Senior Advisor (VPS6)

Essential Services Commission; City of Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangements

Job summary

The Essential Services Commission in Melbourne seeks a Senior Advisor to support the Energy Division. Reporting to the Executive Director, Energy, you will provide strategic advice, executive support and lead a small team, overseeing divisional planning, governance and risk.

You will coordinate planning, briefings and engagement with government, industry and consumers, and manage stakeholder forums. This ongoing role offers hybrid work at 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne and the chance to contribute

Qualifications

• Experience providing strategic advice to executives.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Proven ability to coordinate governance and risk activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice and high-level support to the Executive Director, Energy.
• Lead the Office of the Executive Director and foster a collaborative culture.
• Coordinate divisional planning and reporting against priorities.
• Oversee governance, risk and compliance processes for the division.
• Lead stakeholder engagement activities, including briefings and industry roundtables.

Skills

Strategic advice

Executive support

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Governance & risk

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Job description

The Essential Services Commission is Victoria's independent economic regulator of essential services supplied by a range of industries. The commission's functions include:

• making regulatory decisions with respect to prescribed industries (including price determinations, licensing, customer protection and access disputes).
• undertaking reviews and providing advice to Ministers on a range of economic and regulatory matters.
• administering the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.

About the role

The Senior Advisor plays a key role in the Office of the Executive Director, supporting the Energy Division to deliver its strategic, operational and regulatory priorities. Reporting to the Executive Director, Energy, the role provides strategic advice and executive support, leads a small team and oversees divisional planning, governance and risk activities.

In this role, you will work closely with the Energy Senior Leadership Team to support the development, delivery and reporting of divisional and annual operational plans, coordinate high-quality briefings and executive engagement, and facilitate communication and collaboration across the division. You will also lead engagement with external stakeholders, including government, industry, consumer and regulatory representatives, and support forums relevant to the economic regulation of Victoria's energy sector.

This role offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative environment, contribute to high-quality regulatory outcomes, and help support fair, reliable and accessible essential services for Victorian consumers.

This is an ongoing position. The work location for this position is 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne with hybrid work arrangements available.

Key accountabilities

• Provide strategic advice and high-level support to the Executive Director, Energy
• Lead the Office of the Executive Director and support a high-performing, collaborative culture
• Coordinate divisional planning, reporting and delivery against operational and strategic priorities
• Oversee governance, risk and compliance processes for the division
• Lead stakeholder engagement activities, including executive briefings, workshops and industry roundtables

Please refer to the attached position description for the principal functions and key selection criteria.

For further information about the role, please contact Nathan Zhivov at [e-mail].

Our commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and flexible workplace

Be part of a highly respected and professional organisation that allows you to apply your knowledge while supporting flexible working arrangements that allow you to balance work and life. You'll be working in a dynamic and collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth.

We are Equal Employment Opportunity employer with inclusive leaders committed to driving a workplace culture that prioritises equity, safety, respect, and flexibility for all staff. We uphold the principles of Aboriginal self-determination in caring for our community.

We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people of any age, gender identity, parental/carer status, ability, religion, or cultural backgrounds.

If you require any adjustments to equitably participate in the recruitment process, or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please contact [e-mail] for support.

Other relevant information

Applicants must have corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period to be appointed to this role. Ongoing positions are only available to Australian/New Zealand citizens or Australian Permanent Residents.

Preferred applicants are required to undergo mandatory pre-employment screening, which includes a national criminal history check, right to work verification, qualification checks, statutory declaration disclosing any previous misconduct investigations and declaration of private interests.

Applications close Thursday 24 September 2026 at 11.59pm.