Senior Project Advisor

Description:

About the Department
The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.
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
Strategy and Planning Division
The Strategy and Planning Division is responsible for the VSBA's operating framework, investment strategy, policy setting, asset information management, budget strategy and coordination, along with the delivery of specific school strategies, costings, allocate resources for growth, maintenance, and projects through school application-based programs. The Division also plans and co-ordinates delivery of new early childhood facilities and support for the wider early childhood sector to build, improve and upgrade infrastructure through a number of grants programs, including programs which provide funding to make kindergartens for inclusive for children of all abilities.
Early Childhood Infrastructure Planning – Sector Partnerships and Grants and State Projects Branches
Both these branches support the planning and coordination for the delivery of infrastructure needed for the successful implementation of the Three-Year Old and Best Start Best Life Reforms.
About the Role
Reporting to the Manager of Early Childhood Grants, the Planning Stream Lead Senior Project Advisor position will work closely and collaboratively as part of a team responsible for the implementation of the infrastructure component of the Three-Year-Old Kindergarten implementation reform and the Best Start Best Life reform program.
As a member of the Early Childhood Grants Team, the Senior Project Advisor is responsible for supervising a small team and undertaking work accountabilities across the entire life cycle of the grants programs (i.e., from inception, launch, and assessment through to making recommendations on grant approvals, making payments, and monitoring the delivery of those projects which have been awarded grants).
The work involves a high-level of stakeholder engagement including responding to a range of grant-related enquiries and requires a highly responsive and flexible approach to supporting the effective operation of the grants programs, particularly during peak periods.
The role requires working closely and collaboratively with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including local government, key peak bodies and the Department's central office, including the Kindergarten Expansion and Pre-Prep Reform Division, and regional teams.
The key accountabilities and skills for the Senior Project Advisor will be to:
* Play a key senior role in the delivery of the Building Blocks Planning grants stream, including supervising a small team to deliver high quality outcomes.
* Manage effective relationships and communications with key stakeholders internally and externally on the
* development and delivery of grants.
* Supplying expert advisory and support services to internal/external stakeholders on matters relating to the operation of the grants program and fund allocation process.
* Liaise, advise, and negotiate effectively with senior officers of central agencies, other government departments, LGAs and other parties regarding the identification, implementation, and delivery of the grant stream.
* Utilise your project management skills and experience to support and guide the delivery of active kindergarten projects, aligned to the key objectives of the program.
* In consultation with the Manager, Early Childhood Grants, contributing to the preparing of accurate and informative briefing papers and media releases relating to the operation of the grants funding program for internal/external stakeholders.
* Manage project budgets and align them with program funding. This includes working with existing systems to monitor, account for and report on project forecasts and actuals and approving financial obligations (expenditure and commitment) for the appropriate transaction type and value as authorised under Direction 2.4.
* Maintaining data/information management systems and cash flows (VSBA currently use SmartyGrants and Aconex) to ensure the accuracy and currency of information.
The ideal candidate will have a background in developing and coordinating complex grant programs in a government setting.
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 grant management and the life cycle of the grants programs (i.e., from inception, launch, and assessment through to making recommendations on grant approvals, making payments, and monitoring the delivery of those projects which have been awarded grants, along with strong communication skills and management practices.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
* Desirable : Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline
* 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 Deborah Snowdon, Manager Early Childhood Grants via (03)7005 1955 Phone or email, deborah.snowdon@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 Sunday, 30 March 2025