Principal Adviser

ClearCompany; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 138,000 - 186,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government department in Melbourne is seeking a Principal Adviser to provide strategic advice on gender equality and governance in community sport. The role involves collaboration with senior executives and managing high-quality reports. Ideal candidates will possess expertise in governance policies and experience in policy development. This position offers a competitive salary and flexibility in work hours.

Qualifications

• Expertise in gender equality communication and issues.
• Strong knowledge of governance related to sport.
• Experience with strategic policy initiatives.
• Ability to analyze and understand data for strategic insights.
• Capacity to manage and deliver projects on time.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice on gender equality and governance.
• Support key policy initiatives within the department.
• Develop and review high-quality reports and briefings.
• Lead evaluation activities for policies and initiatives.

Skills

Understanding of gender equality

Governance and integrity policies

Policy development experience

Analytical ability

Project management skills

Job description

Principal Adviser

• Salary: $138,631 - $185,518 (Plus superannuation)
• Fixed Term position to 29 May 2026
• Usual hours of work: Full time (flexibility may be available)
• Usual work location: Level 15, 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (flexibility may be available)

The Role

As a Principal Adviser, you will be a key conduit and collaborator with department executives and other senior staff and advisers, the Minister's office, relevant policy and program areas, and select external stakeholders. The incumbent will ensure that advice is formulated within the broad sector context, and implications are understood by decision makers and key stakeholders. This includes policy development in response to outstanding issues and emerging trends, risks and opportunities as they relate to gender equality, governance, integrity and other matters in community sport.

The role will work closely with the Group Manager Sector Development, governance and integrity team, and other Community Sport and Recreation colleagues to provide seamless advice and collaborate on the delivery of key work packages and outcomes.

Key accountabilities include

• Provide analysis, strategic advice and assistance to the Group Manager and/ or Director on a range of government and non-government activities, initiatives and policies relating to gender equality, governance and integrity in sport and active recreation. Manage and provide authoritative strategic advice on planning, risk and departmental reporting, including but not limited to departmental and ministerial requests, output performance reporting, annual reporting and Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) processes.
• Support the embedding of key policies and initiatives formerly delivered by the Office for Women in Sport and Recreation (OWSR) into the Department.
• Support, guide and/ or implement initiatives that support the Victorian sport and recreation sector to continually improve and strengthening governance policies and processes and appropriately manage integrity threats.
• Oversee, develop, review and support the efficient preparation of high-quality complex briefings, reports, presentations, special projects and other work consistent with department and Government requirements, practices and protocols.
• Lead monitoring and evaluation activities that develop and enhance the evidence-base for initiatives delivered through Sport and Recreation Victoria. This includes leading the Participation and Sector Development Policy and Program Review to inform the development of a relevant and compelling future State Budget submission.

The Team

The position of Principal Adviser will work within Sport and Recreation Victoria branch, which sits within Sport and Experience Economy (SEE) group.

Sport and Experience Economy (SEE) is comprised of Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV), Tourism and Events (T&E) and Outdoor Recreation (OR).

SRV aims to create greater sport and active recreation participation opportunities for all Victorians to maximise economic, social and health benefits and enhance Victoria's livability. This is achieved by supporting the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events and the Minister for Community Sport in the management of major sports facilities, administering grant programs that develop community sports infrastructure, strengthening the capacity of sport and recreation organisations, developing more active recreation and other innovative options to increase overall participation rates, reducing barriers to participation for specific population groups, supporting world-class sporting events and Victoria's high performance sport sector, and reinforcing the role that sport and active recreation plays in growing the Victorian economy, supporting jobs and building stronger communities.

T&E is responsible for strengthening the profile of tourism and events across government and influencing strategic reforms and economic outcomes for the sector. T&E undertakes research and provides policy, strategy and industry development advice to the government and industry on the visitor economy. The branch also provides governance support and advice on a number of entities that market the state, secure events, and manage large scale tourist attractions, precincts, facilities and entertainment venues in Victoria.

About You

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

• Specialist Expertise – gender equality: Ability to effectively communicate an understanding of gender equality and/or current issues impacting women and girls in sport and active recreation and knowledge of related Victorian government policy.
• Specialist Expertise – governance and integrity: Strong and current understanding of governance and integrity policies, processes, protocols, guidelines, standards and structures as they relate to the Victorian and Australian sport and active recreation sector.
• Strong Foundation in Policy Development and Government Processes: Experience leading the development of strategic policy initiatives, including Cabinet or Cabinet Committee submissions, State Budget submissions and associated lapsing program evaluations. Sound knowledge and thorough understanding in developing complex briefs, policy and other relevant documentation, and of departmental, Victorian Parliamentary and Cabinet processes.
• Highly Developed Conceptual and Analytical Ability: Deals with concepts and complexity comfortably, including quickly assimilating new concepts and information; Has creative ideas and can project how these can link to innovations; Demonstrated experience in providing strategic advice, direction and information in a complex business environment; Ability to analyse and understand data and information collected from initiatives and apply strategic insights to interpret information, which includes consideration of the broader strategic direction of the organisation.
• Sound Project Management and Delivery Skills: Able to deliver high quality work against agreed timelines; A self‑starter able to design, plan and oversee project delivery in fast-paced environments; Makes rational and sound decisions based on a consideration of the facts and alternatives; Makes tough decisions, sometimes with incomplete information and against deadlines; Able to make quick decisions where required; Transparent in managing workload.

Further Information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Mark Simpson, Group Manager Sector Development via email on 0437 683 222 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. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.

We are accredited as a Disability Confident Recruitment (DCR) organisation and 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 Recruitment Team on 0472875685, or via email at [e-mail] with the position number in the subject line. For additional contact details for our team please review the attached Position Description, located under Job Attachments in the right hand menu.

How to Apply

Please click the ‘Apply Now' button. As part of the application process, you will need to provide a copy of your Resume and respond to the Key Selection Criteria as outlined in the position descriptio

Applications close at 23:59pm on Wednesday, 3 December 2025.