Senior Policy Officer

About this role

This position provides high-quality analysis, advice and communications around future education infrastructure needs. It leads and contributes to key projects, including the department’s planning for new schools and expansions in established areas across Victoria and supporting the Best Start Best Life reforms. The role builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, including the department's regional staff, the Victorian School Building Authority and local government, and contributes to the continuous improvement of established processes. About the Department The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services. The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres. The Infrastructure and Planning Branch in School Provision and Establishment Division (SPED) is responsible for a high profile and exciting program of work considering the department's response to school provision needs for rapidly growing communities in established parts of Melbourne and the State. About the Division The division works with regions and the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) to develop and deliver strategic approaches to infrastructure and school operations planning. This includes provision planning and managing student demand, school zones and enrolment management, new school planning and establishment, and place-based responses to education provision and delivery. SPED leads education provision planning with a focus on forecasting and managing student demand including for specialist cohorts such as students with disability. The division's work requires a multi-disciplinary approach, bringing together policy and technical expertise in land use planning and demographic data, infrastructure, enrolment, school establishment and compliance. SPED sits within the Schools and Regional Services (SRS) Group. The responsibilities of SRS include: * Service delivery including performance, contract management, funding delivery and acquittal * Program implementation including detailed implementation planning and delivery * Local area engagement, advice, support and partnerships * Workforce capability development, professional practice leadership and delivery * Emergency management including critical incident response. About the Role This position provides high-quality analysis, advice and communications around future education infrastructure needs. It leads and contributes to key projects, including the department's planning for new schools and expansions in established areas across Victoria and supporting the Best Start Best Life reforms. The role builds and maintains relationships with key stakeholders, including the department's regional staff, the Victorian School Building Authority and local government, and contributes to the continuous improvement of established processes. Core responsibilities of the role include: • Providing high-quality advice to support implementation of policies and processes. • Undertaking data analysis to inform the Department's short, medium and long-term provision planning to inform recommendations for school infrastructure. • Providing high quality verbal and written advice to senior executives, including advice on policies, procedures, submissions and business cases. • Building and maintaining effective relationships and actively contributing to improved communication within the Department and with key stakeholders. • Actively contributing to improved project management, policy and analytical capabilities, systems and processes. • Demonstrating flexibility and teamwork by being accommodating during the peak pe riods for various teams and assisting across teams where needed. Further Information For further information pertaining to the role, please contact: • Chris Kaznowski - Manager, Established Areas, Infrastructure & Planning Branch via (03) 7022 9071 or [email protected] ; or • Lidia Orsini - Director, Infrastructure & Planning Branch via (03) 8688 7785 or [email protected] For more details regarding this position please see attached position description. 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 . 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 04/08/2026