Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: $113,022 - $136,747
Grade: VPS 5
Occupation: Projects
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: VG/1887448
Senior Project Officer- Fixed Term/ Full Time
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 Victorian School Building Authority The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is part of the Department of Education. Established in 2016, it oversees Victoria's largest school building program since the state introduced free public education in the 1870s. The VSBA upgrades and expands existing schools and plans, designs and builds new schools to meet enrolment demand. We also support schools to maintain their buildings and grounds by offering expert advice and coordinating maintenance programs and grants.With Victoria recently introducing two years of funded kindergarten, the VSBA is also working with the early childhood sector on a massive kindergarten construction program.
About the Division
The Corporate Division provides corporate support to all VSBA teams and fulfills an important assurance and oversight role. They guide VSBA to achieve strategic objectives and ensure decision-making is transparent and accountable. The division also coordinates communication and consultation with local communities about their school building projects. They develop graphic design and video content, manage our social media channels, lead organisational customer service reform, distribute our e-newsletters and organise ministerial and other events for our projects. The Division also leads the organisational customer service reform and uplift program. About STA Unit The Standards, Training and Assurance (STA) unit develops and maintains VSBA's standards, frameworks and assurance programs through a commitment to continuous improvement. This supports the VSBA meet its legislative and compliance requirements with government policies and regulations. This includes the Project Development and Construction Management Act 1994 (PDCMA) and the Ministerial Directions and Instructions (MD&I) for public construction, as well as the Standing Directions under the Financial Management Act 1994, (FMA) including the Asset Management Accountability Framework. STA Builds the capability of staff and suppliers through the delivery of a suite of quality technical and training documentation for the Infrastructure Portfolio Management (IPM) platform, and via uplift sessions targeted to assurance improvement outcomes. Through strong partnerships across the VSBA, the team supports informed decision making by managing the assurance programs. This strengthens the services VSBA provides through portfolio level analysis that identifying risks and issues and opportunities to strengthen our delivery.
About the Role
Reporting to the Manager, Standards, Training and Assurance the Senior Project Advisor provides supports the VSBA in managing portfolio risks and the compliant delivery of programs and projects through assurance providers. The role is responsible for the contract management of assurance providers. This includes maintenance and continuous improvement of the VSBA Project Management Framework and working collaboratively in a high performing team delivering capital, grants and operational project assurance. The role includes the provision of quality assurance advice and support to staff, senior executives and governance committees and providing project management practice support to colleagues and stakeholders. The key accountabilities of the Senior Project Officer are to:
• Be accountable for work organisation, the allocation of resources and the outputs required of the entity/group. Develops plans to deliver on evolving department priorities.
• Negotiate with stakeholders, peers, and other government agencies, to ensure co-operation, influence, and meeting of timelines for project delivery. Initiates and maintains effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. • Develop project briefs that are consistent with departmental objectives. Manages and leads complex projects.
• Determine resource allocation for service delivery. Manages cross-functional delivery of projects with increased budget, employee responsibilities and complex issues.
• Prepare technical briefings at an advanced professional level.
Specific Accountabilities of the role may include:
• contract management of VSBA's assurance services.
• actively building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders to support capability improvements.
• maintaining a quality suite of standards and frameworks, including supporting Whole of Victorian Government and the department's compliance requirements.
• contributing to better practice procurement and analytics
• supporting business change by demonstrating proficiency with VSBA core systems, including AIMS, IPM, and SAIL as required.
• contributing to a culture of integrity and accountability. All VSBA staff have a shared responsibility to meet the same service standards outlined in the VSBA Customer Service Charter. Our goal is to make every interaction with the VSBA a positive one for our customers, colleagues and key partners regardless of ‘our individual role or team.
Attributes
• Proven ability to design, deliver, and improve standards, frameworks and assurance practices ensuring compliance and quality deliverables and supporting good governance.
• Demonstrated capability managing contracts in in a government environment.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience managing and supporting continuous improvement initiatives to completion. Desirable Qualifications and Experience
• Desirable : Bachelor's degree Business/Commerce studies
• Desirable : demonstrated experience in a similar role within government managing services contracts
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 Donna Luker via 03 7022 0372 [email protected].
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 13 October 2025