Senior Policy and Project Officer

Department of Justice and Community Safety; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 116,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Justice and Community Safety in Victoria seeks a Senior Policy and Project Officer to drive separations reform across the adult custodial system. You will support governance, data insights, and stakeholder engagement, reporting to senior leaders and coordinating cross‑team collaboration.

The role is based at 50 Franklin Street, Melbourne, with travel to other prisons as needed. A relevant tertiary qualification and strong project delivery and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification, and/or training related to the delivery of correctional services, would be desirable.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to development and implementation of initiatives to uplift separations across the adult custodial system.
• Preparing reports, briefs, options papers and staff communications to support project delivery.
• Building strong relationships with prison-based staff and other stakeholders to identify and address emerging issues, risks, opportunities and trends.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Project delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Policy understanding

Education

Tertiary qualification in corrections or related field

Job description

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. We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria.

Want to be part of it?

• Contribute to key initiatives to improve separation practices across the adult custodial system.
• Fixed term, full time opportunity until 2 July 2027.
• VPS5 – $116,413 - $140,849 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Senior Policy and Project Officer to help deliver initiatives that improve separations across the adult custodial system, with a focus on strategic communication, project reporting, and stakeholder engagement.

About the Business Unit

Corrections Victoria's purpose is to enhance community safety through the operation of safe and humane community corrections, adult prison and post-sentence systems that supports reducing reoffending by delivering on the fundamentals of good order and control in prisons, a professional and skilled workforce, case management and programs and services that address the root causes of offending behaviour.

About the Role

The Workforce Capability and Cultural Reform team are seeking a Senior Policy and Project Officer to contribute to meaningful reform across Victoria's prison system. Supporting the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, Workforce and Aboriginal Outcomes, the team leads initiatives that strengthen workforce capability and deliver key commitments under Corrections Victoria's Prison Workforce Strategy.

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

As the Senior Policy and Projects Officer, you will play an important role in separation reform across the adult custodial system. You will help improve governance of longer-term separations, strengthen data and insights, and work closely with prisons to support safer outcomes for staff and people in prison. This position will be primarily based at 50 Franklin Street, Melbourne, and will also require travel to and work at other prison locations across Victoria as needed.

Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• contributing to the development and implementation of initiatives to uplift separations across the adult custodial system
• preparing reports, briefs, options papers and staff communications to support project delivery
• building strong relationships with prison-based staff and other stakeholders to identify and address emerging issues, risks, opportunities and trends

About you

• knowledge of key issues and trends affecting correctional services
• strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work through complex operational, policy and legal issues
• proven project delivery skills and the ability to think strategically, manage priorities and respond to emerging issues
• strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively in a complex environment

Qualifications/requirements

• A relevant tertiary qualification, and/or training related to the delivery of correctional services, would be desirable.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and misconduct screening.

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 specific queries, please contact Sarah Mitchell - A/Policy and Projects Manager, Safer Separations at [emailprotected] .

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.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers.