5 x Full Time positions available 

About the Department

The Department of Education (DE) leads the delivery of education and development services to children and students both directly through government schools and indirectly through the regulation and funding of early childhood services and non-government schools.

About the Division

The Conduct and Integrity Division provides expert advice and support to Victorian government school principals and other people managers in the Department of Education on managing employee conduct and performance including child safety concerns and fraud and corruption.

There are four branches within the Division:

• Preliminary Investigations Branch
• Child Safety Investigations Branch
• Child Safety and Fraud Investigations Branch
• Child Safety and Integrity (Policy and Operations) Branch.

The Division leads critical functions with respect to both school and corporate employees and operations:

• child safety misconduct and reportable conduct investigations, including notifications to the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) under the Reportable Conduct Scheme in relation to departmental employees and others engaged in departmental workplaces and notifications to the Disability Worker Regulation Commission
• fraud and corruption investigations, including mandatory reporting to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) and public interest disclosures
• developing and maintaining the department's guidelines on managing complaints, misconduct and unsatisfactory performance for the government teaching service and the public service
• providing expert advice and support to principals and people managers to manage allegations of misconduct, unsatisfactory performance, fitness for duty and
• expert advice and management of fraud and corruption, conflict of interest, and integrity performance monitoring and reporting
• pre-employment screening, and expert advice on suitability for employment and management of the department's Employment Limitation policy
• managing relationships with oversight and integrity bodies (including the Victorian Institute of Teaching, CCYP, IBAC, Victorian Ombudsman and the Victorian Public Sector Commission)
• capability building and training activities aimed at increasing staff confidence to prevent, speak up, identify and respond to inappropriate behaviour, reportable conduct and misconduct
• strengthening avenues for staff to speak up about inappropriate behaviour and misconduct
• driving behavioural and system change to build a stronger culture of integrity in the department.

About the Role

The Senior Investigator is responsible for planning, managing and undertaking investigations into complaints, allegations of misconduct by department employees and allegations of child abuse falling within the Reportable Conduct Scheme related to our workplaces.

This role will conduct and manage high-quality investigations and prepare high quality written materials including investigation reports, briefings and correspondence. The Senior Investigator provides expert advice, support and recommendations to people managers and delegated decision-makers about matters subject to investigations, risk mitigation during investigations and employment actions arising out of investigations.

The Senior Investigator will build strong stakeholder relationships and contribute to system improvements, while upholding Public Sector Values and departmental policies.

About You 

This role will suit an experienced senior investigator who can leverage their expert knowledge and experience to drive success.  You will be a logical, problem solver, with strong experience providing advice and support to a broad range of stakeholders.

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• experience providing complex advice within defined policies and procedures
• excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship building skills, working within a multi-stakeholder environment
• high level written communication skills, developing a range of complex written documentation
• sound conceptual thinking ability, as well as excellent problem solving and conflict resolution skills

How to apply

Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience and suitability to the role in line with the duties, required capabilities and the Key Selection Criteria.

Further Information

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

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Thandy Dube, Manager, Child Safety Investigations via : (03) 7022 0604 or Thandy.Dube@education.vic.gov.au

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.

Preferred applicants may be required to have a Working with Children Check, a police check and 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 9 December 2024