At Penington Institute, we believe in approaching drug use in a considerate and practical way to make individuals and families safer and healthier.

Frank and fiercely independent, we connect lived experience with research to improve the management of drugs – including alcohol and pharmaceuticals – through community engagement and knowledge sharing.

Our default as a society has been to judge people who use drugs harshly by seeing their problems as self-inflicted. But human beings are complex, and so is this issue.

Judging is easy. Helping is more of a challenge. Help us rise to the challenge by joining our team.

About the role
Challenge yourself working in a complex and stimulating field
Develop and implement policy engagement strategy to achieve ambitious reforms
Competitive salary plus superannuation and NFP salary packaging benefits
The Opportunity:

This is an exciting opportunity for a professional dedicated to innovative policy reform with a background in policy research and analysis, legal and regulatory research, or Australian or international drug policy within the government, politics, or non-profit sectors to contribute to an ambitious change agenda.

This role puts you at the forefront of identifying opportunities and developing plans, both in Australia and globally, to spotlight necessary changes to laws and policies across a diverse set of drug-related issues.

You will have the chance to engage in deep legal and policy analysis, work intensively with data on drug use, and formulate policy engagement strategies that maximise reform outcomes on issues including overdose prevention, cannabis reform, the role of law enforcement in drug policy, and the design of governmental systems to manage drugs and drug use.

You will be working with a small and hard-working team dedicated to making a difference. The chance to contribute to policy achievements, combined with the organisation’s mission-driven focus, makes this a fulfilling role for anyone passionate about improving community safety in relation to drugs.

Based out of Penington Institute’s Carlton office, the role offers flexibility for hybrid working arrangements and great opportunities for collaboration with a high achieving and supportive team.

About you:

You will be a highly skilled policy analyst with outstanding research and communication skills who can drive us towards our goals.

You will be energised by complex issues and policy challenges
You will be detail-oriented and experienced in analysing laws and regulations
You will be comfortable working with large datasets and evaluating quantitative analyses
You will be highly organised and confident synthesising information from diverse sources
You will be familiar with Australian government processes and international institutions (and preferably with the architecture of international drug policy)
You will be flexible, adaptable and able to prioritise competing demands
You have a desire to give back to society by undertaking impactful, cause-based work
The Role:

Key priorities for the role will include maintaining close attention to drug policy issues across Australian jurisdictions and levels of government, following international drug policy developments, and identifying opportunities for focused policy engagement.

Your areas of focus will include the following areas: laws and government policies related to drug harm minimisation including overdose prevention; cannabis law and cannabis reforms in Australia and overseas; and drug policy-related developments in United Nations agencies.

This role is dynamic and requires diverse research skills and sharp attention to detail. We are looking for someone who thrives in environments that require rapid analysis and creative thinking about strategies for policy engagement.

The role contributes to the broader objectives of Penington Institute and is key to supporting our ability to address and reduce harms associated with drug use.

As a small organisation, a hands-on approach and a willingness to chip in and get things done are essential requirements.

Remuneration:

A competitive salary package will be offered to the successful candidate commensurate with experience (full salary packaging benefits are available).

Download a copy of the position description here.

We are hoping to recruit quickly so there is no deadline. Apply as soon as possible to be considered for the role.

Please quote in application: Policy Officer/Senior Policy Officer via Pro Bono Australia.