Policy Manager

Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 143,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions is seeking a Policy Manager to develop and oversee department policies, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and strategic goals. The role involves research, analysis and advising on policy changes, plus coordinating with senior leaders and external partners to secure buy-in and compliance.

The successful candidate will lead policy design, manage complex governance issues and communicate policies through training and documentation, in a

Qualifications

• Seeks experience in leading policy design and development within a government environment.
• Ability to manage cross‑portfolio stakeholders and drive policy implementation.
• Strong analytical capability to assess policy impact and compliance with regulations.
• Proven communication skills for high‑level advisory and training.
• Experience in translating strategic goals into actionable policies.
• Ability to navigate complex government structures and policy processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop, manage and oversee departmental policies aligned with goals and law.
• Research, analyse and advise on policy changes and communicate outcomes.
• Collaborate with senior management, staff and external parties to gain buy-in.
• Ensure policies comply with laws, regulations and industry standards.
• Prepare briefs and training materials to disseminate policies internally.

Skills

Managing People

Resilience

Communicate with Impact

Stakeholder Engagement

Policy Design and Development

Systems Thinking

Job description

The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions is focused on growing Victoria’s prosperity, building the productive capacity of our economy and increasing participation – by creating more opportunities for people through skills and jobs; helping businesses and industries to thrive; and building vibrant communities and regions. For more information, see the DJSIR Strategic Plan 2023-2027.

Our work spans numerous portfolios, supporting departmental ministers and operating across metropolitan, regional and international offices.

The Department welcomes and encourages applications from diverse applicants, including First Peoples, refugees or asylum seekers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disability. All roles at DJSIR can be worked flexibly and we offer reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities.

Policy Manager

• Salary: $142,790 - $191,084 (plus Superannuation)
• Ongoing position
• Usual hours of work: Full-time (flexibility may be available)
• Usual work location: 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (flexibility may be available)

The Role

The Policy Manager develops, manages, and oversees departmental policies and procedures and ensures the policies align with the department's goals, relevant laws, and regulations. They research, analyse, and advise on policy changes and ensure compliance and effective communication of the policies.

This role may involve:

• creating new policies, updating existing ones, and ensuring they are properly implemented across the department.
• conducting research to understand the impact of policies, analysing data to evaluate their effectiveness, and staying informed about relevant legal and regulatory changes.
• working with various stakeholders, including senior management, employees, and external parties, to gather input, address concerns, and ensure buy-in for policy changes.
• ensuring that policies and procedures comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• communicating policies to relevant stakeholders, often through training programs and documentation, ensuring that everyone understands their responsibilities and obligations.

Main accountabilities

:

• Applies complex concepts drawn from non-related fields to address policy issues
• Provides authoritative expert advice on complex issues within own area
• Represents own work area with external stakeholders, and effectively manages feedback
• Uses knowledge of structures, processes and culture of government, the sector and the department to develop policies and new program or project initiatives
• Develops briefs on highly complex issues that provide options for decision within an organisation
• Manages an area with significant budget, staff responsibilities or strategic importance.

The Team

The position of Policy Manager forms part of the Professional Sport and Tourism Infrastructure Branch, which sits within Sport and Experience Economy Group.

Sport and Experience Economy (SEE) Group delivers programs and initiatives to support positive experiences and a sense of belonging through sport, tourism, events and outdoor recreation – sectors that make Victoria a recognised leader from the grassroots level to the international stage and deliver significant economic, social and health benefits for the state.

Professional Sport and Tourism Infrastructure Branch oversees the responsibility for government's investment in major sporting venues, professional sport and tourism infrastructure through both infrastructure and program delivery.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have the following main skills and experience:

• Managing People: Role models ethical leadership through decision making and interactions with people; Creates an organisational culture that enables others to perform at their best and achieve outcomes the organisation.
• Resilience: Creates a climate which encourages and supports openness, persistence and genuine debate around critical issues. Provides sound explanation and argument for agreed positions.
• Communicate with Impact: Identifies key messages and information required for decision-making; Provides high level advice on influencing and the needs of target audiences; Provides advice on the content and style appropriate to the audience.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Identifies and manages a range of complex and often competing needs; Facilitates innovative solutions to resolve stakeholder issues.
• Policy Design and Development: Builds trusting relationships with Senior Leaders across the VPS to engender support for proposals. Provides thought leadership to others in area of expertise.
• Systems Thinking: Formulates potential courses of action to achieve objectives based on an in-depth understanding of the business environment and its systems; Champions system thinking across the organisation and VPS more broadly acting as a thought leader.

Further Information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Sindy Yuen, Director, Sport and Entertainment Precincts on 0460 033 114 or [e-mail]

The Department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with the Child Safe Standards .

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. To be eligible for this position you must hold the mandatory qualification as outlined in the position description. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.

Please note: We are committed to inclusive recruitment. If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJSIR Talent Acquisition Team on 0472 875 685, or via email at [e-mail] with the position number in the subject line.