Principal Policy Analyst

**About the role**:
Are you:

- A self-starter with initiative, able to prioritise and manage multiple projects and adapt to changing priorities?
- An excellent written communicator, with expertise in authoring complex and engaging written products?
- Financially literate and experienced in analysis, interpretation and problem solving in a government context?
- Experienced and knowledgeable about service system reform potentially (but not necessarily) including in the health sector, and skilled at negotiating complex policy outcomes across diverse stakeholders?

The Principal Policy Analyst is a key member of the Funding, Productivity & Budgets (FPB) team in Hospitals Victoria, supporting the CEO of Hospitals Victoria to ensure the financial sustainability of Victoria's health system.

Within FPB, the Productivity & Budgets team has carriage of purchasing arrangements across hospitals and other providers, with a focus on directing resources to achieve the key priorities, directions, and strategies of the Department of Health. The team leads the development of budget bids and the allocation of this funding across the system, as well as funding and accountability arrangements for providers other than hospitals.

**About us**:
At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected.

We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all.

**How you'll make a difference**:
**Suitable applicants will be able to demonstrate**:
**Knowledge and Skills**

Policy Skills - Formulates and communicates public policy options and recommendations; keeps up to date with a broad range of contemporary issues; scans for links and potential implications of proposed policy options; liaises with stakeholders.

Communicating with Impact - Makes a positive impression on others & comes across with credibility; Communicates orally in a manner that is clear fluent and holds the listeners' attention; Able to deal with difficult & sensitive topics & questions. Makes a positive impression on others & comes across with credibility; Communicates orally in a manner that is clear fluent and holds the listeners' attention; Able to deal with difficult & sensitive topics & questions.

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Considers wider business context within business unit when considering options to resolve issues. Identifies recurring problems and prevents future recurrence by integrating solutions into work process. Delivers tangible business outcomes by critically evaluating problems from multiple perspectives and delivering effective solutions.

Organisational Awareness - Understands issues and pressures to which the organisation has to respond; understands the reasons behind the organisational climate and culture.

**Personal Qualities**

Conceptual and Analytical Ability - Deals with concepts and complexity comfortably; uses analytical and conceptual skills to reason through problems; has creative ideas and can project how these can link to innovations.

Decisiveness - Takes rational and sound decisions based on a consideration of the facts and alternatives; makes tough decisions, sometimes with incomplete information; evaluates rational and emotional elements of situations; makes quick decisions where required; commits to a definite course of action.

Detail Focus - Observes fine details; identifies gaps in information; looks for logical sequences of information; highlights practical considerations of plans and activities.

Relationship Building - Establishes and maintains relationships with people at all levels; promotes harmony and consensus through diplomatic handling of disagreements; forges useful partnerships with people across business areas, functions and organisations; builds trust through consistent actions, values and communication; minimises surprises.

**Qualifications / Specialist Expertise**

Qualfications - A bachelor's degree or higher in Finance / Economics / Public Policy (or a related field) will be well regarded.

A high degree of understanding and knowledge of the Victorian budget processes, health system funding, relevant departmental systems and environments is desirable.

Strong background and experience in a public policy, economics, budgeting or analytical role, including the provision of complex strategic advice to senior management and other stakeholders.

Specialist Expertise - Exceptional advisory, negotiation, communication and relationship building skills, with demonstrated capacity to work effectively within a politically sensitive context.

Knowledge of the Victorian public hospital operations, and the impact of government funding, policy and reform