Program Manager

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Victorian School Building Authority, part of the Department of Education, seeks a driven Manager to lead the Asset Programs Unit in Melbourne's CBD. You will supervise a 21-person team and oversee Make-Safe, Asbestos Incident Response, Emergency Maintenance, and related audits.

You will provide strategic commercial and operational advice, manage procurement activities, ensure milestones and financial targets are met, and build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering high quality reporting.
• Encouraging innovation when delivering high profile programs.
• Experience in solving complex problems in time sensitive situations.
• Managing a high performing team.

Responsibilities

• Lead coordination, design and delivery of Make-Safe, Asbestos Incident Response, Emergency Maintenance, Safe Tree and Division 5 Audits.
• Providing strategic commercial and operational advice for the Response Unit.
• Leading all relevant procurements including developing procurement strategies and implementing and maintaining commercial arrangements for the Response Unit.
• Ensure programs are appropriately managed, key milestones are met, and that delivery, performance and financial targets are achieved.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders in order to manage risks and resolve issues impacting successful project delivery.
• Lead development of clear advice and reporting on project planning, project delivery status, benefits and outcomes for a range of stakeholders.
• Collaborating with internal teams on a range of matters, such as planning, commercial discussions, legal and communications.
• Lead and manage a team of people, and develop their skills and knowledge to ensure the team is able to provide credible, authoritative and well-evidenced advice.
• Encourage and foster a supportive team environment with a specific focus on ensuring that there is a Unit-wide culture of strong customer service.

Skills

Leadership

High-profile programs

Problem solving

Team management

Education

Tertiary qualification in related discipline

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DE/VSBA/1944251

Reporting to the Director, Asset Programs Branch, we are looking for a driven and high performing Manager to provide direct leadership and accountability for the Unit and the successful delivery of all programs.

About the Department

The Department of Education (DE) leads the delivery of education and development services to children and students both directly through government schools and indirectly through the regulation and funding of early childhood services and non-government schools.

About the Victorian School Building Authority

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is part of the Department of Education and leads the planning, delivery and maintenance of education facilities across both schools and early learning settings. Established in 2016, it oversees one of Victoria's largest building programs, supporting the full education lifecycle from early childhood to secondary school. In response to Victoria's introduction of Two Years of Funded Kindergarten, the VSBA is working closely with the early childhood sector to deliver a significant pipeline of new and expanded kindergarten facilities, often co-located with schools.

The VSBA delivers four key priorities:

• building and expanding schools and early childhood facilities to meet population growth.
• planning, designing and constructing new facilities and upgrading existing ones to meet enrolment demand
• modernising and maintaining school and early learning facilities through coordinated programs, expert advice and grants
• engaging communities to ensure local input, transparency, and strong partnerships in project delivery

The VSBA brings together expertise in property, construction and project management, architecture, facilities maintenance, and education operations, alongside specialists in relocatable buildings, data and policy, finance, communications, and stakeholder engagement.

About the Division

The Asset Management and Operations Division helps schools maintain and manage their buildings and grounds and ensures they are more energy efficient. The Division trains school leaders as facilities managers and supports them to develop school maintenance plans. They coordinate programs, assessments, and systems to ensure schools are routinely maintained and cleaned.

The Division includes the Maintenance Delivery Branch, Asset Programs Branch and Asset Operations Branch.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director, Asset Programs Branch, we are looking for a driven and high performing Manager to deliver a number of key reactive programs. One of the key functions of the role is to provide direct leadership and accountability for the Unit and the successful delivery of all programs. Currently, the Unit has 21 FTE and delivers the following programs: Make-Safe Program, Asbestos Incident Response Program, Emergency Maintenance Program, Division 5 Audit Program, School Equipment Coverage Scheme, Safe Tree Program, and manages the asbestos database on behalf of the Department.

It is also expected that the Manager will be heavily involved with all procurement activities and ensure compliance with Department processes and policies.

• Lead the coordination, design and delivery of programs related to Make-Safe, Asbestos Incident Response, Emergency Maintenance, Safe Tree and Division 5 Audits
• Providing strategic commercial and operational advice for the Response Unit
• Leading all relevant procurements including developing procurement strategies and implementing and maintaining commercial arrangements for the Response Unit
• Ensure programs are appropriately managed, key milestones are met, and that delivery, performance and financial targets are achieved
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders in order to manage risks and resolve issues impacting successful project delivery
• Lead development of clear advice and reporting on project planning, project delivery status, benefits and outcomes for a range of stakeholders
• Collaborating with internal teams on a range of matters, such as planning, commercial discussions, legal and communications
• Lead and manage a team of people, and develop their skills and knowledge to ensure the team is able to provide credible, authoritative and well-evidenced advice
• Encourage and foster a supportive team environment with a specific focus on ensuring that there is a Unit-wide culture of strong customer service

The role includes a high degree of stakeholder engagement with the VSBA Executive Team, Business Unit Managers, and Divisions across the Department. The successful candidate will be someone who can provide strategic advice and direction to assist in embedding a culture of continuous improvement.

Please note that:

• This position may require participation in shift work as the team operates 7 days per week.
• This position may involve evening or weekend work, including occasional travel.
• Position will involve visiting school sites during operating hours and therefore requires a Working with Children Check.

All VSBA staff have a shared responsibility to meet the same service standards outlined in the VSBA Customer Service Charter. Our goal is to make every interaction with the VSBA a positive one for our customers, colleagues and key partners regardless of our individual role or team.

Attributes

The Manager Response Programs Unit is suited to a senior leader with:

• Experience in delivering high quality reporting,
• Encouraging innovation when delivering high profile programs,
• Experience in solving complex problems in time sensitive situations, and
• Managing a high performing team.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Required: Previous experience in a leadership position
• Highly Desirable: Tertiary qualification in a related discipline
• Highly Desirable: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in Asset Management Infrastructure
• Desirable: Demonstrated knowledge and experience working within schools and/or education environment
• Desirable: Demonstrated knowledge and experience working within a Government environment
• Desirable: Prior experience managing emergency response programs

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 Lee Dobson - Executive Director, Asset Management and Operationsm via [phone] or [e-mail] .

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 11 September 2026.

Applications close Friday 11 September 2026 at 11.59pm