About us
The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government. We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses.
The Commissioner for Retirement Villages has been established to provide independent advice to government on the retirement villages sector with an emphasis on the rights of residents.
About the role
The Senior Research and Policy Officer Retirement Villages will:
- Be a reliable first point of call for the Commissioner for Retirement Villages, her office and her stakeholders about retirement village issues,
- Have an aptitude for research, fact finding and a high standard of writing and review skills,
- Establish effective relationships with relevant stakeholders in the retirement villages sector.
Key Accountabilities include:
- Undertake research and analysis of retirement villages issues and provide timely and relevant advice to the Commissioner for Retirement Villages.
- Establish and participate in consultations with village residents, residents advocates, industry representatives, peak bodies and other concerned parties to identify, understand and respond to current and emerging issues for retirement village residents.
- Prepare a range of high-quality written materials including reports, briefings, correspondence and web content.
- Develop and maintain positive and productive relationships with stakeholders in the public, private and non-government sector.
About you
To be considered for the role, you must be able to demonstrate:
- Policy Skills – Expert in policy development, research and review, formulation, and implementation based on good organisational knowledge and understanding of current issues, resulting in an ability to effectively address strategic, environmental, and operational requirements.
- Written Communication – Prepare project briefs, reports, service plans, and policy options and recommendations on complex issues which are clear, exhaustive, and provide strong support for a preferred position or action.
- Stakeholder Management - Manages development and implementation of stakeholder initiatives, creates lasting relationships with stakeholder groups, and partners stakeholders to broker shared solutions in new areas
- Influence & Negotiation - Uses leadership and expertise to effectively address stakeholder issues, influencing others to identify opportunities and broker long-lasting solutions.
- Planning and organising – Apply organisational frameworks to plan, guide and monitor complex projects and the work of the area in order to meet long-term objectives.
- Project Management – Develops and manages key projects, liaising with team members, anticipating and addressing issues, negotiating key elements with stakeholders to ensure project objectives are achieved.
- Environmental scanning – Creates mutually beneficial relationships with colleagues and stakeholders to broaden understanding and gain an appreciation of the field, its trends and developments, and effective response.
For specific responsibilities please review the attached position description.
This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.
How to apply
Apply before the advertised closing dat
e 11:59pm on Tuesday, 29 July 2025. All applications should include:
- a resume; and
- a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages)
Other relevant information
The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees and clients and consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OH&S Act), to support this DGS has a COVID-19 Vaccination policy which strongly recommends all DGS employees be fully vaccinated.
Preferred candidates will be required to complete a Pre-employment Declaration and Consent Form. Employment of successful candidates will be subject to a National Police Check.
DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.