Policy Officer

Description:

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 the Role
The purpose of this role is to support the Priorities Unit by:
* drafting briefings, correspondence, and possible parliamentary questions;
* drafting responses to requests for information from the Minister's Office and VSBA Executive team;
* analysing Cabinet Submissions, reviews, and initiatives—both within the Department of Education and from other agencies—to determine their infrastructure implications;
* promoting and maintaining strong relationships within the VSBA and across the Department;
* coordinating and drafting briefings for the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC); and
* provide policy and coordination support for the incoming government briefing.
In addition, the role requires someone who can effectively write and edit documents for all audiences, ranging from the Minister's Office to the public. The successful candidate will be someone who has:
* strong analytical and conceptual skills to reason through problems;
* an eye for detail; and
* strong writing and editing skills.
The key accountabilities for the Policy Officer are to:
* Draft and produce written materials including briefings, correspondence, PAEC briefs, parliamentary items and responses to Cabinet Submissions
* Establish and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders
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
The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of policy analysis with strong communication skills.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
* Desirable : considerable/demonstrated experience similar role within government
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 Georgina Cole, Manager, Priorities via email at georgina.cole@education.vic.gov.au
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 31 March 2025