Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time
Salary: $113,022 - $136,747
Grade: VPS 5
Occupation: Early childhood
Location: Loddon Mallee - Greater Bendigo
Reference: VG/DE/SRS/1922114
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.
About the Group
Schools and Regional Services (SRS) offers central, regional, and local expertise to enhance learning and development outcomes, supported by a diverse and geographically dispersed workforce. It comprises 17 areas within 4 regions, backed by 5 central office divisions, all collaborating to deliver improved outcomes for early childhood services, schools, communities, and learners, in line with Education State commitments. SRS regions serve as a bridge between the central office, schools, and service providers, ensuring smooth transitions for learners and achieving the department's ambitious targets. Each region includes divisions specialising in school performance, student wellbeing and early childhood support, working with area-based teams to tailor local interventions and practices. The 17 areas provide crucial insights into local trends and issues, facilitating effective policy and program development and driving child and learner outcomes across all services and programs.
This role is located in the Early Childhood Improvement Branch, Loddon-Campaspe Area, North-Western Victoria Region, SRS. The Early Childhood Improvement Branch implements key government Early Childhood policy, initiatives, reforms, and strategies at a local level.
About the Role
The Senior Performance & Planning Advisors have a focus on ensuring that all children and families have access to, and participate in, high quality early childhood education and care. The role builds partnerships with key stakeholders, provides advice and support to local government, community service organisations and early childhood providers. A key responsibility of the role is managing service agreements between the Department of Education and funded organisations. The role will require high-level interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills, along with experience in project management.
In some instances the role may supervise a team of Performance & Planning Advisors and be required to clearly define role expectations, monitor performance, provide timely and constructive feedback and facilitate employee development to further enhance their contribution to the area team.
Attributes - Position Specific Criteria:
Criteria 1: Demonstrates the 'Victorian Public Sector Values' of Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.
Criteria 2: ‘Customer Focus' – Identifies and responds to customer requirements. Uses understanding of stakeholders' context to tailor programs and ensure program outcomes are delivered. Effectively manages risks to service delivery.
Criteria 3: ‘Project Delivery' – Translates strategies into programs or projects that actively enable the achievement of outcomes. Defines the governance (e.g., success measures, roles and responsibilities, progress monitoring) required to manage risks and maximise success
Criteria 4: ‘Partnering and Co-creation' – Partners with stakeholders to collaborate program design process, to best understand user needs, obtain ideas, insights, and input. Ensures decisions are made within agreed timeline.
Q ualifications and Experience
The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working with Children Check.
How to Apply
Applicants are to provide a cover letter addressing position specific criteria and a Curriculum Vitae.
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 Lucy Medley – Manager, Loddon-Campaspe Early Childhood Improvement Branch via [email protected] or on 0448 491 181.
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 Wednesday 13 May 2026