Project Advisor

**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 supports a culture of leadership, learning and renewal in all workplaces with opportunities for career development and advancement.

**About the Division**

The Department of Education is the Victorian Regulatory Authority for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services under delegation from the Secretary. The Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD) in the department regulates and quality assesses Victorian ECEC services. It drives the delivery of high-quality services and ensures the safety, health and wellbeing of Victorian children attending those services.

QARD regulates approximately 4,900 services including family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs, as required by the Education and Care Services National Law 2010 (National Law). QARD also regulates around 180 services operating under the Victorian Children's Services Act 1996 (Children's Services Act); these include occasional care and limited hours services.

QARD is responsible for:

- approving providers and services as required by the National Law and Children's Services Act
- monitoring service compliance and conducting investigations in response to notifications and complaints
- assessment and rating of family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs against the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and School Age Care
- supporting legislative policy development.

QARD is also the integrated sector regulator of the Child Safe Standards for all early childhood services in Victoria.

**About the Role**

This is an ongoing role based at 200 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne

The Project Advisor provides high level coordination and strategic support to the Executive Director and to QARD more broadly. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, this role sits in a small and supportive team within QAR Executive Unit.

This team is responsible for providing centralised corporate functions and HR support to QARD business units and supports the development and delivery of key divisional programs and strategic projects. The team also coordinates the preparation of Possible Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information inquiries, correspondence, briefings and responses to media inquiries.

The Project Advisor undertakes number of projects, programs and activities in QARD simultaneously and works collaboratively with team members, managers and other colleagues across QARD.

In addition, the role provides high level executive support to complete and support with confidential HR tasks assigned to the division and supports with workforce strategy cases.

**Attributes**

The purpose of the role is to provide high-level project support and policy advice within the QAR Executive Unit. This includes:

- Assist in providing well informed and concise advice, reasoned recommendations and innovative policy/program options to address emerging regulatory practice issues.
- Assist in identifying support needs within the regulatory workforce and promoting consistent practice through the development of sound policy advice, training, resources and other communications strategies.
- Prepare clear and concise materials for internal and external audiences, such as reports, briefs, reports on merit reviews, presentations and publications.
- Deliver required activities of projects and programs and be responsible for the successful delivery and completion of activities within timelines, in relation to QAR Executive Unit functions. This includes training and development and policies and processes.
- Assist in the development of business systems, processes and system improvement as identified by the Operations Branch.
- Manage activities and undertake projects as identified by QAR Executive Unit.

This position also requires the successful applicant to demonstrate high level interpersonal and stakeholder management skills. The role also requires discretion to maintain confidentiality and positive working relationships.

**Desirable **Qualifications and Experience**
- Program/process development, demonstrating analytical, conceptual, and written communication skills.
- Timeframe planning, political and organisational context understanding
- Self-management and drive to build positive working relationships with various stakeholders at a leadership level
- Have discretion and maintain confidentiality
- Collaboration with department, government, and external stakeholders
- Lead by VPS and organisational values and be able to foster an inclusive, supportive, collaborative culture
- Knowledge of workforce and HR issues