• Great opportunity to join Youth Justice on a fixed-term basis in Melbourne.
• Contribute to improving the outcomes of young people's futures.
• Manage the development and delivery of priority projects within the Youth Justice system, including the Council on Bail, Rehabilitation and Accountability and implementation of key recommendations from the South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group.

The Youth Justice group within the Department of Justice and Community Safety is responsible for the statutory supervision of young people in the criminal justice system in Victoria focusing on prevention, diversion, and early intervention as the most effective and fiscally responsible ways of reducing youth crime. Youth Justice is committed to the demonstration of the Victorian Public Sector values. The values are: responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and human rights.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Legal Policy and Priority Projects, this role is responsible for leading a small team, and working with cross-departmental counterparts, to deliver on critical reforms through the Council on Bail, Rehabilitation and Accountability (COBRA) and implementation of the South Sudanese Australian Youth Justice Expert Working Group recommendations

The Opportunity

• Fixed term, full-time position for 12 months based in Melbourne.
• VPS6 role: $142,790- $191,084 per year plus superannuation.
• Manage the Priority Projects team to deliver quality outcomes and work collaboratively with key project partners. This includes data analysis, the development of policy positions, solutions to inform the implementation of Expert Working Group report recommendations and Cabinet submissions.
• Lead preparation of materials to support COBRA, including policy papers, presentations, meeting papers, submissions and detailed data analysis.
• Provide expert policy analysis and advice, including the identification of emerging issues, opportunities, risks and trends impacting on the achievement of complex and sensitive programs, initiatives and reforms.
• Lead priority reforms and be accountable for the successful delivery and completion of projects within quality, resourcing and timeline parameters.
• Proactively build, engage and maintain positive stakeholder relationships and communication channels, including the preparation of complex reports, briefings and presentations to influence senior stakeholders to achieve project objectives.
• Provide expert policy analysis and advice, including the identification of emerging issues, opportunities, risks and trends impacting on the achievement of complex and sensitive programs, initiatives and reforms.
• Analyse and effectively communicate data and financial information to inform policy and decision making, including supporting the development of budget bids.

To be successful in this role you will have

• Experience in policy design, project delivery and/or service design.
• A qualification in public policy, law, social work, criminal justice or related fields is desirable.
• Knowledge of current policy direction, research and issues within Youth Justice.

To learn more about the type of skills you will need to thrive in this role, please read the position description.

If you have any queries, please contact Will Kennedy on Will.Kennedy@justice.vic.gov.au

What's in it for you?

You will be working for the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which is one arm of the Victorian State Government, a recognised top employer of choice nationally. All our staff work to the vision of a safe, just, innovative and thriving Victoria.

There are many advantages in working for the department, including:

• Job stability – position as a member of the Victorian Public Service (VPS).
• A fair salary– enjoy great work conditions and salary sacrificing options.
• Transparent performance framework– approach your work with confidence in how you're tracking, working to professional development plans agreed on by you and your manager.
• Generous leave entitlements– provisions for many forms of leave; including personal, parental, carers, study, cultural, compassionate, and sick leave.
• Employee Assistance Program support – you are encouraged to use this short-term, confidential counselling service if you're experiencing emotional stress, relationship problems, conflict with others or personal issues. It is also available for financial counselling and retirement planning.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact Aboriginalrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.

For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being made

We want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. One of the ways we do this is by recruiting a diverse workforce – we welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and cultural background. We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector.

We're proud of our individual differences. We're proud of the many languages we speak and the stories we can share with each other. We hope you will share your story too.

If this sounds like a compelling job that you believe your skills would be a great match for, please APPLY NOW. Applications close 11.59pm, Sunday 27^th September 2026

How to apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.