Project Management - Practice Manager

Police; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Victoria Police seeks a seasoned Project Management – Practice Manager (VPS6) to lead the Enterprise PMO, shaping project delivery maturity across the organisation. You will establish frameworks, govern standards, and provide independent assurance while partnering with executives to prioritise investments and ensure delivery outcomes.

Lead health checks, governance reviews and large-scale planning across diverse programmes, building a high-performing community of practice and guiding future

Qualifications

• Experience establishing enterprise-wide project management frameworks, governance, and delivery methodologies in large organisations.
• Significant PMO leadership experience improving delivery capability and maturity.
• Leading project assurance activities with practical recommendations to improve outcomes.
• Experience in portfolio prioritisation, investment planning or strategic decision-making frameworks.
• Vendor management, procurement and contract management experience.
• Identifying, assessing and reporting risks to executives and governance forums.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and strategic advisory skills.
• Mentoring project managers and participating in interview panels for appointments.
• Financial acumen to assess business cases and funding proposals; advise on benefits realisation.
• Leading large-scale planning sessions and cross-functional workshops.
• Commitment to professional standards with PMI/PRINCE2/SAFe certifications and ongoing development.

Responsibilities

• Establish, govern and continuously improve enterprise-wide project management frameworks, standards, methodologies, tools and templates.
• Lead development and maturity of the project management practice across projects and programs.
• Monitor project and program performance and identify delivery, governance and capability risks.
• Provide enterprise-wide insights on portfolio health, interdependencies, sequencing impacts and constraints.
• Provide independent assessment and reporting on projects and programs at risk with recommendations to governance bodies.
• Partner with executives to develop and refine project and program prioritisation frameworks for investment decisions.
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders to influence adoption of standards and governance requirements.
• Lead project assurance activities including health checks, quality reviews and stage gate assessments.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives to enhance delivery capability and organisational maturity.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to emerging project managers and contribute to interview panels for appointments.

Skills

Enterprise-wide PM frameworks

Stakeholder engagement

PMO leadership

Independent reporting

Education

PMO qualification or related degree

Tools

Governance tools & templates

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/20046902A

About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity to join the newly established Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) within Victoria Police and play a key leadership role in shaping and maturing project delivery capability across the organisation.

The EPMO provides enterprise-wide leadership, governance, assurance, and delivery oversight to support the successful execution of Victoria Police's strategic investment portfolio. As part of the establishment of several strategic practice management functions, the Project Management – Practice Manager (VPS6) will be responsible for building, governing, and continuously improving the organisation's project management practice.

The role leads frameworks, standards and assurance activities, providing oversight of project performance, risks and interdependencies, and working closely with senior leaders, practice managers and project teams to support alignment to organisational priorities and delivery outcomes. It provides enterprise-wide leadership and assurance while maintaining an independent perspective on project performance, quality, governance, and delivery maturity.

Victoria Police encourage applications from people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ communities, recognising that diverse perspectives strengthen outcomes for the community.

Your duties will include:

• Establish, govern and continuously improve enterprise-wide project management frameworks, standards, methodologies, tools and templates.
• Lead the development and maturity of the project management practice, ensuring consistent application of delivery approaches across projects and programs.
• Monitor project and program performance and identify delivery, governance and capability risks that may impact strategic outcomes.
• Provide enterprise-wide insights regarding portfolio health, delivery capacity, interdependencies, sequencing impacts and organisational constraints.
• Provide independent assessment and reporting on projects and programs at risk, escalating emerging issues and recommendations to enterprise governance bodies.
• Partner with executive and enterprise leaders to develop, implement and continuously refine project and program prioritisation frameworks that support strategic decision‑making and investment planning.
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders, project managers and delivery teams to influence adoption of project management standards and reporting and governance requirements.
• Lead project assurance activities, including health checks, quality reviews and stage gate assessments, to strengthen delivery confidence and outcomes.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance project delivery capability, consistency and organisational maturity.
• Provide leadership, coaching and guidance to emerging and developing project managers across the organisation, and lead the establishment and development of a high‑performing project management community of practice.
• Participate as a project management subject‑matter expert on interview and selection panels for the engagement and appointment of future project managers.

