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 Division

The Workforce, System and Family Supports Division leads on the implementation of key early childhood workforce strategy, projects and programs that seek to increase the supply of the early childhood education workforce to support implementation of the Best Start, Best Life (BSBL) reforms.

The division includes the Practitioner and Leadership and Development team, responsible for the delivery of practitioner and leadership development initiatives including Early Years Learning Networks (Networks) and Early Learning Leadership Forums (Leadership Forums) to facilitate engagement and change management with the early childhood education sector and support implementation of the BSBL reforms. The team also monitors sector needs and departmental priorities to develop a strategic direction and deliver initiatives that engage with and support the sector in collaboration with the department's regions and other central teams.

The Division explores opportunities for people to build their management and leadership skills, in line with individual career development objectives.

About the Role

The Senior Program Advisor will support the planning of Networks and Leadership Forums to continue to provide high impact change management strategies to support the sector to embed the BSBL reforms.

Key duties include:

- Leading data analysis and reporting to enable identification of risks, issues and improvement opportunities
- Stakeholder engagement with a wide network of internal and external stakeholders,



including regional teams
- Developing new and improving existing initiatives based on data analysis and stakeholder consultation to support effective change management and sector engagement
- Design, commissioning and project management and evaluation of change management and sector engagement initiatives
- Procurement and contract management of suppliers to facilitate implementation of sector engagement and change initiatives.
- Preparing written communications including briefings, reports and presentations to a range of executive audiences.

The role requires strong collaboration within a small and high-performing team that is supportive, friendly and passionate about providing high-quality initiatives that support policy reform. The role provides an opportunity for individuals with analytical and policy skills to expand and develop.

For more details regarding this position please see the attached position description.

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.

Attributes

The ideal candidate will use their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to provide innovative solutions to complex issues. They will have strong project management skills, and be able to build and develop robust stakeholder relationships and work collaboratively within a team. They will also have excellent data analysis and written communication skills and be able to work proactively and independently. The candidate will be responsive,



a clear communicator who can tackle problems with systems thinking and innovation, and be a positive contributor to an inclusive organisational culture which values excellence.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Essential: Relevant tertiary qualification in education, policy or related discipline.

Desirable: Experience in public policy, data analysis and reporting, program and/or project management and/or procurement and contract management.

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 Nicole Messer – Manager, Practitioner and Leadership Development via (03) 9084 8*** or *************@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 Monday 28th September, 2026.

📌 Senior Project Advisor (Melbourne)
🏢 Department of Education Victoria
📍 Melbourne