Operations Manager, Western Plains

**Join Victoria's brand-new correctional facility in an Operations Manager (COG4) role**:

- **Contribute to the ongoing strategic planning, implementation, and improvement of prison operations.**:

- **Ongoing, full-time opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team in the Victorian Public Service**:

- **COG 4 Salary: $104,599 - $113,583 plus superannuation.**

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking an Operations Manager to provide a critical role at Western Plains Correctional Centre.

**About the Business Unit**

Western Plains Correctional Centre (Western Plains) is Victoria's newest maximum-security correctional facility, designed to house up to 1,248 people in custody.

Western Plains is a multi-purpose facility that adapts to the evolving needs of Corrections Victoria. It features purpose-built modern amenities including medical wards, a cultural centre and vocational training facilities. It utilises cutting-edge technology to keep the facility secure, allowing staff to focus on supporting the rehabilitation of people in custody.

Western Plains will open mid-2025 and Corrections Victoria are now recruiting key roles to help shape the future operations of the facility.

**About the Role**

The Operations Manager has responsibility for overseeing all aspects of day-to-day management of the prison whilst ensuring that all policies and procedures are followed. The Operations Manager will also be responsible for managing a team of custodial and non-custodial officers delivering a range of correctional services for which the incumbent will require superior leadership skills.

The role also involves the coordination of information and services to the various areas within the prison, and the ability to develop and implement new policies and procedures. The Operations Manager will also be required to identify and address issues concerning the prison, prisoners, and staff.

Some of your duties will include:

- Implement the development and delivery of services in new ways, using technology and innovation to shape the way the facility functions.
- Recruit and provide leadership and guidance to a new team, developing and maintaining a culture that supports rehabilitation and reflects the department's values and behaviours.
- Use operational knowledge to provide high level analysis and recommendations on emerging operational issues and trends.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.

**About you**

To be successful in this role, you will have:

- Demonstrated commitment to working with staff, prisoners, and other service providers in the delivery of an integrated, whole of prison program approach to reducing re-offending.
- Experience at a senior level, including successfully managing teams, demonstrating leadership in collaborative environments, and working across teams and organisations to achieve outcomes.
- Knowledge of current legislative requirements pertaining to a correctional environment.
- An understanding of contemporary prisoner management and offender services practices.

**Qualifications**
- A relevant qualification in social work, related human services discipline, criminal justice, criminology or with work experience in a related field is highly desirable.
- A full and current Victorian driver's licence or a minimum P2 driver's licence.

**Requirements**:

- The Operations Manager position is uniformed, and it is a requirement of the role to work daytime rosters and participate in Office in Charge Duty and on-call arrangements.
- Rosters will attract shift allowances in accordance with the provisions of the VPS Enterprise Agreement 2024.
- Applicants seeking part-time or flexible employment will be considered.
- There is a total smoking ban for all Victorian prisons; staff and prisoners cannot smoke or have tobacco-related products or e-cigarettes in any area of the prisons.

**How to Apply**

Please note a range of assessment activities will be utilised throughout this recruitment process, ensuring best practice recruitment principles underpin each process.

FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES:
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**:
**CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT**:
The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.