Senior Contract Officer

Victorian Government; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 116,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

Victorian Government in Melbourne is seeking a Senior Contract Officer to manage the Contracts and Infrastructure portfolio within the Department of Justice and Community Safety. The role focuses on contract oversight, performance monitoring, and commercial advice for major service contracts across statewide operations.

Travel to various sites is required, including regional locations, with overnight stays as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience in contract management of complex service contracts.
• Knowledge of Victorian Government procurement guidelines and/or service delivery contracts.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive reports including commercial and contractual analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract management for Corrections contracts and related services.
• Prepare high-quality reports and briefings for senior stakeholders on commercial, contractual matters.
• Provide authoritative advice to stakeholders based on analysis of risks, opportunities and trends.

Skills

Contract management

Procurement knowledge

Commercial advice

Stakeholder communication

Education

Contract administration background

Procurement background

Correctional experience desirable

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/CV1022-OCT26

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place. We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you. The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon. If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad. For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• Oversee performance and compliance monitoring of contracts.
• Ongoing Full time opportunity.
• VPS 5 - $116,413 - $140,849 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Senior Contract Officer to provide a critical role within Contracts and Infrastructure.

About the Business Unit

The Contracts and Infrastructure Branch are responsible for contract management, commercial oversight and advisory services, as well as the effective management and maintenance of all Corrections and Justice Services' prison and related infrastructure. This includes:

• The management and oversight of major contracts including those for private prisons.
• Representing the Corrections and Justice Services' interests on infrastructure and construction projects to ensure the best possible outcome for stakeholders and commercial partners.
• The development and implementation of all required systems, processes and policies to sustain this diverse asset portfolio.

About the Role

The Senior Contract Officer will be responsible for the management of Corrections contracts, including the Justice Transport Services contract that provides secure statewide transport services for persons in custody across police cells, courts, prisons, youth justice precincts, and hospitals.

This role will implement contract initiatives including commercial negotiations, identifying variations, procurement activities and working with relevant stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of services. The Senior Contract Officer will undertake ongoing contract management activities including compliance reviews, performance analysis, individual projects and ongoing monitoring of the contracts to ensure services are delivered to the defined standards.

The role will involve regular travel to prison locations and other sites where contracted services are being delivered and will require overnight travel to a regional site.

Some of your duties will include:

• Provide leadership in the management of CV's contract obligations for the effective operation of the contract management framework by actively planning and contributing to contract service negotiations, compliance and performance reviews and procurement activities.
• Prepare high-quality technical and analytical reports, briefings and correspondence for senior stakeholders on commercial, contractual, operational matters that may involve integrating complex information from a variety of sources in a time-pressured environment.
• Lead the provision of authoritative advice to stakeholders based on identification, analysis and resolution of emerging issues, risks, opportunities and trends influencing CV's contracts.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Demonstrated experience in contract management of complex service contracts and proven ability to provide expert commercial advice for major contracts
• Experience in procurement and knowledge of Victorian Government procurement guidelines and or service delivery contracts
• Understanding of the management of complex service contracts and an ability to prepare comprehensive reports including commercial and contractual analysis.

Qualifications/requirements

• There are no mandatory qualifications for this role, however qualifications in contract administration, procurement and/or Correctional experience would be desirable.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.

Applications close Sunday 8 November 2026 at 11.59pm