Title: Chief of Staff Employment Type: Ongoing Location: Melbourne Position reports to: Chief Executive Officer About Innovation Victoria Innovation Victoria’s Vision is to support a thriving innovation ecosystem and the commercialisation of innovative ideas in Victoria. IV will achieve this Vision for public benefit by operating as efficiently as possible, consistent with prudent commercial practice; and maximising its contribution to the economy and wellbeing of the State.

Innovation

Victoria’s Purpose is to be a unified 'front door' for innovation and commercialisation. We support and promote Victoria as the 'ideas capital', building the capability of Victoria's innovative people and companies and growing capital available to innovators in Victoria. IV’s Strategic Pillars are: Investment Excellence: disciplined, policy-aligned investing Supporting Startup Success: delivering measurable impact for the Victorian innovation ecosystem Stakeholder Leadership: co-creating trust and value Capability and Culture: team growth, learning and alignment At Innovation Victoria, we prioritise an inclusive, flexible work environment that empowers our team to excel.

Based at 31 Queen Street, we operate in a 3-2 hybrid working model with a vibrant, well-equipped office designed for collaboration and growth.

Role Overview Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief of Staff plays an important role in overseeing the performance and effectiveness of Innovation Victoria’s business operations. The Chief of Staff will have an immediate impact on the productivity of the CEO and Executive Team, streamlining strategic initiatives, overseeing priority program management across the group, and communicating objectives across internal stakeholders. The Chief of Staff will support the CEO to manage their priorities, internal and external operational tasks and ensure the efficient and effective running of Leadership.

A key focus will be to enable the CEO and Executive through prioritisation of organisational goals and oversight of specific strategic projects as they relate to internal cultural improvements and transformation.

Key Accountabilities Core Role Responsibilities: People Leadership and Organisational Culture: As a key adviser to the Executive team, inspire and lead a diverse, high-performing team across the organisation. Foster a team-oriented, inclusive, and values-driven culture that supports learning, professional growth, and organisational capability. Role model constructive leadership behaviours and coach direct reports to be effective people managers and role models.

Practice active listening, ensuring those who are speaking feel genuinely heard and understood and demonstrate humility when incorporating feedback from others. Maximise the time and impact of the CEO and Executive: Enable the CEO and Executive through effective diary management to ensure priorities are attended to. From time to time, attend and/or facilitate meetings, synthesise key information and actions both on their behalf, and for their further input.

This includes initial review and feedback on investment materials, papers and correspondence submitted for approval.

Steer and support the Executive Team:



Support and improve the cadence of the Group and manage agendas to ensure outcomes, including the implementation of cultural systems and processes to embed and track an effective cadence of work streams. Drive a cohesive approach to key business priorities, partnering with relevant Executives and functional leads to maximise advocacy through internal communications, employee engagement and practices and organisational procedures, for optimised efficiency and productivity.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including portfolio investee companies, Victorian government agencies, research institutions, academia, and industry.

Leadership and Team Responsibilities: Although this role has no direct reports, shares responsibility for a high-performing team, with employee engagement above 75% (Innovation Victoria Group results) and is expected to: Communicates Innovation Victoria's vision and goals clearly to ensure team alignment. Set clear goals and expectations aligned to team and business priorities. Hold regular 1:1s (minimum fortnightly) with the CEO to track progress and priorities, address blockers and maintain alignment.

Provide timely, constructive feedback to drive employee performance and development. Address underperformance promptly and fairly. Support career growth through coaching, development planning, and identifying opportunities.

Ensure every team member understands their role, responsibilities, and success measures. Foster an inclusive, engaged, and psychologically safe team environment. Role model company values and leadership behaviours in daily practice.

Escalate risks, capacity gaps, or systemic blockers impacting team delivery.

Key Capabilities Written and Verbal Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication with the ability to present complex ideas and information in a clear and compelling way. You will clearly understand the target audience and objectives of the communication and use audience feedback to refine communication and ensure communications are understood. Outstanding influencing, communication, negotiation, conflict resolution and interpersonal skills.

Sector Experience: Reasonable knowledge, understanding and experience in investment and asset management, finance and commercial transactions, the Australian startup ecosystem, service delivery and business management.

Project Management: Proven capability and experience in leading a range of complex and innovative projects through partnerships with people across business areas, functions and external stakeholders, delivering timely and high-quality outcomes.

Confidentiality: Able to independently manage complex and sensitive matters.

Collaboration: Forge partnerships across the team, management, investment sector and across government, particularly to enable the effective delivery of corporate outcomes.



Collaborative and engaging people skills.

Leadership: Demonstrated ability to support and maintain a high-performance, accountable team culture. Experienced in setting clear goals and expectations, holding self and others accountable for results, and fostering shared ownership of outcomes. Skilled in providing constructive feedback and coaching to drive continuous improvement and strong team performance.

Organisational Values

Behaviours we expect of everyone at Innovation Victoria: Passion: We are driven by a belief in Innovation Victoria’s mission to deliver lasting impact for Victorians. We bring curiosity, energy, and purpose to everything we do, finding meaning in both the journey and the outcome.

Integrity: We act with honesty, transparency, and accountability in every interaction. We do the right thing, even when it’s difficult, ensuring trust and ethical alignment in our decisions and actions.

Community: We foster a culture of collaboration and collective success. We champion connection, inclusion, and generosity, working in service of our ecosystem and each other.

Respect: We treat others with kindness, openness, and humility. We value diverse perspectives and seek to create safe, inclusive environments for all to thrive.

Innovation: We challenge the status quo and think boldly to create new value. We embrace experimentation, learn from setbacks and seek better ways to solve complex problems. Organisational Virtues One Team Innovation Victoria Team Members prioritise the success of the organisation. All team members’ focus is on achieving the broader mission and priorities of IV in their day-to-day work.

Solutions Focus Team

Members are encouraged to define the problem, explore options, and recommend practical solutions; and be empowered to implement decisively and learn from every outcome. All IV team members take full accountability to the organisation, one another and their peers, for results.

Candid Dialogue Team

Members welcome healthy and open debate and address disagreements openly and respectfully. We challenge ideas, not people. If team members disagree, they are encouraged to speak up (and team members allow them to be heard).

United Front All Team

Members commit to transparency and alignment. Once decisions are made, we move forward together, trusting in positive intent. Undermining decisions or withholding feedback is inconsistent with our Virtues.

Psychological Safety All Team

Members proactively work to create an environment where everyone feels safe to speak up. Team Members at all levels within IV are encouraged to actively listen to and amplify the voices of their team and their peers. Go for it!

At Innovation Victoria we know that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I;) are essential to our success. That’s why we’re committed to fair, inclusive, and bias-free hiring. If you come from an underrepresented background – whether that’s being gender diverse, neurodiverse, a person of color, part of the LGBTQIA+ community, or any other marginalized group – we equally encourage you to reach out.

To apply, send your CV and 2-3 sentences about why you are the right person for this role to [email protected]

📌 Chief of Staff (Melbourne)
🏢 Innovation Victoria
📍 Melbourne