Executive Director, Strategy, Policy and National Reform

Executive Director, Strategy, Policy and National Reform

• Drive strategic policy and reform initiatives
• Lead national negotiations and intergovernmental engagement
• Influence education outcomes across Victoria

Do work that makes a real difference - lead and deliver strategic policy, funding reform, and national engagement to shape Victoria's education future. Be part of the Executive Leadership Team and collaborate with key stakeholders across government and the education sector.

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.

Strategy and Secondary School Reform Group - Department of Education

The Strategy and Secondary Reform (SSSR) group plays a critical leadership role in delivering the Education State agenda, ensuring the Department of Education's efforts are strategic, coherent, and focused on long-term impact.

SSSR supports the Department to:

• Set strategic direction to deliver Education State priorities
• Lead policy design and implementation of key reforms, including senior secondary pathways
• Align departmental and national reform efforts through clear prioritisation and sequencing
• Use data and insights to monitor progress and drive Education State outcomes

The Strategy, Policy and National Reform division, within the SSSR Group, delivers school education strategy and policy. It oversees regulatory projects and school and early childhood national reforms as well as negotiation of school and early childhood national agreements.

About the role

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Executive Director, Strategy, Policy and National Reform leads strategic policy development, intergovernmental engagement, and reform delivery to shape Victoria's education system.

This pivotal leadership role is responsible for:

• Overseeing major strategic reform initiatives and policy priorities across early childhood, schools, and senior secondary pathways
• Leading national school and early childhood funding negotiations and advising Ministers in intergovernmental forums
• Ensuring whole-of-department alignment through governance, planning, and strategic prioritisation
• Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across government, education sectors, and national agencies
• Representing the Department at critical policy and funding discussions
• Leading a high-performing division with a strong focus on collaboration, capability building and strategic delivery

About you

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• A proven track record at executive level in strategic policy, reform leadership or intergovernmental engagement
• Strong understanding of education systems, public policy development and national funding arrangements
• Deep experience in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and influencing decision-making at senior levels
• Excellent conceptual and analytical thinking to navigate complexity and lead reform
• A collaborative leadership style, with the ability to inspire high-performing teams and drive a culture of excellence

Desirable Qualifications and Experience  

• Essential: Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline
• Desirable: Post Graduate Degree in relevant discipline

This role has a salary range of $290,601 - $419,000 (TRP), offering hybrid work arrangements, meaningful and challenging work in an environment that encourages values-based leadership.

Please refer to the Position Description for more information about the role purpose.

How to apply

Please submit a resume and a cover letter (two A4 pages max).  There is no requirement to make a separate statement in response to each of the key selection criteria, however the cover letter should provide an overview of how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the key selection criteria specified in the Position Description.

Please see the Position Description for other relevant information regarding the application process including pre-employment checks, privacy statement, and how to request reasonable adjustments.

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

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.