Project Officer

**About the Role**

This role is Fixed Term until 30/06/2028

The Land Acquisition Unit consists of three teams, Forward Planning, Site & Infrastructure, and Delivery. The work undertaken by the Land Acquisition teams includes collaboration with other areas of the Department of Education on provision analysis for education demand; liaison with local councils and land developers on timing for developments; undertaking site identification for future acquisition; site suitability investigations and works; valuation; negotiation with landholders (which may include developers, private individuals, other government agencies and local government authorities); ensuring compliance with relevant policies and guidelines; and negotiating contracts of sale and other relevant legal agreements.

The position, also known as Project Officer, is within the Land Acquisition - Site and Infrastructure team at the Victorian School Building Authority.

The role reports to the Manager, Land Acquisition - Site and Infrastructure and will be required to collaborate with other team members across three land acquisition teams and other stakeholders.

The role is responsible for project delivery, procurement, financial reporting, management of maintenance contractors and external consultant, compilation of property data, title searches and other ad hoc administration as required by the team. Experience with contamination, ecology, cultural heritage, geotechnical and service infrastructure disciplines is desirable.

An important element of the role is the provision of timely advice and specialist support to other areas within the VSBA in relation to the VSBA's Land Acquisition Program. The role would suit someone with excellent stakeholder management skills, attention to detail and strong communication skills.

All VSBA staff have a shared responsibility to meet the same service standards outlined in the VSBA Customer Service Charter. Our goal is to make every interaction with the VSBA a positive one for our customers, colleagues and key partners regardless of our individual role or team.

**Desirable Qualifications and Experience**

Essential:

- Proven experience managing property, maintenance and government infrastructure related projects, ideally in a similar sector such as education or public infrastructure

Desirable:

- Familiarity with compliance requirements and regulations relevant to maintenance and construction projects, especially within the education sector.
- Understanding of the land development process
- Understanding of the Victorian land, property and planning legal system
- Experience in project management, ideally in government infrastructure projects
- Experience in managing site issues including contamination, geotechnical, ecological and cultural heritage

**Flexible Work Expectations**:
For full-time employees, the department expects 3 days per week in the office, in line with the VPS Agreement 2024.

This role follows those same operational requirements: 3 in-office days, 2 remote (if full-time).

**About the Department**

The Department of Education provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The Department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The Department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

**About the Victorian School Building Authority**

The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is part of the Department of Education. Established in 2016, it oversees Victoria's largest school building program since the state introduced free public education in the 1870s.

The VSBA upgrades and expands existing schools and plans, designs and builds new schools to meet enrolment demand. We also support schools to maintain their buildings and grounds by offering expert advice and coordinating maintenance programs and grants.

With Victoria recently introducing two years of funded kindergarten, the VSBA is also working with the early childhood sector on a massive kindergarten construction program.

**About the Division**

The Major Projects & Property Division is responsible for delivering educational infrastructure projects and programs, including the acquisition and management of land as well as delivery of capital infrastructure projects.

The Property Branch represents the Minister for Education and Minister for Children's interests as a land owner, and provides specialised land and property related advice and support to schools and other areas within DE and the VSBA. The Branch's work covers the whole of the property life cycle, being:
Acquisition of land for new schools and early childhood facilities and to expand existing educational facilities

Property agreements and general support for the management of the land