Senior Project Officer, SCV Improvement

Victorian Government; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Career development opportunities

Inclusive workplace and diversity

Job summary

The Victorian Department of Health is seeking a Senior Project Officer to drive improvement initiatives within the Improvement Branch. You will apply improvement science to deliver safer, more person-centred care and support the Zero Suicide Framework across Victoria’s mental health services.

You will build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, oversee end-to-end project delivery, and monitor progress against objectives using a continuous improvement approach.

Qualifications

• Degree or formal qualification in health administration or related field.
• Professional project management certification is preferred.
• Quality improvement qualifications are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead improvement projects applying the model for improvement to enhance safety and outcomes.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders across departments and services.
• Monitor progress and report against program objectives using continuous improvement methods.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Negotiation

Education

Tertiary qualification related to health administration

Certified project management qualifications

Certified improvement qualifications

Job description

Location

Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference

VG/1954021

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 Project Officer works as a member of the Improvement Branch and has responsibility for delivering projects that are designed to achieve better care and outcomes for Victorians. The Senior Project Officer will focus on the application of improvement science, including teaching and embedding the model for improvement, to deliver on the key strategic priorities of the Improvement Branch aimed at improving the safety and quality of healthcare in Victoria.

The Mental Health Improvement Program is a key initiative within the Improvement Branch, focused on driving safer, more person-centred care across Victoria's mental health and wellbeing services. The Senior Project Officer focuses on reform work aimed at reducing the use of compulsory treatment and supporting services to adopt the Zero Suicide Framework. The work aims to strengthen recovery-oriented practice, promote supported decision-making, and improve suicide prevention strategies across the system.

The Senior Project Officer will develop effective relationships across a range of internal and external stakeholders, including across all Branches within Safer Care Victoria, strategically aligned policy and program areas of the Department of Health and Victorian health services. The Senior Project Officer will work collaboratively to support the monitoring and reporting of progress against program objectives and plans, embedding a continuous improvement approach to delivery

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

• Draw on lived experience knowledge and resources, legislation and government frameworks, best practice models of care, research, and service policies and guidelines, to inform and shape improvement work with partnering services that hold consumers and their carers, families, and supporters at the centre.
• End to end ownership for the full life cycle of projects and delivery of improvement initiatives by applying strong project management discipline to ensure delivery against scope, timelines budget and outcome objectives.
• Prepare complex briefs, letters, emails and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct language and ensures that appropriate style and formats are used.
• Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to use direct and indirect influencing strategies to gain agreement to proposals and ideas and explores alternatives to gain agreement without foregoing key objectives.

Qualification(s)

• A tertiary qualification in fields related to health administration, medicine, nursing, midwifery, paramedic, pharmacist or allied health is desirable.
• Certified project management qualifications highly regarded.
• Certified improvement qualifications highly regarded.

Specialist expertise

• Previous project management experience is essential (experience in a healthcare setting highly desirable).
• A strong understanding of the Victorian mental health system, and knowledge of the department and its operating processes and information systems is essential.
• Demonstrated knowledge of quality improvement and associated methodologies is 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 [e-mail] . For more information on our commitment to inclusion and diversity see inclusion and diversity at the Department of Health .

Applications close Monday 9 November 2026 at 11.59pm