Principal Policy Officer

Work Initiatives; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

DGS is seeking a Principal Policy Officer in Melbourne to lead the development and delivery of high-quality legislative and regulatory reform proposals. You will provide authoritative legal policy advice, draft Cabinet submissions, and guide cross‑departmental teams to ensure timely delivery within budget and quality standards.

You will apply your deep knowledge of statutory frameworks to lead in complex policy areas, develop portfolio expertise, and foster collaboration across staff and

Qualifications

• High-level knowledge of public policy, law and procedure, including consumer, renters or local government issues.
• Proven experience leading complex policy projects in government or legislative settings and drafting legislative instruments.
• Ability to identify key messages, influence decision-makers and tailor content for diverse audiences.
• Ability to foster collaboration across teams and external stakeholders to achieve policy outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality, authoritative advice to senior executives and government on policy issues and priorities.
• Lead projects and direct policy officers in producing policy products (Cabinet submissions, parliamentary docs, briefs, regulations, RIAs/RIS) for varied audiences.
• Apply advanced policy expertise in regulatory environments, with program management, risk mitigation and interdependencies.
• Collaborate to build a positive team culture aligned with VPS values, supporting innovation and diversity.
• Contribute expertise to strategic planning and decision-making processes.
• Initiate and manage internal and external stakeholder consultations to secure commitment and timely delivery.
• Work with Regulatory Policy colleagues and participate in flexible working arrangements.

Skills

Public policy knowledge

Legal/regulatory knowledge

Policy and project leadership

Communication with impact

Collaborative working

Job description

The Principal Policy Officer is accountable for the timely development and implementation of high-quality legislative and regulatory reform proposals, legal policy advice on a range of complex matters, drafting Cabinet submissions, guidance, strategies and other policy documents.

The role will direct major legislation, regulation and statutory review projects, ensuring alignment with the department's objectives, and guaranteeing successful delivery within specified timelines, budgetary constraints, and quality requirements. The role will collaborate closely with other staff, coordinating their activities, and supervising their output to ensure maximum productivity and goal realisation.

Utilising your leadership and adept communication skills, you will deliver appropriate and timely advice in a dynamic environment. By applying sound knowledge of relevant statutory frameworks, your role includes leading in complex policy areas, quickly understanding new subjects and developing a broad range of portfolio expertise. Strong team leadership, interpersonal skills and a commitment to collaboration are essential for success in this role.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide high quality, authoritative and comprehensive advice to departmental senior executives and the government on policy issues and delivery of government priorities.
• Effectively lead a project and direct policy officers to contribute to the preparation of policy products, including Cabinet submissions, Parliamentary documents, reports, briefing and options papers, drafting instructions, regulations, Executive Council documentation, Legislative Impact Assessments and/or Regulatory Impact Statements for a variety of audiences.
• Apply advanced legislation/policy expertise in a regulatory environment to manage policy agenda and program initiatives. Roles include program management, risk mitigation, progress tracking, and coordination of interdependent projects with DGS and with key stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with other staff to build and maintain a positive team culture that promotes the VPS values, is supportive of innovation and respects diversity.
• Contribute advanced expertise and knowledge to strategic planning and decision-making processes.
• Initiate and manage internal and external stakeholder consultations and negotiations to gain commitment to the policy agenda and program initiatives, and delivery of activities to meet timelines.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Regulatory Policy and undertake allocated tasks in line with flexible working model.

About You

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

• Knowledge and proficiency: Highly developed knowledge and experience of public policy, law and procedure, especially regarding consumer affairs, renters and local government issues.
• Policy and Projects: Demonstrated experience leading successful delivery of complex projects in a government, policy, or legislative environment and in drafting legislative products (e.g. regulations and/or legislative instruments)
• 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.
• Working Collaboratively: Build a culture of collaboration across the organisation; looks for and facilitates opportunities to collaborate with external stakeholders; identifies and overcomes barriers to communication with internal and external stakeholders.

This role is an ongoing position. 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. DGS 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 DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.