Manager, STEM Assessment

Department of Education; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Education in Melbourne seeks a senior leader to head the Assessment Division, overseeing a high-performing team, a significant budget, and people management responsibilities to deliver high-quality services.

You will foster a positive culture aligned with VPS values, build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and drive strategic planning, governance, and complex external assessments in STEM areas.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a high-performing team to deliver high-quality services, with oversight of significant budget, resourcing and people management.
• Drive and sustain a positive culture aligned with the VPS values, promoting a safe, inclusive and high-performing workplace.
• Build collaborative and productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes.
• Provide leadership in a dynamic environment, responding flexibly to shifting priorities and delivering high-quality outcomes within tight timeframes.
• Provide authoritative analysis and advice to support evidence-based decision-making for management, the Board, staff and external stakeholders.
• Resolve complex issues through consultation, negotiation and sound judgement.
• Communicate and manage highly complex matters requiring advanced negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Drive continuous improvement by addressing emerging strategic issues and ensuring alignment with legislation and organisational requirements.
• Contribute to strategic planning and be accountable for business plans development and management.
• Lead end-to-end project management within a large portfolio of external assessments, with a focus on STEM areas.
• Provide thought leadership in the development and project management of external assessments.
• Promote reflective leadership practice and accountability to drive continuous improvement.
• Prepare briefs, reports, and other documentation for senior leaders and governance forums.
• Oversee budgets, procurement activities and contract management, ensuring supplier performance and obligations are met.
• Work outside standard hours during peak operational periods when required.

Job description

An exciting opportunity to lead and manage a high-performing team to deliver high-quality services, while overseeing significant budget, resourcing and people management responsibilities.

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 VCAA is a statutory body responsible to the Victorian Minister for Education, serving both government and non-government schools.In this context, the VCAA is responsible for developing high-quality curriculum and assessment products and services.

The VCAA is a registered foundational and senior secondary awarding body with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). As part of its functions, the VCAA develops policies, criteria and standards for:

• curriculum, assessments and courses for school-aged students

• learning, development and assessments which relate to early childhood

The VCAA developsstrong relationships with the government, Independent and Catholic school sector, other national and interstatecurriculum authorities, academics in the field, teacher/subject associationsand, most importantly, with Victorianeducators.

All VCAA employees are expected to perform their duties in accordance with relevant legislation, governance requirements, policies and procedures, safety obligations, the Code of Conduct for Victorian public sector employees, and the Victorian Public Sector Values.

All roles are expected to work collaboratively across teams and functions, build productive relationships, and contribute to shared organisational outcomes.

Assessment Division

Assessment Division is responsible for the end-to-end development, delivery, and reporting of F-10, VCE examinations, GAT and NAPLAN tests. This includes the full assessment lifecycle: development of frameworks and blueprints, panel appointments, content development, editorial and design services, logistics, administration, marking, data processing, and reporting of outcomes.

The division also manages:

• VCE and VPC student records and enrolment data

• issuing of VCE and VPC certificates

• digital assessment platforms, including the Insight platform and Digital Assessment Library.

About the Role

• Lead and manage a high-performing team to deliver high-quality services, while overseeing significant budget, resourcing and people management responsibilities.
• Drive and sustain a positive organisational culture by modelling behaviours aligned with the VCAA's vision and mission and the VPS values, and promoting a safe, inclusive and high-performing workplace.
• Build and maintain respectful, collaborative and productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes.
• Provide leadership in a dynamic environment by responding flexibly to shifting priorities, managing pressure effectively and ensuring delivery of high-quality outcomes within tight timeframes.
• Provide authoritative analysis and expert advice to:
  • support evidence-based decision‑making for VCAA management, the Board, staff and external stakeholders
  • resolve complex issues through consultation, negotiation and sound judgement
  • communicate and manage highly complex, contentious or sensitive matters requiring advanced negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills
• Drive continuous improveme nt by responding innovatively to emerging strategic issues affecting the operating environment, and ensuring work aligns with relevant legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
• Contribute to strategic planning and be accountable for achieving established objectives, including the development and management of business plans.
• Operate effectively as part of branch and divisional leadership teams to embed consistent, effective and efficient operations and build a culture of collaboration and delivery
• Lead end-to-end project management within agreed timelines and budget of a large portfolio of valid and reliable external assessments, with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
• Provide thought leadership in the development and project management of external assessments
• Drive continuous improvement individually and collectively through reflective leadership practice, modelling, and accountability
• Prepare high-quality briefs, reports, correspondence, and other documentation on complex matters for senior leaders and governance forums.
• Oversee complex and high-value budgets, procurement activities and contract management processes, ensuring adherence to relevant policies and embedding best practice amongst teams
• Ensure suppliers meet contractual obligations, performance standards and deliver agreed outcomes.
• This role will require work outside standard business hours during peak operational periods to meet business requirements.

Attributes

Please refer to the position description attached.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Please refer to the position description attached.

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 Kate Brady, Director, Assessment Development via **********@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 16 October