At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead initiatives to support early childhood education reforms and engage with stakeholders.
- Company: Department of Education focused on innovative learning and development.
- Benefits: Diverse and inclusive workplace, career growth opportunities, and supportive team environment.
- Other info: Encourages applications from diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in early childhood education and develop your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Tertiary qualification in education or policy; experience in project management is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 82800 - 101200 $ per year.
About the Department
The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services. It 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
The Workforce, System and Family Supports Division leads on the implementation of key early childhood workforce strategy, projects, and programs that seek to increase the supply of the early childhood education workforce to support implementation of the Best Start, Best Life (BSBL) reforms. The division includes the Practitioner and Leadership and Development team, responsible for the delivery of practitioner and leadership development initiatives including Early Years Learning Networks (Networks) and Early Learning Leadership Forums (Leadership Forums) to facilitate engagement and change management with the early childhood education sector and support implementation of the BSBL reforms. The team also monitors sector needs and departmental priorities to develop a strategic direction and deliver initiatives that engage with and support the sector in collaboration with the department's regions and other central teams. The Division explores opportunities for people to build their management and leadership skills, in line with individual career development objectives.
About the Role
The VPS5 Senior Program Advisor will lead the design and delivery of initiatives to provide the early childhood education sector with change management and leadership strategies to support preparation for and implementation of the Best Start, Best Life reforms. The Senior Program Advisor will support the planning of Networks and Leadership Forums to continue to provide high impact change management strategies to support the sector to embed the BSBL reforms.
Key duties include:
- Leading data analysis and reporting to enable identification of risks, issues and improvement opportunities
- Stakeholder engagement with a wide network of internal and external stakeholders, including regional teams
- Developing new and improving existing initiatives based on data analysis and stakeholder consultation to support effective change management and sector engagement
- Design, commissioning and project management and evaluation of change management and sector engagement initiatives
- Procurement and contract management of suppliers to facilitate implementation of sector engagement and change initiatives
- Preparing written communications including briefings, reports and presentations to a range of executive audiences.
The role requires strong collaboration within a small and high-performing team that is supportive, friendly and passionate about providing high-quality initiatives that support policy reform. The role provides an opportunity for individuals with analytical and policy skills to expand and develop.
Attributes
The ideal candidate will use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to provide innovative solutions to complex issues. They will have strong project management skills, and be able to build and develop strong stakeholder relationships and work collaboratively within a team. They will also have excellent data analysis and written communication skills and be able to work proactively and independently. The candidate will be responsive, a clear communicator who can tackle problems with systems thinking and innovation, and be a positive contributor to an inclusive organisational culture which values excellence.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
Essential: Relevant tertiary qualification in education, policy or related discipline. Desirable: Experience in public policy, data analysis and reporting, program and/or project management and/or procurement and contract management.
Further Information
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 further 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 Nicole Messer – Manager, Practitioner and Leadership Development via (03) 9084 8864 or nicole.messer@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 4 November 2026.
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Contact Details:
Department Of Education & Training, Victoria Recruitment Team
