Strategic Agriculture Research Portfolio Manager

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action VIC; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action VIC – Melbourne VIC is seeking a Portfolio Manager to support the delivery of the Agriculture Science & Technology portfolio within established governance. The role reports to the Senior Contracts and Portfolio Manager and involves liaison with AST leaders and external stakeholders to advance project development and milestones.

The position requires contract/portfolio management experience, strong analytical and communication skills, and the

Qualifications

• Experience in project and/or contract management within research/innovation environments.
• Experience managing internal and external stakeholder relationships, including negotiations.
• Strong analytical, planning and organisational skills; ability to review and improve policies.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise workloads and meet deadlines.
• Clear written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of the AST portfolio within governance frameworks.
• Liaise with AST senior managers, project leaders and external stakeholders.
• Assist with project development, contracting and milestone delivery.
• Monitor and report portfolio performance to AST and stakeholders.
• Work as part of a team with flexible working arrangements.

Skills

Project management

Contract management

Stakeholder relations

Policy analysis

Communication

Independent work

Education

Relevant tertiary degree or postgraduate in agriculture/biological sciences

Job description

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action VIC – Melbourne VIC

Working collaboratively with the Agriculture Science & Technology (AST) Portfolio Management Team and reporting to the Senior Contracts and Portfolio Manager, the Portfolio Manager role will support the efficient and effective delivery of the AST portfolio of research projects within the strategy and governance frameworks set by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Agriculture Victoria and AST. The incumbent will be required to liaise with AST senior managers, project leaders and external stakeholders to assist with project development, contracting and milestone delivery, monitoring and reporting on portfolio performance. The Portfolio Manager will be expected to operate with a minimum level of direction, to prioritise competing workloads, and deliver high quality outputs in a timely manner to agreed AST and stakeholder standards. The successful applicant will work effectively as a member of a team, enjoy flexible working arrangements and the opportunity to engage with AST scientists, internal and external stakeholders involved in the delivery of innovative research for the agriculture sector.

Specialist/Technical Expertise/Qualifications

• Experience in a project and/or contract management role, preferably within a research and innovation environment.
• Experience in managing internal and external stakeholder relationships, including the capacity to conduct negotiations and influence stakeholders to achieve strategic priorities and outcomes.
• Strong conceptual, analytical, planning and organisational skills, including the ability to review, modify and improve policies, procedures and practices.
• Proven ability to work independently, plan and prioritise effectively, and set high standards of personal performance in accordance with Victorian Government requirements relating to responsiveness and integrity.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated capacity to communicate effectively in both written and oral form.
• A relevant tertiary degree or post-graduate training in agriculture and/or biological sciences would be well regarded.

This is a fixed term position available for a period of 12 months. The work location for this position is AgriBio Bundoora with hybrid work arrangements available.

To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to address the Key Selection Criteria, submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.

Please refer to the Key Selection Criteria provided in the Position Description, including the mandatory requirements.

How to Apply:

If you are a current DEECA employee, please apply via DEECA Careers.

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Applications close 11.59pm on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

All applications must be submitted through the online portal. We are unable to consider email or manual applications at this time.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

An inclusive, culturally safe and flexible workplace

DEECA fosters an inclusive workplace culture and is committed to a fair, accessible, and equitable recruitment process.

We strongly encourage Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people to apply. We recognise the strengths, knowledge and perspectives First Nations people bring and DEECA is committed to a culturally safe and respectful workplace. If you need support to participate, please contact ***************@deeca.vic.gov.au.

We support flexible working arrangements, including hybrid work, varied hours, part-time work and job sharing. For more information about our recruitment processes, visit applying for a role with us.

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