieve Government targets;
• are required to develop and apply a broad range of capabilities (knowledge, skills and abilities) across the State Service; and
• are required to display high level leadership and personal attributes that shape strategic thinking and achieve results on an Agency and whoIe-of-service basis.

Executives demonstrate Agency values and leadership capabilities. Senior Executives may report to Ministers, department or agency heads, senior executives, boards of management and to the Government of the day.

Responsibilities of senior executives

Senior Executives in the State Service are responsible for public funds and delivering on the government's agenda, although their ultimate responsibility is to the Tasmanian community. Good governance is how modern public sector management is described, in conjunction with the principles and standards of public behaviour that support it.

Governance in the State Service is important, challenging and complex as the State Service is required to satisfy a broad range of political, economic, environmental and social objectives. At the same time, the Tasmanian State Service also provides the opportunity for innovative thinking and planning on issues that affect the community well into the future.

Executive roles require experienced problem solvers with a demonstrated commitment to social justice values. Executive roles range from Heads of Agencies (Secretaries) through to departmental Deputy Secretaries and Project/Policy Directors and carry a high level of responsibility for finances, resources and policy development.

Senior Executive Leadership Capability Framework

The Tasmanian State Service Senior Executive Leadership Capability Framework (SELCF) provides a common language to support consistent whole-of-service capability development for Senior Executives and designed to ensure leadership capabilities and behaviours exist to meet the challenges for the future.

The Framework will be used as a key input for a number of State Service wide initiatives, including: rotation and mobility of Senior Executives; as the basis for performance management and development of executives; and aligning and developing our leaders' capabilities.

The five broad leadership capabilities of the Framework are:

1. Shapes Strategic Thinking
2. Achieves Results
3. Cultivates productive working relationships
4. Exemplifies personal drive and integrity
5. Communicates with influence

Strengthening the leadership capability will promote effective decision making as Senior Executives navigate their State Service careers through the inevitable complexities and challenges that will arise along the way.

A package of information to facilitate the implementation of the Framework has been developed to assist agencies/authorities to implement the Framework. The package includes:

• Information about the Senior Executive Leadership Capability Framework (SELCF)
• Using the Senior Executive Leadership Capability Framework – Examples
• Background information about the Senior Executive Leadership Capability Framework
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Communication strategy
  • Template - Key messages and template to embed the SELCF
• SES Statements of Duties
  • Developing SES Statements of Duties - Guidelines and template
  • Glossary of common verbs for writing Statements of Duties
  • Template - Agency Advice to applicants
• SES Induction and Orientation
  • Guidelines, template and checklist
• SES Performance Management and Development
  • Developing Senior Executive Performance Management and Development Guidelines
  • Template - Senior Executive Self-Assessment Tool
  • Template - Stage 1 - Senior Executive Performance Management Plan
  • Template - Stage 2 - Senior Executive Mid-Cycle Performance Review
  • Template - Stage 3 - 4 - Senior Executive Annual Review & Assessment

For more information on the leadership capability framework click here.

Remuneration and employment benefits

Senior Executive roles are offered as fixed-term contracts for up to five years, with similar conditions (such as leave provisions) to non-executive level appointments. Senior Executives are employed on an attractive salary that includes superannuation with the approval of salary progression made in accordance with Employment Direction No. 17.

Working as a Senior Executive in the Tasmanian State Service also means you will enjoy the benefits of work/life balance, provided through family-friendly and flexible work practices. Our work philosophy recognises that people have lives outside of work, and conditions and attitudes in our workplaces support this.

Performance management and development

Senior Executives, in common with all State Service employees, are required to participate in a Performance management and development process. Employment Direction No. 17 outlines the recommended approach to performance management and development for Senior Executives. 

Employment framework and conditions

The Employment Framework in the Tasmanian State Service is governed by a range of Acts, Regulations and Awards. The Senior Executive 'Office' may exercise delegations in accordance with a range of Acts, Regulations, Awards, administrative authorities and functional arrangements mandated by statutory office holders including the Secretary of the Department.

Senior Executive employment in the State Service is governed by the:

• State Service Act 2000 (The Act) which specifies the minimum responsibilities of Officers
• State Service Regulations 2011
• State Service Code of Conduct (section 9) contained in the State Service Act 2000.
• State Service Principles (sections 7 & 8) and
• Employment Direction No. 17 – Senior Executive Service and Equivalent Specialist Officers.

Appointment is made by an Instrument of Appointment which sets out all the terms and conditions of employment.

The Tasmanian State Service is also committed to workplace diversity and this is supported through the State Service Principles, in recruitment and management policies and practices, and in Employment Direction No. 3.

All Senior Executives / Officers are expected to utilise information management systems in a responsible manner in line with Agency policy.