Connecting...
FIND A JOB IN YOUR discipline
Throughout history technology has shaped the way society works and interacts. However, the events of 2020 have triggered an unprecedented dependence on its ability. Whether it be facilitating remote work and ensuring organisation’s can keep functioning, allowing people to stay in touch with families and friends whilst isolating or helping to process covid test results at a rapid rate, technology has been at the forefront of the world’s COVID-19 recovery plan.
Society’s growing reliance on technology has not only forced organisations – particularly in the public sector- to reprioritise their technology objectives but has created new opportunities for organisations and individuals to adapt and thrive as we enter 2021.
Below, we identify both the key and emerging technology sectors predicted for this year and the resulting job titles that are expected to be in high demand for the foreseeable future.
Cyber Security
There’s no question that cybersecurity is a top priority among business leaders and organisations, especially within the public sector which often deals with highly sensitive information that can impact both personal and national safety. What’s more, many security issues have arisen from the influx of people working from home on personal devices or using company hardware while battling against an unprecedented volume of users.
According to Cybercrime Magazine, cybercrime damage costs are predicted to hit $6 trillion annually by 2021. These damage costs could include the damage and destruction of data, stolen money, lost productivity and the theft of intellectual property and personal and financial data. Consequently, it is estimated that the cybersecurity spending on protecting an organisation or individual’s data will exceed $1 trillion by 2021.
Indeed, last year Australia’s minister for Home Affairs The Hon Peter Dutton, announced Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy for 2020 will invest $1.67 billion over the next 10 years into delivering a more secure online world for Australians. The strategy also signifies the government’s biggest ever investment in cyber security and is expected to create over 500 jobs for the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD). Meanwhile, the NSW government announced in December that it will invest $60 million into its central cyber security team as part of the state’s broader plan to boost its cyber security capability.
Deborah Walker who’s a partner at IBM, predicts these government initiatives will lead to an explosion in demand for people with cyber security experience. Especially for those within within security operations, risk and compliance, cloud security and architecture and Identity and Privileged Access Management.
"Security teams are really going to have to transition from the people you call when you need help, to actually being a vital part of senior leadership and developing a strategy," Walker says.
Data Science
In 2021, data makes the world go round! With the growing popularity in smart devices and sharing information through cloud-based software – a trend that accelerated in 2020 with the drastic surge in remote work - we’re presented with a bevy of data that can benefit organisations and boost revenue. All that’s required are the resources to filter through and analyse the data. This is where Data Scientists come in; the people whose strong understanding in machine learning algorithms, data models, programming languages and statistics, allows them to highlight business issues, provide solutions and forecast trends.
A real-life example of this can be shown within online retailers such as Amazon or Netflix which both store key information from their customers like birth dates, viewing habits, search histories etc. in order to create personalised recommendations and efficient customer care. The value of storing and processing vital user information has not only benefited the e-commerce industry, but also the healthcare, banking and finance and manufacturing industries, playing a crucial role in developing new strategies to combat and live through the pandemic.
The need for data scientists and data analysts is only expected to grow in 2021 as technology continues to evolve and older models cease to reflect our new world. This is reflected in the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2020, which listed both data analysts and scientists as two of the top job roles that will experience an increase in demand across all industries over the next few years.
Artificial Intelligence
Sue Keay who is the research director for a leading data science research and engineering firm Data61, has claimed that there are currently eight times as many Artificial Intelligence (AI) jobs in Queensland than there are people to fill them. Why the sudden surge in AI?
Firstly, due to the pandemic the need to increase automation has grown as we’ve been forced to physically isolate. A great example of this, is the investment in chatbots for many customer-centric businesses. Chatbots are a software application which can simulate and process human conversation (either written or verbal) which decreases the need for human intervention. They’ve become increasingly advantageous during COVID-19, as they enable businesses to interact with their customers during non-working hours or when staff or customers aren’t able to physically visit an office or shop front. Another common AI example that’s been utilized during the pandemic is voice recognition technology, which minimises the need to touch surfaces or public amenities. Not to mention the added convenience it provides. Global business data platform Statista predicts that eight-billion digital voice assistants will be used globally by 2023 and that device-users around the world will use voice commands more often, instead of typing.
