Senior Manager, Programs and Standards

Victorian Government; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Court Services Victoria in Melbourne is seeking a Senior Manager, Programs and Standards to lead a team of three specialists focused on family violence, pre- and post-sentence advisory services, and strategic project delivery.

You will shape policy, standards and continuous improvement across the Courts Group, partnering with judicial officers and frontline staff to deliver sustainable reform in a hybrid work arrangement.

Qualifications

• Experience within the Victorian justice system essential.
• Strong policy, strategy and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to lead teams through change and foster continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of family violence dynamics, MARAM and information sharing frameworks.
• Knowledge of criminogenic risk factors and theories of behaviour change; therapeutic justice principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead program excellence, influence statewide practice, and drive reform across the Victorian court system.
• Manage a small team of specialists and provide expert guidance for service delivery.
• Maintain and enhance policies, procedures and frameworks to meet standards.
• Collaborate with judicial officers, senior leaders and frontline staff to implement improvements.

Skills

Victorian justice system experience

Policy & stakeholder engagement

Change leadership

Family violence & MARAM knowledge

Criminogenic risk & therapeutic-judice

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/MC2598NS

• Key leadership role driving therapeutic justice initiatives in a newly established division.
• Lead statewide program standards and continuous improvement.
• Hybrid work arrangements and the opportunity to help shape the future of court-based programs.

About Us

Court Services Victoria provides corporate services and facilities to support the performance of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative functions of Victoria's courts and tribunal, Judicial College and Judicial Commission.

Collectively, Victoria's Supreme, County, Magistrates', Children's, and Coroners courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria, and Court Services Victoria (CSV) are referred to as the ‘Courts Group'.

Our people enable the Courts Group to deliver on each jurisdiction's own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

About the Role

Lead program excellence, influence state-wide practice, and drive meaningful reform across the Victorian court system.

The Court Services and Quality team ensures the integrity, consistency and effectiveness of court-based programs and services. Working closely with Judicial Officers, Court leaders and frontline staff, the team provides expert advice, strengthens practice standards, and drives continuous improvement across the state.

As the Senior Manager, Programs and Standards, you will lead a team of three specialists, including experts in family violence, pre- and post-sentence advisory services, and strategic project delivery. Together, you will provide expert guidance that supports best-practice service delivery across the organisation.

You will be responsible for maintaining and enhancing the policies, procedures and frameworks that ensure programs and services meet legislative, operational and professional standards. Working closely with judicial officers, senior leaders and frontline staff, you will provide strategic leadership, drive continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities for reform that strengthen service design and delivery.

This role requires a confident and collaborative leader who can influence across all levels of the organisation, navigate complex stakeholder environments, and translate specialist knowledge into practical and sustainable outcomes.

About You

• Experience within the Victorian justice system is essential, with a comprehensive understanding of courts and the broader justice policy and service delivery challenges facing Victoria.
• Strong policy, strategy and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence outcomes in complex environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through change, build capability and foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of family violence dynamics, risk factors, the MARAM and information sharing legislation and frameworks.
• Demonstrate and apply knowledge of criminogenic risk factors and theories of behaviour change, as well as an understanding of therapeutic justice principles and practices, which underpin justice-based interventions and the processes of behaviour change.

Other information

CSV is the employer of staff at Courts Group. CSV has a firm commitment through its Koori Employment Plan to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our workforce.

We value the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity. Those from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of all ages, with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and those who are neurodiverse, are encouraged to apply.

We aim to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

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 email the contact person listed in the advertisement.

As part of our commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, CSV conduct pre-employment checks, including reference checks, police checks and misconduct screening. These checks are handled confidentially, with care and are a standard part of our hiring process to ensure the right fit for both candidates and Court Services Victoria.

Applications close Tuesday 27 October 2026 at 11.59pm