Manager, Strategic Engagement

Manager, Strategic Engagement

- Salary: $138,631 - $185,518 (Plus superannuation)

- Fixed-term position (From 2 February 2026 to 2 July 2027)

- Usual hours of work: Full time (flexibility may be available)

- Usual work location: 121 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 (Minimum 3 days in office)

The Role

As a Manager, Strategic Engagement, you will primarily be the strategic lead on the Self Determined Aboriginal Employment Initiative and help drive systemic responses and advocacy across the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments and may also assist on other employment initiatives as required and at the discretion of the Director.

This position will support decision making by governance committees and oversee all aspects of project planning and delivery in close consultation with the Aboriginal Economic Development team and cultural advisors.

The role will also play an active role in supporting the group alignment to portfolio and department priorities and needs to demonstrate flexibility in supporting colleagues to deliver business priorities and may assist on other work streams.

Ideal candidate will have:

- Extensive experience working with Aboriginal organisations and a high level of cultural literacy.

- Excellent strategic influencing, negotiation and written skills.

- Demonstrated experience developing entrepreneurial and innovative solutions.

- Experience leading across teams, organisations, and sectors.

- Experience in government highly regarded.

- Ideally hold a tertiary qualification in policy or a related discipline.

Key accountabilities include

- Work as a key strategic lead on the Self Determined Aboriginal Employment Initiative including project planning and stakeholder management.

- Help support the governance structures to enable self-determined decision making.

- Advise senior executives and the Minister on engagement and partnership opportunities and priorities and develop and implement strategic engagement strategies to achieve those priorities.

- Work closely with the other managers on employment led projects and develop an agile approach to the sharing of staff.

- Effectively develop and lead a high-performing team through modelling public sector values and good practice, providing clarity on purpose and objectives, leading change, and building capability through coaching.

- Oversee and produce high quality and effective reports, briefing, presentations and other products to effectively communicate with government and stakeholders around the objectives and achievements of employment responses.

- Represent the department at external forums and meetings as required.

The Team

The position of Manager, Strategic Engagement will work within Small Business and Employment branch, which sits within Economic Policy, Programs and Services (EPPS) group.

Economic Policy, Programs and Services Group (EPPS) supports the delivery of sustainable economic development and employment growth for Victoria. The Group supports DJSIR's delivery of strategic priorities through the entirety of the policy and project lifecycle, by providing leadership and expertise in policy design, research, analysis and advice, project management, delivery and evaluation. The priorities of the Small Business and Employment portfolio – to enable Victorian small businesses to thrive, to enable Victorians to achieve sustainable employment and economic inclusion, and to increase employment and prosperity opportunities for Aboriginal Victorians in a self-determined way – are delivered by the Group.

EPPS works collaboratively with Groups to best support our stakeholders, Ministers and the community and actively partners with other DJSIR Groups, other Victorian departments and key stakeholders.

About You

- Partnerships: Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strategic relationships and innovative partnerships with multiple stakeholders and present to a variety of audiences, including demonstrated experience preparing concise reports, briefs and/or correspondence in a government setting.

- Flexibility and adaptability: Works to alter strategies in situations when there are clear indications that the existing strategy may not deliver the best outcome. Builds commitment of others to adopt new strategies to deliver against outcomes.

- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Resolves issues through a deep understanding or interpretation of existing guidelines and processes. Where these are not available, analyses information available and takes action through self, or in consultation with others to resolve problems. If required, determines additional information needed to make informed decisions. Applies critical thinking and problem-solving concepts in the right context.

- Managing People: Role models ethical leadership through decision making and interactions with people. Champions people engagement as an organisational priority. Provides thought leadership on people management across the service.

- Communicate with Impact: Identifies key messages and information required for decision-making; Provides high level advice on influencing and the needs of target audiences. Provides advice on the content and style appropriate to the audience.

Further Information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Georgina Lyell, Director, Employment via email georgina.lyell@ecodev.vic.gov.au

The department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with the Child Safe Standards.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.

Please note: We are accredited as a Disability Confident Recruitment (DCR) organisation and committed to inclusive recruitment. If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJSIR Recruitment Team on 0472875685, or via email at recruitment@ecodev.vic.gov.au with the position number in the subject line. For additional contact details for our team please review the attached Position Description, located under Job Attachments in the right hand menu.

How to Apply

Please click the ‘Apply Now' button. As part of the application process, you will need to provide a copy of your Cover Letter and Resume outlining your interest in the position

Applications close at 23:59pm on Thursday, 20 November 2025.

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