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 Division

This role is based in the Intergovernmental Relations Branch in the National Schools Policy Team. The branch:

• Provides strategic advice to ministers and senior officials in national negotiations.
• Ensures national, whole of Victorian Government and interagency issues are considered as part of the department's policy development and program delivery.
• Works across the department on the development, implementation and reporting of intergovernmental agreements across the portfolio.
• Manages key partnership arrangements and supports senior executive participation in governance bodies on behalf of the department.

About the Role

The Project and Policy Advisor will be an integral member of the Intergovernmental Relations Branch working with a small, high-performing team in a fast-paced environment, supporting ministers and senior officials on a range of national issues across the education portfolio. The Project and Policy Advisor provides 3 key functions:

• Runs the Schools Policy Group Secretariat by liaising with state, territory and Commonwealth colleagues and other key stakeholders, facilitating meetings, and performing various functions to coordinate responses to national policy issues.
• Leads and coordinates processes, logistics and planning required to develop and share the Victorian response to national education policy issues.
• Supports developing policy advice for ministers and senior executives on national education policy issues.

Attributes

The role would best suit someone with excellent organisational, interpersonal and problem solving skills combined with attention to detail.

Other skills include:

• Contributing to a supportive and cooperative team environment.
• Constructively dealing with stakeholder issues - engaging other teams to share information and understand or respond to issues.
• Understanding the political and organisational context and reasons behind the departmental climate/culture.
• Using clear and concise language to convey concepts and policies to stakeholders.

To apply

Please provide your CV and a response addressing the key selection criteria and role requirements listed in the job ad (no more than 2 pages).

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

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 Caroline McInerney - Manager - NSRA Negotiations via (03) 7022 5687 or caroline.mcinerney2@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.

Applications close 11:59pm on Friday, 16 May 2025