About You:

The successful candidate will ideally have the following skills and experience:

• Demonstrated experience establishing, implementing and embedding enterprise-wide project management frameworks, standards, governance practices and delivery methodologies within large and complex organisations.
• Significant experience in project, program, portfolio or PMO leadership roles, with a proven ability to improve organisational project delivery capability and maturity.
• Demonstrated experience leading project and program assurance activities, including health checks, gateway reviews, governance assessments and independent reviews, and providing practical recommendations to improve delivery outcomes.
• Experience developing, implementing or advising on portfolio prioritisation, investment planning or strategic decision‑making frameworks to support organisational objectives and optimise organisational investment outcomes.
• Proven experience contributing to critical project delivery functions, including vendor management, procurement and sourcing activities, and contract management.
• Demonstrated experience identifying, assessing and reporting project and program risks, issues and performance concerns to senior executives and governance forums, including providing independent recommendations to support informed decision‑making.
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and provide strategic advice to executives, sponsors, governance bodies and delivery leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to provide advice, guidance and mentoring to emerging and developing project managers across the organisation, and to contribute project management expertise as a member of interview and selection panels for future project management appointments.
• Demonstrated financial acumen, including the ability to critically assess business cases, investment proposals, funding submissions and benefits realisation plans, and provide independent, evidence‑based strategic recommendations.
• Proven ability to lead and facilitate large‑scale planning activities, including "big room" planning sessions, project and portfolio planning workshops, and risk identification and mitigation activities involving diverse stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional standards and lifelong learning, with relevant project, program, portfolio or agile certifications (e.g. PMI, PRINCE2®, Scaled Agile or equivalent) complemented by ongoing professional development and a proven dedication to continuous improvement and capability growth.

Further Information:

• This position is located at Victoria Police Centre, 311 Spencer Street, Docklands.
• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa.
• The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre‑employment checks which may include fingerprint checks and misconduct screening.
• We expect our people to foster a safe and inclusive environment where their behaviour and attitude reflects, builds upon and promotes a positive and collaborative workplace that respects the culture and values of Victoria Police.

Your application must include:

• Resume
• Completed application form – the word document (2. Application form) for you to complete and attach to your submission, is attached to the job advertisement.

Please Note: All applications will need to be submitted through one of the following platforms: Victorian Government careers website (Careers.vic). Appl ications will not be accepted via other platforms or email.

We welcome applications from people with disability and aim to support an inclusive recruitment experience. If you require a copy of this advertisement and attached documentation in an accessible format or would like to discuss an access requirement/reasonable adjustment for the recruitment process (including an alternate method of submission of the application), please contact VPS Recruitment via email [e-mail] or on [phone].

About Us:

Victoria Police has a dedicated workforce of more than 22,000 employees consisting of police, protective services officers, police custody officers, and public service staff. Each employee plays a vital role in providing the 24/7, 365 days a year emergency response and public safety capability the organisation delivers to its community. As a Victoria Police employee, you have a dedication and commitment to community safety.

Victoria Police is committed to creating a workplace that is safe and inclusive of all our people. We empower and expect our people, at all levels, to develop interpersonal connections and collaborate, use sound judgement, and create and innovate.

In alignment with the principle of self-determination, Victoria Police is dedicated to enhancing our collaboration with the Aboriginal community in Victoria as we build a culturally safe and inclusive workplace for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees. We continue to engage and build relationships with local Aboriginal communities and work closely with them to enhance opportunities and services aimed at empowerment, equality, and equal participation across all areas of the organisation.

We value the diversity and differences of our employees, including their age, gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation, abilities, and life experience. We celebrate these diverse experiences and perspectives as each person brings an informed and contemporary approach to our work which enhances the wellbeing of all. We aim to provide a safe place that is reflective of the community it serves, allowing everyone to bring their whole selves to work.”

Applications close Sunday 25 October 2026 at 11.59pm