Senior Advisor, Policy and Advisory Unit

Department of Education; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education in Melbourne seeks a PAU Senior Advisor to support government schools with policy and regulatory obligations, reducing workload for school leaders by delivering accurate guidance and templates.

You will maintain PAL content, advise on school policies, and provide expert support through the Principal Advisory Service, contributing to school safety and compliance across districts.

Qualifications

• Experience in policy advisory within education is preferred.
• Ability to develop clear policy options and recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and cross‑functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and continuously improve the Policy and Advisory Library (PAL) with a focus on clarity and usefulness for policy owning divisions.
• Maintain and improve School Policy Templates Portal policies and documentation.
• Provide expert advice for schools on local policies and compliance with laws and VRQA guidelines.
• Provide triage support for schools through the Principal Advisory Service.
• Undertake other duties as directed by the division.

Skills

Policy design

Customer service

Stakeholder engagement

Judgment

Capability development

Public sector knowledge

Education

Tertiary qualification

Tools

PAL system

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DE/PES/1956492

PAU Senior Advisors make a significant contribution to school education in Victoria through supporting government schools to understand and meet their policy and regulatory obligations, helping to reduce workload and administrative burden for school leaders by providing them with the information they need to do their jobs effectively.

About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services. The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

OPSEC division operates at the intersection of stewardship, assurance, and advisory in school child safety response and school operations:

• Community Engagement and Response in institutional sexual harm

OPSEC leads coordinated responses to institutional sexual abuse matters—both historical and current—working closely with schools and community stakeholders.

• Assurance and Compliance

By providing oversight of compliance with minimum standards for school registration requirements and child safe standards, OPSEC ensures consistent and accountable practice across all government schools through support and assurance.

• Expert Advisory and Operational Support

OPSEC is the primary steward of the department's Policy and Advisory Library, providing the Principal Advisory Service, and being a source of expert advice for the department on its operational policies for government schools and on the volume and timing of Department engagement with schools.

About the Role

PAU Senior Advisors make a significant contribution to school education in Victoria through supporting government schools to understand and meet their policy and regulatory obligations, helping to reduce workload and administrative burden for school leaders by providing them with the information they need to do their jobs effectively.

The role is responsible for supporting the Policy and Advisory Unit in the following areas:

• the maintenance and continuous improvement of the department's Policy and Advisory Library (PAL), with a primary focus on supporting policy owning divisions to ensure PAL content is clear, helpful and accurate, and reducing workload for school leaders where possible
• the maintenance and continuous improvement of the advice and template school policies on the School Policy Templates Portal
• providing expert advice and support for schools with their local policies and other documentation required for compliance with relevant laws, VRQA guidelines and department policies
• providing expert advice and triaging support for schools through the Principal Advisory Service
• other duties, including priority projects in the Policy Advisory and School Engagement branch, as directed.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the Senior Advisor will:

• support relevant corporate staff with best practice policy development
• represent the division in engagements with key stakeholders
• provide authoritative advice on operational policy for government schools
• prepare Executive and Ministerial correspondence, briefings, reports and papers relating to the work of the team
• support record keeping, information sharing and system improvement across the team and division
• deliver training and presentations to school staff on department and school-based policy requirements as required.

As a member of the Policy and Advisory Unit and the OPSEC Division more broadly, the Senior Advisor is part of a dynamic, respectful and collaborative team with a culture of high integrity, responsiveness, service delivery and accountability. The role reports to the co-managers, Policy and Advisory Unit.

Attributes

• Strong skills in policy design and development (or other transferrable fields) - you know how to frame a problem, develop options and write a clear recommendation
• Strong customer service skills, with a problem solving and solutions focus
• The ability to work across the department, build relationships and bring stakeholders on the journey
• Sound judgment in navigating political and organisational context
• A genuine commitment to developing others and building capability
• An understanding of (or strong interest in) the Victorian government school sector

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Desirable: tertiary qualification in a relevant field

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 Isobel McLennan – Manager, Policy and Advisory 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 Friday 20 November 2026 at 11.59pm