Program Manager

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time / 30/06/2026

Organisation: Department of Education

**Salary**: $134,593 - $180,115

Occupation: Asset Management and Planning

Reference: VG/DE/VSBA/20004066

Program Manager

**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.

**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 supports the effective management of school assets through condition assessments, tools for school maintenance planning, by providing training and advice to school leaders, supporting asset information systems, delivering centralised programs for high-risk areas, implementing reform projects to strengthen the system, and implementing initiatives to improve the environmental sustainability of schools.

**About the Role**

We are looking for a Program Manager to join our Small Schools Program, an initiative by the Department of Education to 'Free up school staff to lead and teach' by strengthening small rural and regional schools throughout Victoria.

The position involves providing high-level leadership and management to a team including:

- Leading and managing a team to support the planning, development, and implementation of processes, systems, tools, analytics, and reporting to facilitate the delivery of best-practice program outcomes.
- Providing informed advice to key internal and external stakeholders, including the Minister's Office and Victorian Building Authority
- Providing informed advice to key internal and external stakeholders, including the Minister's Office and VSBA Executive team
- Taking a leadership role in the development of a positive and collaborative work culture across the Branch and broader VSBA
- Other duties as instructed by the Director to support the achievement of organisational goals.
- Working collaboratively with departmental regional staff including facilities, OHS and emergency management teams
- Developing business processes, communications collateral, and business improvement opportunities and other documentation to support the delivery of the Small Schools Program
- Planning and implementing effective change management practices to ensure the successful rollout of the Small Schools Program

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**

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate a high level of flexibility and initiative. Your strong leadership and people management experience, as well as highly developed interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, will contribute to the success of the program.

You will also be able to demonstrate high level experience in project management and/or programs.

Awareness of the challenges and pressures small schools encounter, as well as knowledge of public sector infrastructure and delivery systems will be looked upon favourably.

**Desirable **Qualifications and Experience**
- Tertiary Qualification in a relevant discipline
- Minimum of 5 years high level program management experience
- Familiarity with the education sector is highly desirable
- Demonstrated experience in leading a team

**Further Information**

**This is a fixed-term role, available until 30 June 2026.**

**Applicants are encouraged to include a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria and a resume.**

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

**Applications close** 11:59pm on Friday 20 September 2024