Senior Program Officer, Performance and Commissioning

Victorian Government; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Growth and development opportunities

Job summary

The Senior Program Officer at the Victorian Department of Health will support oversight, improvement and commissioning of statewide and specialist mental health services, working to ensure timely, safe and high-quality treatment for Victorians.

You will engage with internal and external stakeholders, manage performance reporting and drive continuous improvement in a fast-paced policy environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in health, public policy or related field.
• Experience analysing health service data and/or financial performance.
• Understanding of Victorian mental health funding, commissioning and performance frameworks is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support oversight, improvement and commissioning of statewide and specialist mental health services.
• Lead responses to new and emerging issues relating to service delivery, performance, governance and system sustainability.
• Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to improve outcomes.

Skills

Experience in health service delivery

Health data analysis

Financial performance analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

Tertiary qualification in health/health sciences/public policy/business

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/1952067

The Department of Health plays a critical role in the Victorian health system and is responsible for shaping it to meet the health needs of all Victorians. We’re focused on
supporting Victorians to be as healthy as they can; whether through alerting them to seasonal risks like thunderstorm asthma, notifying them of contact with
communicable diseases, safeguarding their drinking water, developing the best health, wellbeing and care facilities in the world, being at the forefront of mental health and
wellbeing treatment or accelerating medical research. It’s all part of the way we partner with the community to help every individual lead a healthy life.

About the role:

The Senior Program Officer works within a team reporting to the Manager, Specialist Mental Health Services, and is responsible for supporting oversight, improvement and commissioning of statewide and specialist mental health services, including Forensicare and Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. The role leads responses to new and emerging issues and risks relating to service delivery, performance, governance, access and system sustainability.

Operating within a dynamic policy and service delivery environment, the role has a strong focus on improving service performance to ensure Victorians can access timely, safe and high-quality specialist mental health treatment.

The role involves developing and maintaining effective relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including health services and departmental partners. It is well suited to someone who enjoys working in a collaborative and fast-paced environment that requires systems thinking, sound judgement, strong communication skills and a commitment to improving outcomes for people experiencing mental illness.

Highly developed analytical and conceptual capability, including experience in performance reporting, data interpretation, financial analysis and stakeholder management, together with the ability to manage competing priorities and tight timeframes, are critical to success in the role.

About us:

At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected.

We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all.

About you:

Qualifications / Specialist Expertise:

• A tertiary qualification in fields related to health, health sciences, public policy and/or business is required.
• Demonstrated experience in health service delivery, health service operations, or system performance roles.
• Demonstrated experience in analysing health service data and/or financial performance.
• Understanding of Victorian mental health funding, commissioning and performance frameworks is highly desirable.

What we offer:

• The opportunity to perform meaningful work, making direct contributions toward enablingVictorians to be the healthiest people in the world.
• A wide range of growth and development opportunities within the department and wider Victorian Public Service.
• A strong commitment to work-life balance, including a diverse array of flexible working arrangements.

We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated to provide responsive and quality services to all Victorians. We continue to build an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity of backgrounds and differences to realise the potential of our employees for innovation and delivering services aimed at enhancing the lives of all Victorians. All roles can be worked flexibly and we encourage applications from Aboriginal people, people with disability, LGBTIQ+ and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Please contact us if you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process at 160; [e-mail] . For more information on our commitment to inclusion and diversity see inclusion and diversity at the Department of Health .

If you have any queries in relation to participation in recruitment processes at Health, or experience any issues in applying, please feel free to email [e-mail] . Please note that unsolicited applications from third parties cannot be accepted. If you have questions regarding the role, please message the contact person listed on the advertisement directly.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and other pre-employment checks. Information provided will be treated in line with our Privacy Policy .

Applications close Wednesday 28 October 2026 at 11.59pm