Analyst and Policy Advisor

**Ongoing/Full-Time**

**VPSG4 -**$95,102 - $107,905**

**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 Early Childhood Education Group**

The Early Childhood Education (ECE) group plays a key role in policy development, service program design and commissioning to ensure a child and family centred, outcomes focused, integrated system. Together with the other groups in the Department of Education, ECE group works to ensure that every child has the best start in life.

In ECE group we provide oversight of the early childhood education system, regulate early childhood education services and implement relevant legislative reforms. We deliver on the Victorian Government's key social and economic policy reforms to strengthen early childhood education.

**About the Division**

The Early Childhood Strategy Division (ECSD) is a small and influential strategic policy unit within ECE Group that leads a wide range of complex and high profile strategic early childhood education policy and reform projects. In addition to building policy capability across ECE group and the department, ECSD is responsible for delivering high quality analysis and advice to a range of key stakeholders and Ministers.

Our work has a strong focus on increasing equity and quality across the education system to improve outcomes for children experiencing disadvantage and plays a critical role in ensuring the ECEC system is working well to ensure the delivery of high-quality early childhood education and care for all children in Victoria.

**About the Role**

An exciting opportunity exists for a high-performing and motivated individual with skills and expertise in data analytics and modelling to join the Early Childhood Strategy Division.

As an Analyst, you will play a key role in contributing to strategic projects and solving complex policy issues within a fast-paced and dynamic environment. Responsibilities will include advising on the State's domestic funding models, intergovernmental funding transfer models, and system trends, risks and opportunities.

Using your strong skills in data analysis and modelling, you will carefully define problems, effectively communicate complex concepts, contribute to the development of policy options over short and long-term horizons, and assess the impact of those options. Your strong data analytic skills will be paired with a well-developed policy understanding, meaning these options will be grounded in the needs of the organisation and the system, and therefore be pragmatic and implementable. You will be curious; you will seek to understand system trends and advise on risks and opportunities.

In this role you will work with a range of stakeholders, extend and refine your analytical expertise and skills, and importantly, contribute to work that will make a meaningful and positive difference to the department and the early childhood education sector in Victoria.

The role involves strong collaboration within a high-performing team that is supportive, friendly and passionate about improving children and families' outcomes and driving policy reform. We aim to be a welcoming workplace for individuals from diverse backgrounds who reflect the many communities that education policy affects.

The role is available on a full-time basis, but flexible arrangements will be considered.

**Attributes**
- Contribute to the development of analysis in the policy areas outlined above, including detailed analysis of policy options
- Turning systems questions into analytical problems
- Analysing complex datasets and translating outputs into relevant insights
- Quantifying the implications of policy options and decisions
- Scenario modelling and/or predictive analytics

Other attributes:

- Be an integral part of a high-performing team working in a dynamic environment
- Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders to drive the work program
- Produce high-quality written work, including presentations, reports, submissions and briefings
- Contribute to a collaborative and productive team culture.

**Desirable**Qualifications and Experience**
- Experience in data manipulation and analytics; funding models; policy advice.

**Further Information**

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

**Applications close** 11:59pm on 5th January 2025