Senior Project Officer

About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.

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.

About the Victorian School Building Authority

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is part of the Department of Education. Established in 2016, it oversees Victoria's largest school building program since the state introduced free public education in the 1870s. 

The VSBA upgrades and expands existing schools and plans, designs and builds new schools to meet enrolment demand. We also support schools to maintain their buildings and grounds by offering expert advice and coordinating maintenance programs and grants. With Victoria recently introducing two years of funded kindergarten, the VSBA is also working with the early childhood sector on a massive kindergarten construction program. 

About the Division

The Asset Management Division is responsible for setting VSBA's strategic asset direction, developing and implementing programs addressing accessibility, including accommodation initiatives, and building school capacity to manage assets.

The Programs Branch delivers state-wide maintenance and compliance programs, including Minor Works, Emergency Maintenance, Accessible Buildings, regulatory and compliance programs, relocatable buildings, and Inclusive School programs.

About the Role

The role is located in the Minor Works Unit, within the VSBA's Programs Branch which predominantly services grant applications under the Capital Works Fund. The Minor Works Unit is responsible for delivering a range of state-wide minor capital works projects across Victoria's 1600+ schools.

The Senior Project Officer role will report to one of two Team Leaders in the Minor Works Unit and be responsible for delivering projects and contract administration. The Senior Project Officer will ensure that projects are delivered on time and on budget while also meeting our government, procurement, and compliance requirements with a core focus on customer service and stakeholder management.

To be successful in this role, you will :

• Build positive relationships with key stakeholders to facilitate and communicate the successful delivery of the Capital Works Fund program.
• Lead the delivery of projects within the Minor Works Unit, enhancing project delivery processes and systems.
  • Develop and communicate effective solutions to complex issues as they arise
  • Conduct thorough reviews of contract administration work before sending it to the Team Leader, Minor Works and then onto the Financial Delegate, including tasks such as new consultant and contractor appointments and contract variations:
    • Offer expert advice to schools on Capital Works Fund projects and alternative support options
    • Support the implementation of program policy and guidelines
    • Collaborate with a wide stakeholder group across the state
    • Deliver minor capital works projects
    • Manage the procurement process and brief consultants comprehensively on project scope and design requirements.
    • Creation of departmental and ministerial briefs for project contingency or variation requests
    • Bring your expertise to construction procurement and contract administration
  • Prepare and review comprehensive responses to requests for information from the Minister's Office or communications team.
  • Provide high-level and accurate financial reports and data, including forecasting and responding to budget queries from internal stakeholders. 

All VSBA staff have a shared responsibility to meet the same service standards outlined in the VSBA Customer Service Charter.  Our goal is to make every interaction with the VSBA a positive one for our customers, colleagues and key partners regardless of our individual role or team. 

Attributes

The ideal candidate with have excellent project management, contrct management and adminisation skills as well as a high capability of stakeholder engagement and customer service.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Essential: Demonstrated experience in Construction and Contract Management as well as Project Management and Project Administration
• Desirable: Relevant tertiary qualification in Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, Construction or another related field.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application as well as the Key Secltion Criteria.

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 Jacob Ellis 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 Sunday, 27 April 2025  

This is a fixed-term role to 30/06/2028

To apply, please include a CV and a Cover letter addressing the Key selection criteria and summarising your skills and experience (no more than 2 pages).