Policy and Projects Officer

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 101,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Justice and Community Safety in Victoria is seeking a Policy and Projects Officer to contribute to performance submissions, business cases and strategic policy advice for emergency services organisations. You will work with key stakeholders to deliver reform outcomes that align with government direction.

You will support governance of emergency management committee systems and help shape priorities for EMV’s ESO Reform program in line with government strategy.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver reform work from inception through implementation.
• Experience providing strategic policy advice to senior executives and government on complex issues.
• Experience building collaborative relationships across government and agencies.
• Highly developed writing and conceptual skills with experience in reports, submissions and business cases.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain workplace culture and practices aligned with EMV’s Culture Charter.
• Lead streams of work within the Government Business and ESO Reform team as directed by the manager.
• Provide authoritative, evidenced-based policy advice on EMV performance matters and entities (Firefighters Registration Board, Fire District Review Panel, Fire Services Implementation Monitor, Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation).

Skills

Policy reform design

Strategic advisory

Stakeholder collaboration

Strong writing

Education

Public policy or law

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/PPOEMV-SEP26

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve.

We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background.

If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers

We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• Contribute to high quality submissions, business cases, reports and strategic policy advice relating to the performance of emergency services organisations.
• Ongoing Full time opportunity.
• VPS grade 4 - $100,894 - $114,476 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Policy and Projects Officer to provide a critical role within Emergency Management Victoria.

About the Business Unit

Emergency Management Victoria (EMV), within the Department of Justice and Community Safety, is responsible for the overall coordination of the emergency management system in Victoria. EMV drives the integration of policy, strategy, operational coordination, and planning across Victoria's emergency management sector, contributing to safer, more resilient communities. EMV works closely with government and agencies across the emergency management portfolio. The organisation is led by the Deputy Secretary/ Chief Executive and Emergency Management Commissioner, Emergency Management Victoria and includes oversight of statutory entities and offices and the department's emergency management accountabilities.

The Investment, Performance and Reform division is responsible for overseeing organisation planning, reform, sector investment, and performance monitoring of emergency management portfolio agencies to ensure that priorities are aligned with outcomes.

The Sector Performance and Group Strategy branch supports EMV in setting strategic directions and delivering priorities, monitoring and reporting on performance within the emergency services portfolio, coordinating and implementing the government's reform agenda and fulfilling core government functions. This includes strategic and business planning, risk management, business continuity, and government operations, as well as leading the development and delivery of complex reform programs and strategic advice in relation to the performance of emergency services organisations and key entities within the emergency services sector.

About the Role

The Policy and Project Officer helps to prepare and contribute to high quality submissions, business cases, reports and strategic policy advice relating to the performance of emergency services organisations, and key entities within the emergency services sector. The role works in partnership with key stakeholders to deliver key reform outcomes.

The role is responsible for providing support to the governance of the emergency management committee systems, maximising the opportunity to shape and advance outcomes and priorities for emergency management in line with government and EMV strategic direction. The position is integral to contributing to the achievement of overall priorities of the Government Business and ESO Reform team.

Some of your duties will include:

• Manage and maintain workplace culture and practices consistent with EMV's Culture Charter.
• Lead streams of work within the Government Business and ESO Reform team at the direction of its manager.
• Provide authoritative and evidenced-based policy advice on matters relating to Emergency Services Organisation's performance and entities (Firefighters Registration Board, Fire District Review Panel, Fire Services Implementation Monitor, and Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation).

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated experience in the design and delivery of reform work from inception through to implementation.
• Experience in providing strategic advice on complex policy, resourcing and legislat ive issues to senior executives and government, ideally within the emergency services sector.
• Experience in developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with a range of complex stakeholders across government and agencies.
• Highly developed writing and conceptual skills is essential, with demonstrated experience in writing reports, submissions and business cases on policy and financial matters.

Qualifications/requirements

• A relevant qualification in public policy, law or related field is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of Victoria's emergency management arrangements is desirable.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

Important Information

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.

Applications close Wednesday 7 October 2026 at 11.59pm