Senior Project Officer (Team Leader)

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 Division
The Early Learning Practice and Participation (ELPAP) Division guides, supports and inspires high quality educational practice that improves the learning and development outcomes of Victoria's young children in government funded early learning programs. The work of the Division is also underpinned by the central precondition of this, that all children are able to access, be included and engage in early learning. It leads operational policy and program development to deliver high quality, inclusive kindergarten programs and supports participation for children that experience vulnerability and disadvantage that have the most to gain from early learning.
ELPAP is responsible for the delivery of professional practice supports and quality initiatives for kindergarten and Pre-Prep aligned to the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and National Quality Framework (NQF), working with the VCAA. There is a particular focus on delivering practice quality enablers that improve workforce retention and recognition. ELPAP leads the development and implementation of participation and inclusion supports for all children, including implementation of needs-based funding for kindergartens. This includes working with system partners to proactively identify and connect children that might otherwise miss out on kindergarten to enrol and attend.
This role is located in the Workforce Recognition and Retention Unit (WRRU), in the Professional Practice Branch Branch. The WRRU implements programs, grants, tools and resources aimed at retaining, recognising and engaging early childhood teachers and educators through targeted evidence-informed strategies that acknowledge the sector's diversity and support the workforce throughout their career. The targeted supports aim to build the workforce's capacity to improve their practice and deliver high-quality kindergarten programs.
About the Role
This is a fixed-term opportunity until 14 November 2025
Reporting to the Manager, Workforce Retention and Recognition unit, the Senior Project Officer (Team Leader) is responsible for:
* proactively managing operational policy and program delivery of several key retention-focused initiatives
* the guidance and development of junior team members and their work-streams
* assisting the manager with several key tasks such as broader team budget management, and communication activities associated with relevant retention and recognition initiatives.
To be successful in this role, you will work collaboratively with the executive team and within the unit, as well as a range of internal and external stakeholders including departmental regional offices and program suppliers.
This position suits a highly capable and experienced VPS5, ideally with demonstrated success delivering complex, multi-faceted programs within government. ideally with experience delivering complex programs on-time within government, people management experience (or a desire to build their people management skills), a flexible and responsive approach to any set-backs, and someone who is open-minded and applies a growth mind-set to problem solving.
Other responsibilities include:
* holding delegated approval for communications/promotion of relevant workforce retention and recognition programs through internal channels
* ability to interpret, analyse and apply data to program reporting and proposed operational refinements.
* ability to approve the team's non-complex Communication Action Plans
* providing authoritative advice on program enhancements/refinements
* Reviewing work (contributing to the peer review process) to support the increase in the quality of end products for VPS4s.
Attributes
* Effective people leadership and development
* Working collaboratively
* Comfortable in delivering meaningful outcomes and engaging successful project delivery
* Ability to foster positive stakeholder engagement
Qualifications and Experience
* Desirable: Tertiary Qualifications/Accreditation in a related discipline would be advantageous.
How to Apply
Applications should include:
* a resume (no more than 2-pages) and
* a cover letter that responds to each of the Key Selection Criteria (no more than 2-pages).
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 Chris Patto – A/Manager via (03) 7022 0904 or chris.patto@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 08/05/2025.