Policy Officer/economist

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Department of Treasury and Finance

**Salary**: $91,418 - $103,725

Occupation: Economics

Reference: VG/DTF/ECO/1719183

Join our collaborative and influential team as a Policy Officer / Economist within the Transport, Infrastructure and Planning team. Utilize your expertise in economics and public policy to provide timely and accurate advice, conduct research, and contribute to policy development, influencing key economic and public policy issues in Victoria.

**About us**

The Department of Treasury and Finance provides economic, financial and resource management advice to help the Victorian Government deliver its policies. We strive for excellence in financial and economic management to improve the lives of all Victorians.

**Economic division**

The Economic Division leads the development of advice to the Government, and implementation of priority projects, for key economic and policy priorities including economic strategy, regulatory reform, housing, social policy, government tax policy and intergovernmental financial relations to drive improvements in Victoria's productive and efficient resource allocation, competitiveness and equity across the economy.

**Economic Group**

The Economic group supports the Government in growing employment, material living standards and economic activity.

The Group advises on employment policy, productivity growth, macroeconomic conditions, energy, climate change and decarbonisation, industry development, business innovation, transport and infrastructure policy, and land use planning.

Key tasks include providing advice on inclusively growing jobs and living standards while responding to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenge of inflation, and reducing the emissions-intensity of the Victorian economy.

**Transport, Infrastructure and Planning team**

The Transport, Infrastructure and Planning team supports the government's agenda and aims to improve the lives of all Victorians by providing authoritative, influential and timely policy advice. This includes conducting analysis of economic trends and the distributional and sectoral impacts of economic policies.

The team helps tackle challenges including reducing emissions and congestion in passenger and freight transport, improving land use planning to support housing supply and job creation, and strengthening Victoria's supply chains.

The Transport, Infrastructure and Planning team is part of Economic group, which supports the Government in growing employment, living standards and economic activity. Other responsibilities in this group include advising on employment policy, productivity growth, macroeconomic conditions, industry development, business innovation, and energy, resources and decarbonisation policy.

**About the role**

This is an ongoing VPS4 role reporting to the Manager, Transport, Infrastructure and Planning. As a Policy Officer / Economist you will be working in a collaborative and influential team to conduct research, analyse information, and provide advice to inform policy development.

You will be working in a fast-paced environment and an influential team that covers the full policy cycle including policy development and implementation, modelling the impacts of tax changes, conducting research and advising on legislation.

Key accountabilities include:

- Use expertise in economics and/or public policy to provide timely, accurate, accessible and fit-for-purpose advice on complex economic, financial and/or public policy issues;
- Analyse, interpret and synthesise information;
- Contribute to and manage projects to inform policy development;
- Communicate with and influence internal and external stakeholders;
- Collaborate within and outside the team (including other Victorian Government Departments) on economic, financial and/or public policy projects; and
- Contribute to fostering a positive team culture and participate in planning and decision-making in the Group.

**About you**

To be considered for the role, you must be able to demonstrate:

- An understanding of the role and influence of State government in **_policy-making_**;
- **_Influence _**- demonstrated experience shaping stakeholders' views and supporting informed decision-making on complex issues;
- **_Conceptual and problem-solving skills_** - demonstrated capacity to solve complex and ambiguous problems in a dynamic environment;
- **_Analytical skills_** - an eye for detail and demonstrated ability to interpret and synthesise information;
- **_Communication_** - strong communication skills including conveying complex issues persuasively in plain language;
- **_Teamwork_** - demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with team members and a range of stakeholders;
- experience using **_economic frameworks_** and tools for policy advice would be advantageous.

**About our culture**

We aim to be a model employer providing an inclusive workplace that is und