• Full Time, Fixed Term positions until 30 June 2027
• Multiple positions available

About the Role

Multiple positions are available within the Early Childhood Strategy Division until end June 2027 contributing to reforms that aim to strengthen child safety and life opportunities for children within early childhood education and care. While the focus of each position varies, these positions will support policy work across regulatory policy and child safety reforms, legislative and governance design, and strategic early childhood system reform. All roles require strong policy capability and may suit candidates from a range of backgrounds, including in social or regulatory policy, legislative development, and governance, or in early childhood education and care policy specifically. Priorities include:  

• Development and refinement of Victorian policy and strategic positions on national and Victorian early childhood reforms, including shaping regulatory and other policy proposals, stakeholder consultation, planning and project management, developing legislation and informing implementation activity
• Design of the department's evolving relationship with the independent Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority (VECRA), including governance frameworks and ways of working protocols

Attributes

To be successful in the role, you will have demonstrated experience and confidence in policy development, excellent written and verbal communication skills, conceptual and analytic thinking skills, stakeholder engagement, and flexibility and adaptability under fast timelines and changing priorities. You will demonstrate a collaborative, strengths-based approach, working constructively with colleagues and stakeholders across functions, and building strong relationships and networks to strengthen policy advice and outcomes. The role does not have any people management responsibilities.

The Division includes a specialist function leading legislative early childhood policy development. While legal expertise is not required, it may be desirable in this aspect of the Division's work. If you don't have legal expertise, never fear – it is not required for most of the Division's work.

About the Division

The Early Childhood Strategy Division (ECSD) is a small and influential strategic policy unit within ECE Group that leads a wide range of complex and high profile strategic early childhood policy and reform projects. We work on connecting government systems across the Children's Portfolio, analysing Victorian kindergarten funding settings and the impact of national funding arrangements, and undertake strategic projects related to early childhood systems, markets and cohorts. In addition to building policy capability across ECE group and the department, ECSD is responsible for delivering high quality analysis and advice to a range of key stakeholders and Ministers.

Our work has a strong focus on increasing equity and quality across the education system to improve outcomes for children experiencing disadvantage and plays a critical role in ensuring the ECEC system is working well to ensure the delivery of high-quality early childhood education and care for all children in Victoria.

How to apply

Applicants are encouraged to submit:

• CV
• Cover Letter (max 2 pages) that summarises their suitability for the position

Further Details

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 Marnie Cowan via marnie.cowan@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 at 11.59pm on Wednesday 20 May 2026.