The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) is an independent statutory authority, whose primary function is to regulate members of the teaching profession.
About us
The VIT’s vision is to ensure that Victorian learners have the best teachers. All our work focusses on raising the quality of teaching, and providing for the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
Be part of a workforce who share VIT’s vision and are committed to contributing to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
Senior Policy Officer (Legal)
Salary range $106,845 - $129,273 plus statutory superannuation
Are you passionate about policy design and development? Are you an excellent communicator with the ability to engage with a range of stakeholders? Do you enjoy working in a dynamic and reform driven environment?
If you fit this profile, then you could join the dynamic Strategy and Policy team in the Strategy, Accreditation, Professional Practice and Policy Branch at VIT with an exciting and challenging mandate to enable quality teaching and provide for the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
About the role
The Senior Policy Officer (Legal) role offers an outstanding career opportunity for a professional who is passionate about using their expertise to support VIT in its regulation of Victorian teachers. With expert knowledge on policy and law, strong attention to detail and excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills , the role will ensure VIT is well informed in be a high performing regulator.
Be part of a forward-thinking, risk-based regulator where ideas and opinions are valued.
This role will require you to:
- Undertake a broad range of activities relating to policy development and analysis on complex matters, including briefings for VIT's Executive and Council
- Manage key strategic projects related to legislative and policy reform
- Provide specialist advice on policy issues to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Plan the policy development process, identifying decision makers, policy requirements, issues and risks and key stakeholders
- Use innovative thinking and analysis when considering policy development.
- Undertake legal research in relation to policy options and strategic directions
- Provide legal advice in relation to policy development, legislative reform and the delivery of strategic projects
- Apply complex concepts to policy development and research
- Initiate and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to understand their needs and to influence policy implementation
- Prepare policy options and proposals consistent with organisational objectives, legislative requirements and VIT's strategic plan
- Provide authoritative, strategic and practical policy and legal advice to VIT's Executive and Council
- Communicate project plans to relevant stakeholders to build capability and understanding
- Identify and map the scope of a project to deliver business needs
- Maintain an understanding of contemporary risk-based and outcomes-focused regulatory practice and be knowledgeable about key state and national priorities in education
- Collaborate with VIT's Corporate Legal Counsel and the Professional Conduct Branch in the delivery of legal advice and options of policy development
- Undertake other duties as directed by the Director Strategy, Accreditation, Professional Practice and Policy and/or Manager Strategic Policy and Projects.
About you
As an experienced policy officer you will have sound and practical knowledge of current best policy management practices . You will have experience in policy development, project management, providing legal advice, and ideally a passion for child safety and experience working within the education sector.
You will have strong written and verbal communication skills, project management skills combined with a highly organised approach and a proven track record in policy development, law and regulation. In addition to this, as the successful candidate, you will have:
- Experience in managing organisation-wide frameworks and processes to lead the development, implementation, monitoring and review of governance, corporate and regulatory policies.
- Experience conducting research (in
cluding legal research) and analysis to identify policy issues and contemporary practices and approaches that inform the policy development process.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders to achieve outcomes.
- Experience in project management which demonstrates an ability to produce detailed project plans where objectives are defined and action steps for achieving them are clearly specified.
- Ability to deliver tangible business outcomes as a result of critically evaluating problems from multiple perspectives and delivering effective solutions
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with internal colleagues across an organisation and with external stakeholders to inform policy development and to influence policy implementation
- Ability to respond positively to changing circumstances and demonstrate flexibility to deliver consistent quality work in the face of challenging situations.
- Admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner with a current Victorian Practising Certificate (or the ability to acquire one) with some experience in providing high level and accurate advice on legal and policy matters, especially those dealing with administrative law, criminal law and statutory interpretation.
How to apply
Please submit your resume, cover letter and a written response (no more than 5 pages) addressing key selection criteria outlined in the attached position description.
To discuss this role further, please contact Hannah Galloway, Manager Strategic Policy and Project, Strategy, Accreditation, Professional Practice and Policy Branch on 03 8601 6246 or by email at [email protected].
Recruitment and selection process
Our recruitment and selection process is based on the public sector employment principles and will include the following overarching principles
- our decisions will be based on merit - we will assess each applicant's skills, knowledge, attributes and qualifications objectively against the key selection criteria
- we will be fair, reasonable and equitable - we will provide equal employment opportunities
- we will be objective
- we will comply with our privacy obligations during the recruitment and selection process.
During the recruitment and selection process, shortlisted applicants may be asked to submit to various assessment tools and pre-employment screenings. This may include consent to conduct a nationally coordinated criminal history check.
Applications close: 11.59 pm Thursday 16 October 2025