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

About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

About the Group

Schools and Regional Services (SRS) offers central, regional, and local expertise to enhance learning and development outcomes, supported by a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce. It comprises 17 areas within 4 regions, backed by 5 central office divisions, all collaborating to deliver improved outcomes for early childhood services, schools, communities, and learners, in line with Education State commitments. SRS regions serve as a bridge between the central office, schools, and service providers, ensuring smooth transitions for learners and achieving the department's ambitious targets. Each region includes divisions specialising in school performance, student wellbeing and early childhood support, working with area-based teams to tailor local interventions and practices. The 17 areas provide crucial insights into local trends and issues, facilitating effective policy and program development and driving child and learner outcomes across all services and programs.

This role is located in the Wellbeing and Engagement Unit, Student Wellbeing and Engagement Division, North-East Victoria Region, SRS.

About the Role

The Professional Practice Leader provides a conduit between policy makers and service delivery teams to strengthen best practice through policy advice and knowledge sharing. They will ensure consistent and effective practice is embedded to address the barriers that impact on the learning and development of children and young people.

The Professional Practice Leader will respond to area, regional and statewide emerging trends and play an important role in the development, design and implementation of select regional projects that align with regional Business Plans. Being able to think and plan at a strategic level as well as at the implementation level is vital for this role.

The Professional Practice Leader will support cross discipline activities that build skills to promote a holistic and multidisciplinary approach in supporting children and young people.

The Professional Practice Leader requires a thorough knowledge of school settings so that consistent, effective practice in supporting children and young people within their settings can be developed and promoted. The

Professional Practice Leader will also link with educational settings and other branches, divisions, and teams across DE regional offices who have a role in designing and providing support or intervention for children and young people.

About the Role

Role Purpose The Senior Project Advisor leads the entity/group performance and engagement, contract management and program implementation. The role includes the leading of teams across operations and project delivery - as well as ensuring interactions are positive for stakeholders and peers. Role Requirements VPS Grade and Value Range Descriptor Decision Making Accountable for work organisation, the allocation of resources and the outputs required of the entity/group. Develops plans to deliver on evolving department priorities. Communication Negotiates with stakeholders, peers, and other government agencies, to ensure co-operation, influence, and meeting of timelines for project delivery. Initiates and maintains effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Prepares technical briefings at an advanced professional level. Policy and Projects Develops project briefs that are consistent with departmental objectives. Manages and leads complex projects. Operational Service Delivery Determines resource allocation for service delivery. Manages cross-functional delivery of projects with increased budget, employee responsibilities and complex issues. Capabilities Capability Description Personal Attributes Flexibility and Adaptability: Accepts changed priorities and responds quickly. Working Collaboratively: Builds a supportive and cooperative team environment. Engages with other teams to share information to understand and respond to issues. Supports others in challenging situations. Meaningful Outcomes Partnering and Co-creation: Identifies and partners with users, stakeholders, or experts to ensure active collaboration when obtaining ideas, insights, or input. Works with stakeholders to validate the strategy, program, or product and ensures decisions are made within agreed timeframes. Enabling Delivery Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Resolves issues in line with department policies and procedures. Where such information is limited, the incumbent acts independently, or in consultation with others. Project Delivery: Defines the tasks to be delivered, to meet agreed outcomes. Coordinates and guides others in the execution of work activities. Monitors progress of tasks against plans and takes corrective action when required. Authentic Relationships Stakeholder Management: Takes steps to add value for the stakeholder. Links people with other teams as appropriate. Monitors client and stakeholder satisfaction. People Leadership Team Management: Ensures employees are productively deployed through effective workforce planning practices. Translates the departments strategy into workforce requirements. Takes actions to optimise workforce effectiveness. Resource Mobilisation: Establishes resource requirements and utilisation guidelines. Where possible, reduces duplication in resource utilisation across different teams. 

Attributes

Capability: Actively seeks to improve others' skills and talents by providing knowledge, constructive feedback, coaching and learning opportunities. Consistently develops team capability and recognises and develops potential in others. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Please refer to job advertisement. KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Generic Criteria: Criteria 1: Demonstrates the 'Victorian Public Sector Values' of Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. Position Specific Criteria: Criteria 2: 'Flexibility and Adaptability' - please see the Capabilities section above for more detail. Criteria 3: 'Team Management' - please see the Capabilities section above for more detail. Criteria 4: 'Critical Thinking and Problem Solving' - please see the Capabilities section above for more detail.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

· Essential: Relevant tertiary qualification in health and wellbeing field such as Nursing or Allied Health; or Teaching and/or Special Education

· Essential: Registration with relevant professional organisation; or eligible for membership

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 Shane Lockhart via 0457 526 559 or shane.lockhart@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 05/06/2025.