About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Victorian School Building Authority

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is part of the Department of Education. Established in 2016, it oversees Victoria's largest school building program since the state introduced free public education in the 1870s. 

The VSBA upgrades and expands existing schools and plans, designs and builds new schools to meet enrolment demand. We also support schools to maintain their buildings and grounds by offering expert advice and coordinating maintenance programs and grants.  

With Victoria recently introducing two years of funded kindergarten, the VSBA is also working with the early childhood sector on a massive kindergarten construction program. 

About the Division

The Asset Management Division helps schools maintain and manage their buildings and grounds and ensures they are more energy efficient. The Division trains school leaders as facilities managers and supports them to develop school maintenance plans. They coordinate programs, assessments, and systems to ensure schools are routinely maintained and cleaned.

The Division includes the Asset Management Branch, School Asset Management Support Branch, Facilities Branch, Maintenance Delivery Branch and the Programs Branch.

About the Role

The Senior Program Advisor / Quality Assurance Manager will work as part of a flexible and high-performing School Cleaning Unit (SCU). The SCU is responsible for supporting all Victorian Government Schools with the delivery of cleaning services, including management of the Metropolitan Area-Based Cleaning Model, and for school cleaners to receive their lawful wages and entitlements.

The role will lead a team of Auditors and Project Officers who are responsible for supporting the department with the delivery of a robust auditing program, including the delivery of on-site quality cleaning services audits for schools in the metropolitan Melbourne area.

The responsibility includes the management of the department's auditing software, reporting dashboard and the scheduling of on-site quality audits throughout the school terms.

The role also leads the delivery of other departmental programs and initiatives, including providing guidance and strategic support throughout the program lifecycle and ensuring alignment with objectives in the local work area.

All VSBA staff have a shared responsibility to meet the same service standards outlined in the VSBA Customer Service Charter.  Our goal is to make every interaction with the VSBA a positive one for our customers, colleagues and key partners regardless of our individual role or team. 

Key responsibilities of this role include:

• Provide leadership, manage Auditors, and Project Officers with a focus on consistency in practice and processes.
• Implement standardised business processes and rules across the School Cleaning auditing program to support workforce planning and address scheduling issues.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with service providers and schools to manage risks and resolve issues impacting service delivery.
• Establish quality assurance mechanisms to ensure rosters are prepared on time and accurately reflect the staffing needs for each day.
• Develop and implement procedures and internal  practices to support the centralised rostering function, ensuring transparency in operations.
• Use expert knowledge of contract compliance to support the contract management team, communicate non-compliance and underperformance and provide support to the contract management and broader leadership team.
• Analyse and prepare monthly reports for the leadership team, covering  performance metrics, non-compliance, customer satisfactions, attendance,  trends, and risks to the program delivery.
• Report on and contribute to resolving roster planning issues as required.
• Collaborate with internal teams on a range of matters, such as planning, commercial discussions, legal and communications
• Assist the Manager and Operations Manager with the development and performance management of staff
• Review and improve existing processes, and establish new ones aligned with the objectives of the School Cleaning Unit
• Support the School Cleaning Unit with any other school cleaning-related matters.

Role-specific requirements:

• A valid Driver's License.
• A valid Working with Children Check (WWCC).
• Regular travel is expected and may include work outside of normal business hours.
• Usual work location: 33 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, VIC 3002 

About you

• Proven experience in conducting audits, policy development, analysis or similar processes with the ability to quickly adapt and gain a strong understanding of systems and the role of performing audits.
• Highly developed conceptual and analytical skills, including a record of achievement in Quality Assurance Management, effective communication, and strong stakeholder management.
• Comfortable working in an environment where findings, observations and outcomes are subject to vigorous scrutiny and challenge
• Results-oriented, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an emphasis on customer service, team development and effective people management.
• Demonstrated ability to build continuous improvement and productive relationships.
• Proactive and self-motivated with a strong sense of  responsibility for own actions.

What we offer

• Meaningful work that is varied, satisfying and rewarding by making Victorian government schools clean and safe for school communities.
• Professional growth and development opportunities across the department and the wider Victorian Public Services.
• A hybrid working model focused on collaboration and teamwork.
• Diversity and inclusion—As one of Victoria's largest employers, the department is committed to creating an inclusive organisation and ensuring its workforce represents the community it serves.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position, please see the attached position description.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Chris Okamura chris.okamura@education.vic.gov.au Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g. large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

This is a full-time fixed term position for 3 years not beyond 30/6/2028

Applicants are encouraged to include a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria (no more than 3 pages) and a resume.

Hybrid working arrangements are available with a minimum starting position of a 3 days per week in the office for full-time employees (pro-rata for part-time employees). 

Applications close 11:59pm on Sunday, 16 March 2025