Initial assignment

Offers of employment and initial assignment

Public Service non‑executive employees are employed within an agency in a classification of work on an ongoing, temporary or casual basis.

When employed, they are assigned to a role within their classification of work (sections 45 and 46 of the GSE Act). The head of a Public Service agency may, from time to time, assign non‑executive employees to different roles within that same classification of work.

Public Service senior executives are employed under the GSE Act as ongoing or term employees within a senior executive band and are assigned to a role within that band (section 37 and 38 of the GSE Act).

Employees recruited to an advertised role are initially assigned to that role. Employees engaged from a talent pool may be initially assigned to any role for which they have been assessed as meeting the required focus capabilities and other pre-established standards of the role.

The letter of offer for both senior executives and non‑executive employees should state:

• the type of employment (ongoing, temporary, term or casual)
• the relevant classification of work or band, and
• details of the initial role assignment.

For ongoing employees, the letter should also confirm whether a probation period applies (see GSE rule 5) and state that the employee may be assigned to other roles in the future:

• within the same classification of work and agency (for non‑executive employees), or
• within the same band across any Public Service agency (for senior executive employees).

Assignment of temporary and term employees

Temporary non‑executive employees are employed for a temporary purpose (section 43 of the GSE Act). Term senior executives are employed for a set period or to complete a specific task (section 34 of the GSE Act).

Temporary and term employees are usually assigned to temporary roles, but they may also be assigned to temporary vacancies in ongoing roles.

Because temporary and term employment is time limited or purpose‑specific, these employees should not be assigned to further roles under sections 38 or 46 of the GSE Act unless the assignment is consistent with the original purpose and within the original employment period.

If an existing temporary or term employee is needed for a new role:

• A temporary non‑executive employee should be offered a new temporary employment arrangement for the duration of the new assignment, or
• a term senior executive should be offered a new or varied contract for the duration of the new assignment.

This must be done in line with the GSE Rules (Rule 10, 21 or 22) that apply to temporary and term employment.