Manager, Capability and Networks Small Business and Employment

• Salary: $142,790 - $191,084 (Plus Superannuation)
• Fixed term until 31 December 2026
• Usual hours of work: Full time (flexibility may be available)
• Usual work location: 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (flexibility may be available)

 The Role

As the successful candidate you will have the opportunity to lead a high performing team that delivers services to support a growing and thriving Victorian small business sector. You will draw on established skills to nurture positive culture and use your business acumen to successfully deliver programs that drive small business engagement with capability building.

You will explore options for leveraging service delivery to maximise small business participation and explore options for continuous improvement by evaluating program performance and considering participant feedback.

You will lead engagement with internal and external stakeholder and support functions that elevate the voice of small businesses directly to government.

You will demonstrate positive leadership and support the development of others as a senior member of the
Small Business and Employment team.

Main accountabilities:

• Manages an area with significant budget, staff responsibilities or strategic importance
• Provides authoritative expert advice on complex issues within own area
• Develops briefs on highly complex issues that provide options for decision within an organisation
• Initiates and manages negotiations with peers (internal and external to work unit) to gain commitment to projects, and delivery of activities to meet timelines

 The Team

The position of Manager Capability and Networks forms a part of the Small Business and Employment branch within the Economic Policy, Programs and Services group.

Economic Policy, Programs and Services Group (EPPS) supports delivery of sustainable economic development and employment growth for Victoria. The Group supports DJSIR's delivery of strategic priorities through the entirety of the policy and project lifecycle, by providing leadership and expertise in policy design, research, analysis and advice, project management, delivery and evaluation. The priorities of the Small Business and Employment portfolio – to enable Victorian small businesses to thrive, to enable Victorians to achieve sustainable employment and economic inclusion, and to increase employment and prosperity opportunities for Aboriginal Victorians in a self-determined way – are delivered by the Group.

About You

• Managing People: Role models ethical leadership through decision making and interactions with people; Creates an organisational culture that enables others to perform at their best and achieve outcomes the organisation.
• Business and Commercial Acumen: Drives a culture of value add and/or return of investment. Considers economic indicators to inform strategic direction and manage organisational risk. Drive efficiencies in functions to better support the business. 
• Communicate with Impact: Identifies key messages and information required for decision-making; Provides high level advice on influencing and the needs of target audiences; Provides advice on the content and style appropriate to the audience. 
• Working Collaboratively: Build a culture of collaboration across the organisation; Looks for and facilitates opportunities to collaborate with external stakeholders; Identifies and overcomes barriers to communication with internal and external stakeholder 

Further Information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Ylva Carosone - Executive Director, Small Business and Employment at ylva.carosone@ecodev.vic.gov.au

The Department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with the Child Safe Standards.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.

Please note: We are committed to inclusive recruitment. If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJSIR Talent Acquisition Team on 0472 875 685, or via email at recruitment@ecodev.vic.gov.au with the position number in the subject line.

How to Apply

Please click the ‘Apply Now' button. As part of the application process, you will need to provide a copy of your resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria outlined in the position description.

Applications close at 23:59pm on 12 June 2026.