Director, Establishment, Enrolment and Partnerships in Melbourne

The position is based at: Level 3, 200 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne 3002

Group: SRSDivision: School Provision and EstablishmentBranch / Unit: Establishment, Enrolment and PartnershipsClassification: EXECLS Employment Status Executive contract FTE 1.0Salary Range: $188,672 - $279,343Position reports to: Executive Director, School Provision and Establishment Division

The School Provision and Establishment Division (SPED) works with regions and the Victorian School Building Authority to develop and deliver strategic approaches to infrastructure planning and school establishment. This includes provision planning and managing student demand, school zones, new school planning and establishment, school reorganisations and place-based responses to education provision and delivery.

The Division leads education provision planning with a focus on forecasting and managing student demand. SPED also leads the development of tailored education models for specialist cohorts, such as the Centre for Higher Education for high-achieving secondary students. SPED is responsible for the school registration process for new schools and school reorganisations, working with the Victorian Regulations and Qualifications Authority, schools and regions.

The Division also supports the delivery of place-based initiatives for the Department by managing the interface between school infrastructure planning, delivery and operations. These initiatives include the Our Place model (in partnership with the Colman Foundation) and involve working closely with regions to utilise their in-depth knowledge of place to tailor and implement local solutions to improve education outcomes.

The functions of the Establishment, Enrolment and Partnerships Branch are:

• New school establishment: Lead the annual process to establish new schools including the induction of new Principals. Oversee the process to register new schools and develop ongoing positive relationships with relevant stakeholders. Work with Schools and Regional Services to support implementation of key establishment activities. Develop standardised processes to input into key Ministerial progress reporting.
• School reorganisations: Support complex school reorganisations. Establish relationships across the Department to support management of key risks associated with complex school reorganisations. Brief Senior Executive in a timely way about risks and opportunities associated with school reorganisations.
• Enrolment Policy: Develop and maintain statewide enrolment policy. Develop guidance and resources to support consistent implementation of enrolment policy. Establish statewide enrolment timelines and processes, including Foundation and Year 6 to 7 placement. Provide advice to regions, schools and central teams on enrolment policy, including complex and sensitive matters. Lead policy input into the design and implementation of digital enrolment systems.
• Place-based initiatives: Provide authoritative advice on place-based initiatives to inform design and implementation and respond to emerging priorities and opportunities. Manage governance to provide strategic oversight and decision-making for place-based initiatives. Collaborate and manage highly effective working relationships with stakeholders to identify and leverage opportunities to improve the place-based initiatives program.

ROLE PURPOSE: Lead and manage the branch to undertake high quality analysis and provide high quality advice in a timely manner to senior management, Executive Board, government, Ministers and other external stakeholders on new school establishment, school reorganisations, enrolment policy and place-based partnerships. Develop clear and consistent processes to ensure key deliverables have appropriate oversight and governance. Build and maintain effective relationships across DE and other government departments, local government, and external stakeholders including peak bodies, industry and community members to drive collaborative outcomes consistent with government and departmental objectives.

Demonstrate flexibility and teamwork by assisting across teams where needed during peak periods.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Delivery of core business and providing advice. Manage and successfully deliver succinct quality outputs suitable for the intended audience in a timely manner. The group's goals, targets and deliverables are developed, communicated, understood and met. Activities comply with relevant legislation and statutory obligations. Collaborates within and across groups and partnerships are established to deliver on core business and outputs to ensure alignment with departmental strategic priorities.
• Direction setting and Leadership. DE's vision, purpose and strategic priorities are embedded in the area's work. Staff can clearly state the link between their work and business outcomes at the unit, division and organisational levels. DE and Victorian Public Sector Values are modelled, incorporated and reflected in the way the area works, assesses performance, documents produced and resolves differences.
• Stakeholder management. Builds and maintains effective stakeholder relationships within the team, across the department, Ministerial offices, agency heads, external organisations including local government, peak bodies, commerce, industry and the community. Lead and negotiate solutions, including resolving disputes and alternative points of view while maintaining constructive relationships.
• Financial authorisation. Duties are exercised in accordance with the approved position as a financial delegate as authorised under Direction 2.4 of the Standing Directions of the Minister for Finance. Financial obligations (expenditure and commitment) for the appropriate transaction type and value are approved as authorised under Direction 2.4.
• Results Orientation and Strategic Planning. Inspires a sense of purpose and direction within context, ensuring the team understands and takes ownership of work to execute the organisation's vision and strategy and respond to changing priorities.
• Leadership and People Management. Communicates a vision that generates enthusiasm and commitment and ability to adapt to changing priorities. Identifies potential issues and setbacks, embeds changes to improve quality of advice and processes and guides the team to optimise outcomes.
• Conceptual and Analytical Ability. Deals with concepts, ambiguity and complexity comfortably and communicates complex concepts clearly and succinctly. Makes sound and timely decisions balancing judgement, analysis and intuition.

Diversity and Inclusion: The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.

Child Safe Standards: Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.

DE Values: The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.