Senior Project & Procurement Officer

Department of Education Victoria; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education Victoria seeks a Senior Project and Procurement Officer within the Assessment Division in Melbourne. The role leads external assessment development, with a focus on VCE Languages and Music examinations, while supervising procurement and contract management for branch activities.

You will manage high-value contracts, coordinate timelines, and ensure quality standards are met, including panel member guidance and assessor training.

Qualifications

• Experience in project management and procurement, and a tertiary qualification in Education or a relevant field.
• Desirable: expertise in assessment, preferably in Languages.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of external assessments, including VCE Languages examinations.
• Plan and manage high-value procurement activities in line with policies.
• Manage complex contracts with multiple suppliers and ensure delivery of outcomes.
• Provide leadership to examination panels and training for lead assessors and assessors.
• Maintain rigorous quality assurance and documentation across assessment cycles.

Skills

Project management

Procurement

Contract management

Leadership

Education

Tertiary qualification in Education or relevant field

Tools

Project management software

Records/databases

Job description

Department of Education Victoria – Melbourne VIC

The VCAA is a statutory body responsible to the Victorian Minister for Education, serving both government and non-government schools. In this context, the VCAA is responsible for developing high-quality curriculum and assessment products and services.

The VCAA is a registered foundational and senior secondary awarding body with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). As part of its functions, the VCAA develops policies, criteria and standards for:

• curriculum, assessments and courses for school-aged students
• learning, development and assessments which relate to early childhood

The VCAA develops strong relationships with the government, Independent and Catholic school sector, other national and interstate curriculum authorities, academics in the field, teacher/subject associations and, most importantly, with Victorian educators.

All VCAA employees are expected to perform their duties in accordance with relevant legislation, governance requirements, policies and procedures, safety obligations, the Code of Conduct for Victorian public sector employees, and the Victorian Public Sector Values.

All roles are expected to work collaboratively across teams and functions, build productive relationships, and contribute to shared organisational outcomes.

About the Division

Assessment Division is responsible for the end-to-end development, delivery, and reporting of F-10, VCE examinations, GAT and NAPLAN tests. This includes the full assessment lifecycle: development of frameworks and blueprints, panel appointments, content development, editorial and design services, logistics, administration, marking, data processing, and reporting of outcomes.

The division also manages:

• VCE and VPC student records and enrolment data
• issuing of VCE and VPC certificates
• digital assessment platforms, including the Insight platform and Digital Assessment Library.

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager, Languages Assessment, the Senior Project and Procurement Officer plays a dual role. In addition to leading the development of a portfolio of external assessments, including VCE Languages examinations, they provide leadership in procurement and contract management related to branch activities, with a particular focus on the maintenance of audio and visual recordings for external assessments (including VCE Languages and Music examinations). The Senior Project and Procurement Officer will:

• Operate effectively as part of branch and divisional teams to embed consistent effective and efficient operations and build a culture of collaboration and delivery
• Plan and lead complex, high-value procurement activities in line with relevant procurement and financial policies and procedures
• Manage complex, high-value contracts with multiple suppliers, ensuring suppliers meet contractual obligations, performance standards and deliver agreed outcomes.
• Lead and project manage the end-to-end development of a portfolio of high-quality, valid and reliable external assessments within agreed timelines and budget, with a focus on Languages
• Provide leadership, guidance and capability development to examination panel members, including supporting the Panel Chair to manage roles and responsibilities, develop and implement project timelines to meet key milestone dates, and meet quality standards
• Lead the consistent implementation of quality assurance processes and procedures, applying professional judgement and expertise to proactively identify, document, and respond to quality concerns
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date physical and digital records of assessment materials, including within and across assessment cycles
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project records, including through project management software, registers, and databases, and deliver timely and accurate project reporting
• Scan the project horizon for emerging risks and issues, and manages these in line with established processes, procedures and policies, escalating as required
• Lead the selection, appointment, and performance management of examination development panels, and the selection, appointment and training of lead assessors and assessors
• Contribute to the operationalisation of assessment, including but not limited to: overseeing the development of the assessment guide, responding to assessment day queries, entering MCQ logs, supporting Script Selection and the delivery of Assessor Training Meetings, responding to assessor content queries during the assessment period, and overseeing finalisation of the external assessment report
• Drive continuous improvement through a commitment to maintaining a solutions-focused mindset, engaging in individual and collective reflective practices, and implementation of best-practice approaches.
• Prepare high-quality briefs, reports, correspondence, and other documentation on complex matters for senior leaders and governance forums.
• Work effectively under pressure, manage competing priorities and adapt to changing business needs while maintaining the quality and timeliness of outputs.
• This role will require work outside standard business hours during peak operational periods to meet business requirements.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Essential: Demonstrated experience in project management and procurement, and a tertiary qualification in Education or a relevant field.
• Desirable: Expertise in assessment, preferably in Languages.

This role will require work outside standard business hours, and onsite work, during peak operational periods to meet business requirements.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Kate Brady, Director, Assessment Development via email: **********@education.vic.gov.au

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 30-Oct-2026

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