Senior Investigator

Department of Government Services VIC; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Government Services VIC in Melbourne is seeking a Senior Investigator (VPS 4) to lead investigations into significant breaches of consumer law and contribute to enforcement actions across the branch. You will mentor junior staff and provide expert guidance to ensure high-quality evidence and reports.

Applicants should have at least 2 years of investigative experience and hold a Certificate IV in Government Investigations or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years previous investigative experience or enforcement experience, particularly in relation to preparing briefs of evidence, is essential
• Certificate IV (Government Investigations) or equivalent is essential

Responsibilities

• Plan and conduct a range of enquiries, investigations and compliance monitoring activities pursuant to the legislation administered by this office, including the preparation of reports and briefs of evidence.
• Conveys specialist concepts, provide information to traders, community groups, consumers, employees of CAV and other parties as to the rights and obligations under the legislation administered by the office, including answering general enquiries from the public and constructively encouraging compliance.
• Identify issues and make policy, legislative and enforcement recommendations, emerging from inquiries and investigations, as required.
• Prepare specialised correspondence on a range of (potentially) complex issues, including replies to Ministerial and Director's correspondence.
• Liaise with other branches of CAV, government departments, community groups and private organisations to facilitate information exchange.
• Participate in and lead aspects of CAV's compliance and enforcement programs and contribute to enabling initiatives to educate business and promote better practices in the context of compliance with the law and an ongoing self-regulatory approach.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and development of Branch or divisional activities and their implementation.
• Mentor and support more junior staff and peers in how to plan and conduct investigations and compliance monitoring activities, applying best practice.

Skills

Investigative experience

Briefs of evidence

Stakeholder liaison

Education

Certificate IV (Government Investigations)

Job description

Department of Government Services VIC – Melbourne VIC

The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government. We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses. We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.

You can find out more about our Ministers, leadership and entities here: Department of Government Services.

Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is Victoria's consumer regulator. Our vision is a fair and competitive marketplace in Victoria. We:

• provide information to business, consumers, landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities
• register and license organisations and occupations
• ensure compliance with consumer laws, and
• review and advise government about Victoria's consumer protection framework.

The outcomes we are working to achieve for the Victorian community are:

• businesses that comply with consumer laws,
• Victorians who exercise their consumer rights,
• a fair and safe rental market for Victorians.

About the Roles

There are 4 ongoing positions available. Reporting to the Team Manager, the role of a Senior Investigator (VPS 4) is responsible for conducting investigations into significant breaches of consumer law and to contribute to compliance and enforcement actions, including Court and Tribunal actions using the department's integrated compliance and enforcement approach. The role also includes providing guidance and expertise to less experienced colleagues.

Key Accountabilities

• Plan and conduct a range of enquiries, investigations and compliance monitoring activities pursuant to the legislation administered by this office, including the preparation of reports and briefs of evidence. Obtain comprehensive written statements and affidavits for use in legal proceedings.
• Conveys specialist concepts, provide information to traders, community groups, consumers, employees of CAV and other parties as to the rights and obligations under the legislation administered by the office, including answering general enquiries from the public and constructively encouraging compliance.
• Within an integrated compliance framework, identify issues and make policy, legislative and enforcement recommendations, emerging from inquiries and investigations, as required.
• Prepare specialised correspondence on a range of (potentially) complex issues, including replies to Ministerial and Director's correspondence.
• Liaise with other branches of CAV, government departments, community groups and private organisations to facilitate information exchange.
• Participate in and lead aspects of CAV's compliance and enforcement programs and contribute to enabling initiatives to educate business and promote better practices in the context of compliance with the law and an ongoing self-regulatory approach.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and development of Branch or divisional activities and their implementation.
• Mentor and support more junior staff and peers in how to plan and conduct investigations and compliance monitoring activities, applying best practice.

About You

We are seeking applicants who have demonstrated experience from the following criteria:

• Minimum 2 years previous investigative experience or enforcement experience, particularly in relation to preparing briefs of evidence, is essential
• Certificate IV (Government Investigations) or equivalent is essential

These 4 roles are ongoing positions. These positions are only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

For more information, please see the Position Description

Other relevant information

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing role is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. Preferred applicants will be required to undertake pre-employment screening. DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.