Adviser

Victorian Government; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid work

Learning and development opportunities

Employee assistance program and well‑“

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

The Victorian Public Sector Commission seeks an Adviser, Capability Reviews to support policy capability assessments across government priorities. You will conduct policy research, prepare concise briefs, and engage with multiple stakeholders to drive improvements across Victoria’s public service.

Joining a collaborative team with hybrid work options, you will contribute to capability reviews, deliver evidence-based analyses, and support policy design and implementation under tight timelines.

Qualifications

• The successful candidate will have a tertiary qualification in public policy or related disciplines and/or public sector experience.
• Public sector experience highly regarded.
• Experience in policy design and development is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Undertake policy research and analysis to inform implementation of agency capability reviews.
• Prepare and present policy documentation, briefs, correspondence, submissions and reports for diverse audiences.
• Contribute to building strong working relationships with VPSC and stakeholders to drive policy and priorities.
• Policy design and development: determine data gathering approach; analyze data; draft policies and business cases with stakeholders.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills; work collaboratively and assist team members when needed.
• Communicate with impact: prepare briefs, letters, emails and reports clearly and succinctly.
• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities and cross-organisational collaboration.
• Coordinate tasks, monitor progress and provide guidance to ensure outputs meet deadlines.
• Exercise critical thinking to anticipate problems and evaluate actions.

Skills

Policy analysis

Written communication

Stakeholder engagement

Interpersonal skills

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Project coordination

Adaptability

Education

Tertiary qualification in public policy or related disciplines

Public sector experience

Job description

Location

Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference

13085

What you’ll do

The Adviser, Capability Reviews will play an important role in supporting delivery of a capability review program that assesses departments’ capability and readiness to deliver on future government priorities and challenges. This includes assessing capability in core areas of public sector management and administration including leadership, integrity, community/client engagement, service delivery and improvement, projects and procurement, ministerial engagement, and people and workforce.

The role requires a curious mindset and capacity to work flexibly as part of a team, together with strong written and analytical skills and a commitment to improving the public service.

• Looking for an opportunity to further build policy design/implementation and stakeholder engagement skills?
• Passionate about the future of the Victorian public service and excited for an opportunity to influence positive outcomes?
• Looking for variety, flexibility and a work/life balance?

• Undertake policy research and analysis to inform the implementation of agency capability and related reviews.
• Prepare and present accurate, concise, timely and relevant policy documentation, briefings, correspondence, submissions and reports to articulate complex concepts for a range of audiences including the Commissioner and VPSC executives.
• Contribute to building strong working relationships with other areas of VPSC and other key stakeholders to drive forward government policy and priorities.
• Policy design and development: Determines relevant data and evidence gathering approach;conducts critical analysis on data and evidence collected;interprets and applies policies relevant to own work; drafts policies and business cases using research skills and in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
• Interpersonal skills: Cooperates and works well with others in pursuit of team goals. Identifies, and works to overcome, barriers to knowledge or information sharing;shares information and acknowledges others’ efforts. Steps in to help others where required.
• Communicates with Impact: Prepares briefs, letters, emails and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct language; identifies and communicates key messages and information orally and in writing.
• Flexibility and adaptability: accepts changed priorities without undue discomfort;responds quickly to changes. Comfortable working in collaboration with teams inside and outside of own organisation.
• Project Delivery: Defines tasks to be delivered to meet agreed outcomes; coordinates and guides others in the execution of work activities; monitors progress of tasks against plans and takes corrective action when required.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Anticipates potential problems and pre-empts required actions, continually liaises with team and stakeholders, where appropriate, to ensure full understanding of the issues, evaluates implemented courses of action and makes adjustments as required.

Experience and qualifications

The successful candidate will have:

• A tertiary qualification in public policy or related disciplines, and/or experience in a similar role.
• Public sector experience.

The following experience will also be highly regarded

• Experience in working in a consulting or government advisory services environment.

Who we are

The Victorian Public Sector Commission plays a key role in stewardship of the public sector. It works to strengthen the efficiency, effectiveness and capability of the public sector and maintain, and advocate for, public sector professionalism and integrity. Your contribution will help shape and lead strategic government directions across Victoria.

Why you should join us

We are proud to offer you the opportunity to work with purpose and make a positive impact on the Victorian community.

You’ll collaborate with stakeholders across the Victorian public sector to deliver meaningful work supporting the Victorian Government’s strategic priorities.

We offer

• Flexible and hybrid work
• Learning and development opportunities
• Employee assistance program and wellbeing initiatives

Request for reasonable adjustments

The VPSC values the contribution of all employees and fair and equitable treatment of all people is integral to all activities. As such, the VPSC offers reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities on request. It is our policy to provide adjustments for people with disability, mental illness and/or a health condition and carers of people with disability. To request an adjustment, please follow the process on our policy page.

Other relevant information

A position description is attached. For enquiries, please refer to the contact on the position description.

Employment screening, including criminal history, confirmation of experience and stated qualifications, screening of misconduct , Australian working rights and other relevant checks form part of the candidate suitability evaluation process. Where applicable, this applies to current VPS employees.

Applications close Sunday 15 November 2026 at 11.59pm