Principal Demographer

Location: Melbourne | CBD

Job type: Ongoing - Full Time

Organisation: Department of Transport and Planning

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

Occupation: Other

Reference: 5906

**About the Role**

The Principal Demographer is a key technical leadership position within the Data & Digital Division, Planning & Population Insights team. This role involves managing the Population & Land Analysis team to provide expert analysis and authoritative advice to support whole of Victorian Government service and infrastructure planning. The role is responsible for managing the production, promotion, and continuous improvement of the state’s official population forecasts, plus key products in population and housing modelling, land supply and development monitoring. The Principal Demographer will use expertise on demographic change, population growth, land supply and development monitoring to provide data, information and advice to executives and other stakeholders, as well as representing Victoria in national and expert forums, advocating for Victoria’s interests and influencing outcomes.

To access the Position Description, please **click here**.

**Position Outcomes / Accountabilities**
- Team Management - Provided leadership and direction to the Planning Insights and Analysis team, ensuring alignment with Divisional and departmental goals and priorities fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment; Mentored and support staff members, providing guidance on best practices and professional development opportunities. Promoted a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and knowledge sharing among team members, fostering professional growth and resilience.
- Research Leadership - Provided direction and guidance to the team, ensuring the timely completion of research deliverables and the achievement of project objectives.
- Authoritative Advice - Provided high quality, authoritative insights and advice to senior executive leadership to support evidence-based decision making and respond to emerging and/or complex issues and mitigation strategies.
- Policy Development and Analysis - Contributed to the development of evidence-based policies, strategies, and initiatives related to urban planning, land use, housing, and demographic trends.
- Customer Satisfaction - The Population & Land Analysis team has been responsive to customer needs, acting with a sense of purpose, and has continuously delivered value for the Department

**Key Selection Criteria**

The Department of Transport and Planning is seeking an accomplished and outgoing Principal Demographer to lead strategic projects and shape future-focused policies. This role offers a unique opportunity to translate strategic directions into impactful programs, manage high-performing teams, and leverage data-driven insights to guide decision-making.

As a team leader, you will effectively allocate resources and build workforce capability to achieve organisational objectives. Your data literacy will enable you to extract value from complex datasets and employ advanced analytics to inform predictive decisions. Strong communication skills are essential, ensuring you connect with credibility and manage sensitive discussions with ease.

This role requires a forward-thinking individual who embraces innovation and new technologies, preparing the organisation for future challenges. You will demonstrate flexibility in adapting to shifting priorities and foster collaboration across teams to deliver shared outcomes.

**Qualifications and Experience**

**Mandatory**
- Tertiary qualification in a similar or related field
- Experience/skills in statistical / data analysis & research
- Experience relevant to the accountabilities and capabilities of the role

**Desirable**
- Tertiary qualification in Demography would be highly regarded

**Role Specific Requirements**
- Driver’s License
- Occasional site visits within Victoria may be required.

**What we offer**
- Meaningful work making Victorian communities more accessible and liveable
- Professional growth and development opportunities across the department and the wider Victorian Public Services
- A hybrid working model focused on collaboration and teamwork
- Optimal work-life balance initiatives including flexible working arrangements
- Opportunity to work across multiple urban and suburban hubs
- We prioritise the development of a safe and inclusive culture

**Culture Value**

We are an equal opportunity employer, embracing a diverse range of applicants such as veterans, and people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA community members, individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions, as well as those from varied faith and cultural backgrounds. At our department, we prioritize the development of a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture through shared actions and behaviours that align with our strategy and direction. This empowers our employees to effectively contribute to our go