Secondly, the mass transition to remote work in 2020 has meant that cloud providers like AWS, Google, Oracle and IBM have had to embed and expand their AI offerings for public and hybrid cloud deployments, as more and more workers are required to access and store data remotely.
Given the wide variety of tasks that have the potential to be automated by AI- and with automation becoming increasingly important in a post-COVID world- the demand for AI experts is set to increase across a broad array of sectors from banking to e-commerce and agriculture.
Renewable energy and ‘green tech’
Renewable energy and sustainable living have become increasingly important over the last few years and this is expected to continue into 2021 as countries across the world make greater commitments towards minimising global warming effects. In Australia, several states have already outlined new renewable energy investments for their 2020/2021 budgets. Meanwhile the federal budget has outlined initiatives for advancements on waste and recycling policies, the expansion of Australia’s gas industry and a regional hydrogen export hub; projects aimed to commence this year.
For these initiatives to be actioned and delivered, they will need to be supported by technology; in terms of both software programming and hardware and equipment. Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury and Charities Andrew Leigh predicts that based on the current deal flow, we’ll see a number of tech jobs available in installing solar panels and windmills as states begin to action their renewable energy objectives. CEO of Cicada Innovations and former Google executive Sally-Ann Williams supports this belief, claiming that while issues around clean energy and sustainable cities require multifaced solutions, they will also provide a lot of opportunities for the tech industry to help particularly with jobs in software engineering, machine learning and product roles in data.
There will also be a rise in cleantech companies (like Solar City and Tesla Motors) who develop products or services for a dedicated sector of the cleantech market, like solar cell manufacturing, lighting and insulation solutions or biofuel technology.
Change Management
‘Change’ became a prominent theme in 2020, with organisations and individuals having to drastically adapt and alter their processes to endure through COVID-19. However, for change to be successful, it needs to be effectively managed and measured. This is where change Facilitators, Project Managers and Change Managers became increasingly important, guiding companies through building their own solutions, seeking solutions from third parties and tracking progress.
In regards to technology, a big part of change management for 2020 was optimising digital communication and moving analogue processes and systems to a cloud-based platform. This trend will continue as many organisations make remote working policies more permanent. Consequently, those with a tech background in change management, logistics and operations will find an increased demand for their services in 2021, as organisations continue to rebuild and adapt to ‘the new normal’.
There’s no doubt that over the next year, workplaces will witness rapid change in their core functions and processes, with technology playing an integral role in how this change is managed and utilised to help grow and develop. To find out more about how this will impact Australia’s IT job market, or even the current job opportunities within IT, feel free to reach out to Public Sector People’s dedicated IT consultant Cheri Randell to see how she can help with your job search:
Email: cheri@publicsectorpeople.com.au
Phone: 0466 699 297
Public Sector People (PSP) are currently looking to speak to an experienced Systems Officer to join a Local Government on a part time basis, temporary. Start 23rd April 2021 Temp until end of July Full time – 38 hours a week Western Suburb $46 an hour + super Key Criteria: Supporting the design and development of Oracle Works and Assets Cloud service (WACS) or WAM applications. Provide maintenance assistance of the organisation’s desktop & mobile hardware and software. Provide quality end user support on the internal systems and technologies. Proactively suggest improvements to the Technology Services department on how to improve processes and procedures. Test and implement software upgrades. Requirements Include: The following qualifications and/or experience are required for the position: Appropriate IT qualification and experience within an IT support role. Expert knowledge of Oracle utilities and Asset Management System (WACS/WAM). Excellent customer service and Service Desk support skills. Great knowledge of Microsoft 365 and general software and applications. Excellent troubleshooting skills Strong team player with good communication skills to stakeholders. Get in touch for more information! For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity or other positions within Local Government, please contact Cheri Randell on 0466 699 297.
