Andrew Leigh

I'm looking for a full-time office manager to join my team, working out of my electorate office in Gungahlin. Women and people from racial or ethnic groups that are traditionally underrepresented in politics are especially encouraged to apply.

This position will involve managing the office and coordinating my diary, plus lots of community engagement and local problem solving. In a typical day, you might be helping someone at the front counter with a Centrelink problem, coordinating a 5000-letter mailout, planning a campaign on local issues, and arranging an online community forum. Below, there’s some dot-points that will give you a better sense of what our office does.

One of the great things about Fenner is that constituents are passionate about issues big and small, from climate change to the local postbox. I share their desire to improve the quality of the democratic conversation. My office is guided by ten ‘Principles of Politics’, which are set out at the bottom of this post.

In an era when some people are turning to extreme parties of the right and left, the best way for mainstream parliamentarians to maintain the trust of our electors is to engage on big issues, be accessible in town hall meetings and mobile offices, and use conventional and new media channels. We send out a monthly email (‘The Leigh Report’), produce two podcasts (‘Andrew Leigh - Speeches and Conversations’ and ‘The Good Life - Andrew Leigh in Conversation’), and use Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter to expand the political conversation. We recently held our inaugural tele-town hall, engaging over the phone with more than 3000 constituents, and I expect we'll hold another one before too long.

If you want to know more about our values and the activities of the office, check out those social media channels or our website, www.andrewleigh.com.

The present team consists of 4 full-timers, plus a handful of part-timers and volunteers. There's a strong sense of camaraderie, and it's a great way to help the community.

If you're interested in grassroots politics and community organising, enjoy solving people’s problems and love Canberra, this job is likely to be a good fit.

Depending on experience, the salary range is $61,061 - $72,511.

Applications close Sunday 14 June. If you're interested, please send a covering letter, a CV and a writing sample (100-800 words) to [email protected].

Duties of these positions will include:
• Manage the office, coordinating responses to incoming letters, telephone calls, and emails.
• Ensure the office provides a timely service to constituents and community organisations.
• Maintain the diary and organise travel, responding to invitations after consultation with other staff members and other parliamentary offices.
• Keep the office informed of issues emerging from constituent inquiries, correspondence, community newsletters etc.
• Organise events, and ensure mail-outs of invitations occur in a timely manner:
• Arrange the annual Fenner Lecture (a public lecture to promote community understanding of maths and science),
• Occasionally, when I have multiple commitments at the same time, represent me at local events.
• Organise local park clean-up events, shopping centre stalls, town hall meetings, community barbecues, and other public forums;.
• Oversee office maintenance.
• Participate in training opportunities.
• Undertake other duties as required.

Principles of Politics - Office of Andrew Leigh MP
How we practice politics can be as important as the policies we pursue. Here are a few ideas on how we should treat co-workers, constituents and colleagues.
1. Since this is politics, we’ll never be everyone’s darlings. But we should treat people – particularly the most vulnerable – with respect and dignity.
2. Our communications should try to engage with the better instincts of Australia, to tell stories, make new arguments, and convey fresh facts. When we dumb down debates and demonise our opponents, progressives lose. When we enrich the public conversation, we win.
3. None of us would be here without the Labor Party. It is Australia’s oldest and greatest political party, and will outlast all of us. We have a responsibility to cherish its traditions, make it stronger and more democratic, and help Labor win elections.
4. When we cannot help someone, we should tell them honestly, and use that time to help others; particularly the most disadvantaged.
5. We should be working on the most important things possible – big ideas, critical questions, major community issues. The only way to get the space to do this is to say no to less important priorities. We can do anything, but we cannot do everything.
6. Experimenting is good, and learning from our mistakes is healthy – but only if we share what we’ve learned with our team and our Labor colleagues.
7. Envy and hate are two of the biggest timewasters in politics. Media coverage is a means, not an end. Working in politics is a privilege, and we’re lucky to do it. Many people would love to do what we do each day.
8. Wherever possible, we should work to collaborate with colleagues on policies, campaigns and events. Labor is the party of “we”, not “me”.
9. Don’t apologise for spending time with friends and family, exercising or reading fiction. Not only is socialising important in itself; a well-rounded life helps us do our jobs better. Strive for calmness, balance and gratitude.
10. Act ethically, crack jokes when we can, and keep a sense of perspective. The typical career lasts around 80,000 hours. Let’s make them count.