Senior Project Officer, Scv Improvement

Victorian Department of Health; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

Victorian Department of Health seeks a Senior Project Officer to drive improvement projects within the Improvement Branch, focusing on safer, more person-centred care across Victoria's mental health services. You will apply improvement science, teach the model for improvement, and monitor progress against program objectives to deliver high-impact outcomes.

The role requires end-to-end project ownership, strong stakeholder influence, and excellent written communication for briefs and reports.

Qualifications

• End to end ownership for the full life cycle of projects and delivery of improvement initiatives by applying strong project management discipline.
• Prepare complex briefs, letters, emails and reports using clear, concise language.
• Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills to gain agreement to proposals.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects to deliver better care and outcomes through improvement science.
• Embed the model for improvement across Victoria's mental health services.
• Develop relationships with internal/external stakeholders and monitor progress against plans.

Skills

End to end project ownership

Stakeholder influence/negotiation

Written briefs/reports (complex)

Education

Health admin/related field degree

Certified project management (highly regarded)

Certified improvement qualifications (highly regarded)

Job description

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 enabling Victorians 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. 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]. Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and other pre-employment checks.