Senior Project Officer

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 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 Strategy and Planning Division is responsible for the VSBA's operating framework, investment strategy, policy setting, asset information management, budget strategy and coordination, along with the delivery of specific school strategies, costings, allocate resources for growth, maintenance, and projects through school application- based programs. The Division also plans and co-ordinates delivery of new early childhood facilities and support for the wider early childhood sector to build, improve and upgrade infrastructure through a number of grants programs, including programs which provide funding to make kindergartens for inclusive for children of all abilities.

Early Childhood Infrastructure Planning – State Projects Branch

The Early Childhood Infrastructure Planning - State Projects Branch plans and coordinates the delivery of infrastructure needed to ensure the successful implementation of the Three-Year Old Kindergarten and Best Start Best Life Reforms.  The Branch is made up of three teams to:

• Early Learning Centres (ELC) - 50 new state-owned and operated Early Learning Centres (ELC)
• Kindergarten on School Sites (KOSS)
• Kindergarten Facilities Implementation

To meet Three-Year-Old Kindergarten demand, KOSS can be delivered at new or existing school sites.  To meet Pre-Prep demand, delivered at new or existing school sites (or acquired land).  KOSS are State owned assets which are leased to a third party to operate.  KOSS may be delivered through permanent modular or traditional construction methodologies. Permanent modular construction provides time efficiencies and lesser disruptions to the school through the construction process so may be used where delivery timeframes are tight. Traditional construction is typically used when delivered KOSS with new schools and will be used at existing school in the future where needed.

About the Role

This role supports the strategic planning for the delivery of the Best Start Best Life reform, that aims to make kindergarten accessible to all Victorian children.

The Senior Program Advisor leads the delivery of departmental programs and initiatives. This involves providing guidance and strategic support throughout the program lifecycle, as well as ensuring alignment with objectives in the local work area.

The key accountabilities and skills for the Senior Program Advisor will be to:

• Play a key senior role in the implementation of a detailed infrastructure strategy in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including policy development as ensure the successful role out of kindergartens on school sites across the state.
• Lead internal and external governance arrangements for the Kindergartens on School Sites Unit, to ensure robust and transparent decision-making protocols are in place.
• Utilise your project management skills and experience to support the development and implementation of an infrastructure delivery program, building an infrastructure pipeline to support the roll-out of Best Start Best Life.
• Manage internal and external stakeholders to support the timely identification of kindergartens to selected sites.
• Ensure the effective roll-out of new and expanded infrastructure across regions and establish cost effective policies, management control systems and financial practices as they relate to the successful delivery of Kindergarten reforms.
• Manage effective relationships and communications with key stakeholders internally and externally on the development and delivery of new program strategies and initiatives.
• Liaise, advise and negotiate effectively with senior officers of central agencies, other government departments, LGAs and other parties regarding the development, implementation and delivery early childhood facilities.

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. 

Attributes

Candidates will also be able to demonstrate their ability to work confidently and constructively with key internal/external stakeholders in an expert advisory capacity to ensure the effective delivery of the early childhood infrastructure program.


Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Desirable : Bachelor's degree in related area
• Desirable : considerable/demonstrated experience similar role within government

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 Shannon Kendall – Manager Shannon.kendall@education.vic.gov.au or 0423 429 395.

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 June 2028

Applications close 11:59pm Tuesday, 23 September 2025