Public Sector People (PSP) are currently looking to speak to an experienced Communications Officer to join a Local Government on a part time basis, temporary. Start 26th April 2021 Temp until end of June Full time – 38 hours a week (8am – 4pm) North suburb $39.76 per hour + super Key Criteria: Assisting with the website redevelopment project that is almost ready to be launched. This role will assist with the below: - Content migrations - Setting up new website pages - Assist with configuring the back end of the CMS - Upload content and oversee the accessibility Create and publish content across print and also the online platforms Communicate with stakeholders and work within a collaborative team to execute the project in a timely fashion. Requirements Include: The following qualifications and/or experience are required for the position: Previous Comms experience with local government would be desirable. Knowledge and able to use Content Management Systems effectively. Able to work autonomously and have a trustworthy work ethic. Experience working with websites front end and back end, understanding the process of a redevelopment project. Excellent communicator with a can-do attitude to hit the ground running. Get in touch for more information! For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity or other positions within Local Government, please contact Cheri Randell on 0466 699 297.
Public Sector People (PSP) are currently looking to speak to an experienced Marketing Assistant to join a Local Government on a part time basis, temporary. Start 26th April 2021 Temp until end of June Full time – 38 hours a week Inner Melbourne Suburb $32 - $45 per hour + super Key Criteria: Manage the business customer database using Google docs and develop reports needed for the leadership team. Contact organisations for information on events, products, services and experiences to use in marketing campaigns. Promote marketing campaigns through the communication channels. Assist with website administration such as collect content and images to be published on the website, blogs and campaign guides. Responsible for responding to queries in the Marketing inbox. Write, create, schedule and monitor social media posts and blogs. Requirements Include: The following qualifications and/or experience are required for the position: Experience leading marketing campaigns. Demonstrated experience with social media and digital communications. Excellent organisaitonal skills, attention to detail and the ability to work in a fast paced changing environment. Able to take direction and think creatively. A positive team member who has a can-do attitude and is solutions focused. Get in touch for more information! For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity or other positions within Local Government, please contact Cheri Randell on 0466 699 297.
Public Sector People (PSP) are currently looking to speak to an experienced Senior IT Desktop Support Officer to join a Local Government on a contract, temporary basis. Start 12th April 2021 Temp until 30th June 2021 38 hours per week Inner Melbourne Suburb $50 an hour + super Key Criteria: Level 2 desktop support and on occasion, Level 1 to diagnose and resolve technical issues associated with applications and end user computing. Provide excellent customer service to internal stakeholders and give appropriate advice. Assist with rolling out new equipment such as laptops and other devices. Ideally must have previous experience within local government and have knowledge of government processes and tools. Requirements Include: The following qualifications and/or experience are required for the position: A qualification relevant to this role would be desirable. Looking for a Senior Desktop Engineer therefore experience within level 2 support is necessary. Great communication skills and able to liaise with stakeholders. Police check ideal. Get in touch for more information! For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity or other positions within Local Government, please contact Cheri Randell on 0466 699 297.
Public Sector People (PSP) are currently looking to speak to an experienced Lead Solution Architect to join a Local Government on a contract, temporary basis. Start 12th April 2021 6 month contract 38 hours per week South Eastern Suburb location $700 - $1000 daily rate Key Criteria: Analyse and establish Enterprise application roll out of Microsoft applications (O365, PowerApps, SharePoint, OneDrive etc). Design and implement long-term strategic goals with a keen eye for future technology that can benefit the organisation with a focus of Continuous Improvement. Also responsible for creating tactical plans for short-term goals and maintaining technology infrastructure. Provide architectural expertise, direction and assistance to the wider Digital team including Business Architects, Data and Integrations Architects and Business intelligence teams. Design and conduct regular security controls to adhere to the cyber security framework. Design, develop and oversee the implementation of end-to-end integrated solutions. Requirements Include: The following qualifications and/or experience are required for the position: A qualification relevant to this role would be desirable. Knowledge of Microsoft Compliance and security assessment models. Microsoft Certification such as Microsoft Office Specialist, Microsoft Solutions Developer or Microsoft Tech Associate. Knowledge of email and web security and O365 security. Understanding of ITIL framework. Strong knowledge and understanding of MS Azure Cloud and Azure DevOps. Get in touch for more information! For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity or other positions within Local Government, please contact Cheri Randell on 0466 699 297.
