Project Manager

Department-of-Education-1; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education in Melbourne is seeking a Manager for Major Projects Branch. The role focuses on delivering education infrastructure, coordinating consultants and external stakeholders, and applying procurement expertise to capital works programs.

The incumbent will lead a small team, manage project lifecycles, prepare budgets and business cases, and liaise with Ministers and senior officers to ensure delivery and outcomes align with program goals.

Qualifications

• Background across the full development project lifecycle including coordinating and directing consultants, contractors and external stakeholders.
• Specialist procurement expertise in delivery of infrastructure capital works.
• Proven project management skills and knowledge of public sector funding and delivery systems.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate all aspects of execution across the project lifecycle from feasibility through tendering to project close.
• Prepare project feasibility information, including budgets and business cases.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams on planning, design, legal and communications.
• Establish and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders to manage risks and resolve issues.
• Provide clear advice and reports on project planning, delivery status, benefits and outcomes for Ministers, the Secretary and project teams.
• Lead and manage a team of people and develop their skills.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Procurement expertise

Project management

Public sector experience

Leadership

Education

Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DE/VSBA/1953493

The ideal candidate will have a background across the full development project lifecycle, including coordinating and directing consultants, contractors and external stakeholders. Demonstration of specialist procurement expertise in delivery of infrastructure capital works is needed.
Your proven project management skills, knowledge of public sector infrastructure funding and delivery systems and ability to lead a high performing team, together with your tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline, will be highly regarded in securing this opportunity.

About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

About the Victorian School Building Authority

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is part of the Department of Education. Established in 2016, it oversees Victoria's largest school building program since the state introduced free public education in the 1870s.

The VSBA upgrades and expands existing schools and plans, designs and builds new schools to meet enrolment demand. We also support schools to maintain their buildings and grounds by offering expert advice and coordinating maintenance programs and grants.

With Victoria recently introducing two years of funded kindergarten, the VSBA is also working with the early childhood sector on a massive kindergarten construction program.

About the Division

The Major Projects & Property Division is responsible for delivering educational infrastructure projects and programs, including the acquisition and management of land as well as delivery of capital infrastructure projects.
The Major Projects branches are responsible for the management and delivery of major infrastructure projects including new schools, upgrade and modernization initiatives, kinder on school sites and early learning centres. Projects are normally high value and high risk (typically more than $25 million). Complexities range across design, procurement and construction, including vertical schools. Types of projects include ‘stand-alone' schools and ‘bundles of schools' for growth areas. Programs for delivery are time critical, based on enrolments and the school year.

We consider successful project delivery to include strong stakeholder relationship management, effective risk and issues management, quality communications strategy and implementation and excellent customer service to all stakeholders.

About the Role

Reporting to a Director of a Major Projects Branch, the Manager is responsible for delivering education infrastructure. The incumbent may lead a team of up to six staff members.

The key accountabilities for the Manager are to:

• coordinate all aspects of execution across the project lifecycle from feasibility, through to tendering, to project close. Ensuring expectations are understood and agreed, the program is maintained, key milestones are met, and that delivery, performance and financial targets are achieved.
• prepare project feasibility information, including establishing budgets and developing business cases.
• collaborate with internal and external teams and resources on a range of matters, such as planning, design, legal and communications.
• establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders in order to manage risks and resolve issues impacting successful project delivery. This is likely to include managing sensitive negotiations with stakeholders with competing priorities.
• provide clear advice and reports on project planningc, delivery status, benefits and outcomes for a range of stakeholders, including Ministers, the Secretary, senior officers and project teams
• connect insights from analysis and develop into strategies, investment advice and prioritisation processes
• 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 and deliver on projects and outcomes.

All VSBA staff have a shared responsibility to meet the same service stan dards 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 ideal candidate will have a background across the full development project lifecycle, including coordinating and directing consultants, contractors and external stakeholders. Demonstration of specialist procurement expertise in delivery of infrastructure capital works is needed.

Your proven project management skills, knowledge of public sector infrastructure funding and delivery systems and ability to lead a high performing team, together with your tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline, will be highly regarded in securing this opportunity.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• The ideal candidate will have a background across the full development project lifecycle, including coordinating and directing consultants, contractors and external stakeholders.
• Your proven project management skills, knowledge of public sector infrastructure funding and delivery systems and ability to lead a high performing team, together with your tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline (management, architecture, engineering, or project management or other related field) will be highly regarded in securing this opportunity.

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 Dimitar Petreski, Director Major Projects Branch 1 via [e-mail] or Justin Sawyers, Director Major Projects Branch 2 via [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 Friday, 13th November 2026

Applications close Friday 13 November 2026 at 11.59pm