Senior Program Advisor

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 Project Delivery Division leads the kinder infrastructure branch and school upgrade projects. Each branch specialises in managing a type of project - from early childhood projects to upgrade and modernisation works.

About the Role

Reporting to a Manager in the Project Delivery Division, the position will lead and ‘own' a number of capital delivery projects of school infrastructure by:

• Assisting in the coordination of all aspects of project execution across the project lifecycle from feasibility through to project close to ensure expectations are understood and agreed, the program is maintained, key milestones are met, and that delivery, performance and financial targets are achieved.
• Assisting in preparing project feasibility information, including establishing budgets and developing business cases.
• Working with a Project Delivery Director/Manager, to collaborate with internal and external teams and resources on a range of matters, such as planning, design, legal and communications.
• Assisting in the establishment and maintenance of effective relationships with diverse stakeholders in order to manage risks and resolve issues impacting project delivery. This is likely to include managing sensitive negotiations with stakeholders with competing priorities.
• Assisting a Project Delivery Director/Manager by providing clear advice and reporting on project planning, project delivery status, benefits, and outcomes for a range of stakeholders, including Ministers, the Secretary, senior officers and project teams.
• Connecting insights from analysis into strategy development, investment advice and investment prioritisation processes.

The ideal candidate will have a background across the full development project lifecycle, including coordinating and directing consultants, contractors, and external stakeholders, in both greenfields and brownfields infrastructure projects.

Your proven project management skills, together with your qualifications in a relevant discipline will be highly regarded in securing this opportunity. Knowledge of public sector infrastructure funding and delivery systems will also be looked upon favourably.

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.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential: Qualification in Project Management, Architecture or Engineering.

How to Apply

To apply, please include a CV and a Cover letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria and summarising your skills and experience (no more than 2 pages).

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Sarah Adams, Manager, Project Delivery West via (03) 7022 2641or sarah.adams2@education.vic.gov.au

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.

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 role is Fixed Term till 30/12/2027

Applications close 11:59pm on Wednesday, 17 September 2025