Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: Salary not specified
Grade: Grade not specified
Occupation: Leadership and management
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: 1519402
Generic Criteria:
Criteria 1: Demonstrates the 'Victorian Public Sector Values' of Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.
Position Specific Criteria:
Criteria 2: `Critical Thinking and Problem Solving' please refer to the Capabilities section for more detail.
Criteria 3: `Decision Making' please refer to the Role Requirements section for more detail.
Criteria 4: `Knowledge and Proficiency' please refer to the Role Requirements section above for more detail.
Criteria 5: `Managing People' please refer to the Capabilities section above for more detail.
Director, Preliminary Investigations
The Director leads the Preliminary Investigations branch, building a high-performing team that supports Victoria government school principals to manage conduct and performance matters. They oversee the intake, triage and preliminary investigation of cases, ensuring matters are handled consistently, professionally, efficiently and with a strong focus on child and staff safety.
The Director shapes and contributes to education and training initiatives that build the capability of principals to address conduct and performance issues at the local level. The Director provides trusted advice to the Executive Director and plays an active role in guiding the Division¿s strategy, reform agenda and service delivery.
As a senior leader, they partner across the Department to strengthen support for schools, and embed consistent, risk-based approaches to managing conduct and performance. The Director communicates with influence and negotiates confidently, engaging senior leaders to shape sound and defensible approaches to conduct management.
They foster a high-performing and positive team culture by setting clear expectations, driving service excellence and supporting staff wellbeing. They mentor and develop their people, encourage collaboration and accountability, and model the Victorian Public Sector values.
Decision Making
Responsible for quality outcomes of work and understands the implications of work completed and its impact on department/government policies. Provides authoritative advice and leadership in area of expertise. Provides professional leadership and development of staff in area of professional expertise. Influences departmental policy direction and may develop or change policy as a result of specialised work or research. Typically operates in an environment with a high degree of sensitivity or risk.
Communication
Interacts with executives/professional staff within the department and with other experts in the field/profession. Informs stakeholders of matters arising from their expert role. Develops and utilises communication networks to ensure appropriate development of project initiatives in accordance with government priorities. Provides expert
information and advice on professional field or major projects.
Knowledge and Proficiency
Requires significant experience in the field. An authoritative expert in the field and enhances the standing of the department and its reputation for excellence. Writes,
publishes, and presents research, arguments and cases to peers, stakeholders and senior management. Demonstrates strategic management skills.
Personal Attributes
Flexibility and Adaptability: Works to find new ways to deliver outcomes and recognises the merits of different options, responding accordingly. Has the courage to alter strategies in situations when there are clear indications that existing strategies may not deliver the best outcomes. Builds commitment of others to adopt new strategies, to deliver against outcomes.
Working Collaboratively: Builds a culture of collaboration across the department. Looks for and facilitates opportunities to collaborate with external stakeholders. Identifies and overcomes barriers to communication with internal and external stakeholders.
Self-Awareness: Builds strong commitment of others towards continued personal development. Establishes mechanisms that enable communication of honest and constructive feedback at all levels.
Meaningful Outcomes
Strategic Planning: Guides others through the strategic planning process, creating a shared vision for the future. Has a comprehensive understanding of external and internal issues that influence the strategic direction of the department. Ensures that overall strategic plan cascades to operational and team planning processes and performance plans. Provides subject matter expertise and building capability of others.
Future Focus: Understands the broader context when reviewing an issue or problem and supports others to do so. Is future oriented in analysis, thought and action. Actively seeks out new technology to enhance team systems, processes, and service delivery. Undertakes planning to ensure the department is future ready through managing change.
Enabling Delivery
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Takes into account wider business context within business unit when considering options to resolve issues. Identifies recurring problems and prevents future recurrence by integrating solutions into work process. Delivers tangible business outcomes as a result of critically evaluating problems from multiple perspectives and delivering effective solutions.
Political and Organisational Context: Uses strategic relationships and knowledge to predict and prepare for the impact of events on the department. Understands the impact of external events and changing stakeholder needs on the department and government. Drives a values-based culture, by holding self and department accountable
to public sector values.
Authentic Relationships:
Influence and Persuasion: Develops long-term and multi-phased plans to influence others. Implements complex strategies to build buy-in from key internal and external clients/stakeholders. Effectively negotiates with clients/stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.
Communicate with Impact: Identifies key messages and information required for decision-making. Provides high level advice and understands the needs of stakeholders. Provides advice on the content and style appropriate to the audience.
Stakeholder Management: Identifies and manages a range of complex and often competing needs. Facilitates innovative solutions to resolve stakeholder issues.
People Leadership:
Managing People: Role models ethical leadership through decision making and interactions with people. Creates a culture that enables others to perform at their best and achieve desired outcomes for the department. Champions people engagement as a priority. Provides thought leadership on people management across the department.
Lead and Navigate Change: Identifies long-term organisational change required with a focus on the wider political, social and environmental context. Champions a culture that actively seeks opportunities to improve and where staff engage with and are committed to change. Anticipates, plans for and addresses culture barriers to change at the
department or VPS wide level.
Mandatory: Current (or willingness to obtain) Employee Working With Children Check
Essential: Proven experience leading investigations or intake teams
Desirable: Bachelors degree in a relevant discipline
Desirable: Investigations qualification
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. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via [email protected]
Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
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. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview
About the Department
The Department of Education (DE) leads the delivery of education and development services to children and students both directly through government schools and indirectly through the regulation and funding of early childhood services and non-government schools.
About the Division
The Conduct and Integrity Division provides expert advice and support to Victorian government school principals and other people managers in the Department of Education on managing employee conduct and performance including child safety concerns and fraud and corruption.
There are four branches within the Division:
The Division leads critical functions with respect to both school and corporate employees and operations:
This position will be based at 2 Treasury Place, East Melbourne