Public Sector People (PSP) are currently looking to speak to an experienced Applications Analyst to join a Local Government on a contract, temporary basis. Start Monday 26th April – 6 month contract 38 hours per week South Eastern Suburb location $500 - $700 daily rate + super Key Criteria: Hands on administration with the O365 admin portal and must have the ability to run workshops and have conversations with internal stakeholders around best practices around O365 implementations. Responsible for the development and maintenance of SharePoint portals, sites, pages and document libraries. Ability to design and publish Power BI reports. Must be able to translate business requirements into solutions. Develop automated scripts for process mapping and service delivery. Requirements Include: The following qualifications and/or experience are required for the position: A qualification relevant to this role would be desirable. Extensive experience and knowledge of O365 including, SharePoint, Power BI, Teams, Planner, One Drive, Flows etc. Previous experience with a migration and implementation of Office 365. Excellent communication skills and able to work collaboratively in a team environment to deliver outcomes. Get in touch for more information! For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity or other positions within Local Government, please contact Cheri Randell on 0466 699 297.
Public Sector People (PSP) are currently looking to speak to an experienced Strategic Communications Advisor to join a Local Government on a contract, temporary basis. Immediate start 38 hours per week Work from home Temp until end of June $40 per hour + super (negotiable) Key Criteria: Writing for the Council’s digital channels, web and email campaigns. Content Management Media liaison, developing press releases and liaising with graphic designers. Communication based role with digital elements to work closely with the Digital Marketing team. Stakeholder management, assisting the Communications team with ad hoc projects and using your initiative to solve problems. Requirements Include: The following qualifications and/or experience are required for the position: Must have a basic understanding of CMS and Trello. Relevant tertiary qualification in the areas of communications, marketing, media or publications. Experience in organising and communication/ promoting events Experience or a good understanding of publication work, particularly writing, education and publication. Strong communication skills Adaptable work ethic, can start and hit the ground running. Get in touch for more information! For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity or other positions within Local Government, please contact Cheri Randell on 0466 699 297.
Public Sector People (PSP) are currently looking to speak to an experienced SEO Specialist to join a leading online education provider that is exclusively partnered with elite Universities across the globe. This role is permanent and plays a huge part in supporting the growing business in identifying strategies and analysing the performance of their website. This organisation has boomed over the past year and this opportunity will allow future growth for the successful candidate, an extremely exciting time to join. Not only will you be fully trusted to work on projects, but this organisation has recognised the importance of flexibility and autonomy which is exactly what you can expect whilst working here. Responsibilities include: You will be responsible for project managing website improvements and problem solving any issues. You will be required to provide recommendations to improve CRO, user experience and the customer’s journey. You will be able to continually identify new opportunities to grow website traffic whilst working and managing the SEO budget. Implementing technical optimisations such as content optimisations, meta tags, schema, sitemaps, URL paths and site architecture. Performing regular research and analysis using Google Analytics. Monthly reporting is required to identify traffic on the website, audience insights, content reviews, technical audits, on-site analysis, and backlink audits. Work closely with the Content team to produce relevant content to leverage social media channels and drive traffic. Liaise with third party clients to support all SEO initiatives. Requirements Include: Tertiary qualification in related field of higher. Demonstrated experience within an SEO role and the proven ability to forecast and analyse relevant data. Experience using a CMS including WordPress and Drupal. Must also be advanced using Excel. Advanced knowledge of Google Analytics, Search Console, Tag Manager, Trends and Keyword Planner. A strong understanding of HTML, CSS and Javascript from either experience or study. An excellent communicator who can translate technical information to be understood by the wider team. This organisation prides themselves on being rated number one in Australia and not only is this due to their drive to be the best within their field, but it comes down to their talented team. You will be joining a supportive and extremely collaborative team with a CEO that celebrates new ideas and encourages the innovative mindset. Additional benefits include full flexibility working arrangements, possible subsidised study and a brand-new quirky office space should you decide to work there part time later in the year. If you possess the skills listed and are interested in this opportunity, then I would love to hear from you! For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity or other positions within Local Government, please contact Cheri Randell on 0466 699 297.