Manager

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The State Government of Victoria is seeking a senior policy leader for the Delivery and Strategy Branch in Melbourne. You will advise the Premier and senior executives on cross-portfolio policy and coordinate priority reforms across government.

You will lead a high-performing policy team, manage workloads, develop capability, and build strong stakeholder relationships to progress government priorities and deliver outcomes within tight timeframes.

Qualifications

• Policy analysis and insights: provide authoritative evidence-based policy analysis and insights to senior executives.
• Written and verbal communications: provide clear, succinct and solutions-focused briefings – via PowerPoint slides – for senior stakeholders within tight timeframes.
• Stakeholder engagement and influence: manage relationships with senior stakeholders and apply collaboration to progress policy priorities.
• Project management and effective delivery: manage multiple time-limited projects in complex environments, focusing on outcomes.
• People management: lead a high-performing team, provide coaching and foster an inclusive culture.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative, strategic advice to the Premier and senior executives on cross-portfolio policy, strategic initiatives, and coordination and implementation of government priorities.
• Lead and develop a high-performing policy team through workload allocation, performance management, capability development, and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, using influence and collaboration to progress government policy priorities and achieve outcomes.
• Deliver clear, high-quality, solutions-focused written and verbal advice to senior executives within tight timeframes, while managing competing priorities.

Skills

Policy analysis

Written & verbal communications

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

People management

Tools

PowerPoint

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: 12121

About the Branch

The Delivery and Strategy Branch tracks and supports delivery of priority government initiatives and works with policy branches to support strategic policy development of cross-portfolio issues.

The branch comprises the following teams:

• Strategy, a project-based team that works closely with DPC policy branches and delivery agencies, employing consulting and strategy approaches to resolve priority policy and delivery issues, as commissioned by DPC senior executives or the Premier;
• Delivery Tracking, which monitors implementation of government priority initiatives and commitments, and supports identification and resolution of risks and blockages.

About the Role

Key Accountabilities

• Provide authoritative, strategic advice to the Premier and senior executives on cross-portfolio policy, strategic initiatives, and the coordination and implementation of government priorities.
• Lead and develop a high-performing policy team through effective workload allocation, performance management, capability development, and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, using influence and collaboration to progress government policy priorities and achieve successful outcomes.
• Deliver clear, high-quality, solutions-focused written and verbal advice to senior executives within tight timeframes, while effectively managing competing and emerging priorities to deliver government commitments.

About You

We are seeking applicants who have demonstrated experience from the following criteria:

• Policy analysis and insights: Demonstrated ability to provide authoritative evidence-based policy analysis and insights to senior executives and decision makers on the design, development and delivery of cross-portfolio priority reforms.
• Written and verbal communications: Demonstrated ability to provide clear, succinct and solutions-focused written and verbal briefings – particularly via PowerPoint slides – on a range of policy issues to a high-quality standard within tight timeframes for senior stakeholders and to adapt communications for the requirements of a range of audiences.
• Stakeholder engagement and influence: Highly developed stakeholder management skills, with an ability to proactively initiate and maintain strong working relationships with senior stakeholders and apply intentional influencing and collaboration to mitigate risk and progress government policy and priorities.
• Project management and effective delivery: Highly developed project management skills, with experience managing multiple time-limited projects in the context of complex stakeholder environments and emerging priorities, focussing on outcomes and delivering within available resources and timelines, and using systems thinking and innovation to address project complexities.
• People management: Well-developed leadership skills, with an ability to lead a high performing team in the context of a matrix model, ensuring that appropriate HR supports are in place for direct reports, provide regular and effective coaching and feedback, promote an inclusive culture, and effectively lead through change.
• Experience in policy, strategy, PowerPoint design and presentation to senior government leaders would be an advantage.
• Experience working on cross department policy, strategy or analytical issues, such as in a central agency or relevant roles in a breadth of Victorian Government Departments.
• Experience in working with data to strengthen policy analysis.
• Experience in the design, delivery, or assessment of delivery, of major projects or programs

This is a Fixed-term, Full-time position until 30 June 2027.

This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

Other relevant information

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing role is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. Preferred applicants will be required to undertake pre-employment screening. DPC actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles at DPC can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.

Applications close Tuesday 8 September 2026 at 11.59pm