Strategic Advisor

State Government of Victoria, Australia; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Education Victoria is seeking a Strategic Advisor to provide high-level coordination and strategic advice to the Secretary within a fast-paced environment. You will coordinate briefings, cabinet submissions and ministerial papers, while supporting secretariat functions for meetings with ministers.

You will draft speeches and advice on strategic issues, build influential relationships across the department, and ensure policies are developed and implemented with discretion and

Qualifications

• A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Excellent relationship management skills across senior stakeholders.
• Discretion to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Strategically coordinate, review and quality assure briefings, correspondence and Cabinet submissions for the Secretary and ministers.
• Perform the secretariat for minister meetings, including preparing the agenda and papers, and recording minutes and action items.
• Coordinate Cabinet processes within the Office, ensuring whole-of-government issues are addressed as necessary.
• Draft speeches, presentations and advice for the Secretary on strategic issues.
• Establishing and maintaining relationships at all levels across the department.
• Establish and maintain relationships across the department at all levels.

Skills

Strategic advice

Briefing coordination

Cabinet submissions

Minutes & meetings

Speech drafting

Relationship management

Education

Tertiary qualification

Job description

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DE/OOS/1948204

Join a small, high performing team providing strategic advice to the Secretary. As the Strategic Advisor you will works in a busy, fast-paced, dynamic environment, demonstrating the highest level of integrity and sound judgement. This is a fixed-term opportunity for up to 15 months, to cover parental leave. Interviews will be held immediately post-closing of advertising with commencement preferable from mid to late October.

About the Division

The Office of the Secretary is a small team that provides strategic support and coordination for the Secretary, and manages the department's Executive Board, ministerial meetings and other stakeholder and governance processes.

About the Role

Reporting to the Executive Director, Office of the Secretary, the Strategic Advisor provides high-level coordination and strategic advice and support to the Secretary, including by:

• Strategically coordinating, reviewing and quality assuring briefings, correspondence and Cabinet submissions for the Secretary and our ministers, ensuring joined-up public policy advice and a systems perspective, to drive departmental strategic objectives
• Performing the secretariat for regular meetings with ministers, including preparing the agenda and papers, and recording minutes and action items
• Coordinating Cabinet processes within the Office, including reviewing Cabinet briefings to ministers and the Secretary to ensure whole-of-government and whole-of-department issues are addressed as necessary
• Ensuring that appropriate departmental processes and policies are developed, communicated and faithfully implemented
• Drafting speeches, presentations and advice for the Secretary on strategic issues and key events
• Establishing and maintaining relationships at all levels across the department.

This is a fixed-term opportunity for up to 15 months, to cover parental leave.

Attributes

The role requires an understanding of the policy issues across the department and government, strong analytical ability, and excellent relationship management skills in order to negotiate with senior staff and external stakeholders on behalf of the Secretary. Delivering this high-level support requires attention to detail, excellent organisational awareness, astute problem-solving skills, strong written communication skills, and the discretion to maintain confidentiality.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

A tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline is required for this position.

Rebecca Haig, Executive Director, Office of the Secretary via 0438 313 418 or [e-mail]

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

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.

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

Applications close Sunday 4 October 2026 at 11.59pm