Program Advisor

An exciting opportunity exists for two passionate and driven Program Advisors to join the Professional Practice Branch on a fixed-term basis until 30 June 2029.

**About the Roles**

We're recruiting for two exciting opportunities to join high-impact teams driving the delivery of Victoria's Best Start, Best Life reforms. These roles focus on strengthening and fostering the quality of early childhood education across Victoria. You'll be part of dynamic teams shaping initiatives that empower teachers, educators and leaders to deliver high-quality programs and achieve better outcomes for every child.

**Work requirements will include**:

- Leading and coordinating program and project implementation to deliver key initiatives.
- Managing project timelines, deliverables, budgets, and reporting requirements to meet key milestones in a fast-paced environment.
- Engaging with stakeholders and sector partners to ensure effective delivery and continuous improvement.
- Supporting the design, delivery, monitoring and reporting of professional learning and development programs.
- Contributing to research and policy advice to inform evidence-based program delivery.
- In these roles, you'll help turn strategy into action-delivering high-impact projects, meeting key milestones, and supporting programs that enhance quality and outcomes across the early childhood sector.

Role 1: Professional Practice Programs Unit

This role focuses on delivering targeted programs that support high-quality teaching practice in kindergarten and Pre-Prep settings. You'll contribute to the development of evidence-informed resources, professional learning, and strategic advice grounded in the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). Your work will directly support the capability of educators and services to deliver improved outcomes for children and families. Flexibility to pivot across the broader branch may be required, as priorities evolve and new projects or initiatives emerge in response to sector needs and reform directions.

Role 2: Program Officer - Leadership and Professional Partnerships Unit

In this role, you'll help shape and deliver initiatives that build leadership capability and promote strong professional partnerships across the sector. Your work will support system-wide improvements in teaching and leadership, including through partnerships that enhance the home learning environment and strengthen community connections. This role provides the opportunity to work with the team on innovative and impactful programs that are closely aligned with the state's reform priorities. It's ideally suited to a collaborative and adaptable professional who enjoys working across complex projects that drive sector-wide improvement.

**Attributes**

Both Roles
- Collaborative and adaptable - able to work effectively with others and respond flexibly to changing priorities and stakeholder needs.
- Strong communication skills - confident in engaging with stakeholders and building positive, productive relationships.
- Project Management - experienced in all aspects of project management, including planning, implementation, monitoring progress against milestones, and ensuring high-quality, timely delivery of outcomes.
- Commitment to continuous learning - motivated to develop skills and grow professionally in areas such as project management, financial management, evaluation, procurement, and contract management.

Role 1: Professional Practice Programs Unit
- Skilled in project coordination, with strong attention to detail and a focus on quality outcomes.
- Effective communicator, able to build relationships and provide clear advice and support.
- Organised and proactive - excels in project management by planning, coordinating, and delivering initiatives efficiently, managing competing priorities, tracking progress against milestones, and ensuring high-quality outcomes.

Role 2: Leadership and Professional Partnerships Unit
- Goal-focused
- able to guide, support and influence colleagues, stakeholders and suppliers to achieve shared goals.
- Project and program management - capable of overseeing planning, delivery, of projects with attention to quality and outcomes.
- Stakeholder engagement - skilled at building and maintaining positive, collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, to achieve shared goals and support effective program and project delivery.

**Qualifications and Experience**
- Desirable: Experience in providing project support in complex environments
- Desirable: a bachelor-level degree. Possible qualifications could include of public policy, political science, early childhood education or equivalent disciplines

**How to Apply**

Applications should include:

- a resume (no more than 3-pages); and
- a cover letter that responds to each of the Key Selection Criteria (no more than two pages).

**About the Division**

The Early Learning Practice and Participation (ELPAP) Division guides, suppo