Senior Economic Policy Officer, Commissioning Policy

Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time

Salary: $113,022 - $136,747

Grade: VPS 5

Occupation: Policy

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/100962AB

The Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) is focused on growing Victoria's prosperity, building the productive capacity of our economy and increasing participation – by creating more opportunities for people through skills and jobs; helping businesses and industries to thrive; and building vibrant communities and regions. For more information, see the DJSIR Strategic Plan

Established on 1 January 2023, our work spans numerous portfolios, supporting departmental ministers and operating across metropolitan, regional and international offices. We oversee various public entities, including public corporations, regulatory authorities and specialist boards.

The Department welcomes and encourages applications from diverse applicants, including First Peoples, refugees or asylum seekers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disability. All roles at DJSIR can be worked flexibly and we offer reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities.

Our values are accountability, integrity and respect, and underpin everything we do. For more information about the department, please visit our website:

Senior Economic Policy Officer, Commissioning Policy

• Salary: $113,022 - $136,747 (Plus Superannuation)
• Fixed-Term position until 7 August 2026
• Usual hours of work: Full time (flexibility may be available)
• Usual work location: Melbourne CBD (flexibility may be available)

The Role

As a Senior Economic Policy Officer, Commissioning Policy, you will be reporting to The Manager, Commissioning Policy, the Senior Economic Policy Officer. You will have a key role contributing to policy influencing Victoria's funded training system.

This role will help lead policy advice (including economic policy) to influence the commissioning of training and system structure for Skills First funded Vocational Education and Training.

It ensures the timely administration, implementation, and management of analytics and reporting to inform senior leadership on complex training needs and VET system settings.

Key accountabilities include:

• Advise on policy settings (including with reference to economic policy) to support the efficient and effective operation of the publicly funded training system.
• Provide high level and influential strategic advice with a long-term view that supports the government to future-proof key policy settings for the training and higher education sectors.
• Prepare clear and well-structured written and verbal briefings on policy matters, ensuring information is communicated accurately and comprehensively.
• Lead coordination and development in relation to specific areas or projects, ensuring alignment with organisational goals.
• Respond to feedback and adapt recommendations in accordance with policy requirements and evolving circumstances, maintaining flexibility and responsiveness.

The Team

The position of Senior Economic Policy Officer, Commissioning Policy will work within Policy and Strategy branch, which sits within Skills and Employment (SE) group.

SE group focuses on enabling Victorians to gain access to skills and employment opportunities and enabling a strong pipeline of workers to meet Victoria's skills needs, now and into the future. SE

group works in collaboration across government, industry and community to deliver skills-focused solutions that leverage the opportunities in the economy and drive improved workforce outcomes across all levels of the skills and training system.

SE group oversees the Victorian Vocational Education and Training (VET) system with a specific focus on ensuring the delivery of quality outcomes through TAFEs through the Office of TAFE Coordination and Delivery, informed by our partnership with the Victorian Skills Authority.

SE group has a leadership role to drive better apprenticeship outcomes, promote pathways to the workforce and foster connections between employers and industry.

About You

To be successful in this role you will have the following skills and experience:

• Policy Skills: Formulates and communicates influential public policy options and recommendations; keeps up to date with a broad range of contemporary issues; scans for links and potential implications of proposed policy options; liaises with stakeholders.
• Conceptual and Analytical Ability: Deals with concepts and complexity comfortably; Has creative ideas and can project how these can link to innovations; Uses analytical and conceptual skills to reason through problems; Translate business needs into technical requirements.
• Research, Analysis & Evaluation: Knowledge of research theory and practice including an understanding of the benefits of va rious research methods.
• Written Communication: Prepares complex briefs, letters, emails, and reports using clear, concise and grammatically correct language; edits written communications to ensure they contain the information necessary to achieve their purpose and meet audience needs; ensures appropriate style and formats are used.
• Relationship Building: Establishes and maintains relationships with people at all levels; promotes harmony and consensus through diplomatic handling of disagreements; forges useful partnerships with people across business areas, functions and organisations; builds trust through consistent actions, values and communication; minimises surprises.

Further Information

For a confidential discussion, please contact Nick MacArthur, Manager, Commissioning Policy on

The department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with the Child Safe Standards.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.

Please note: We are accredited as a Disability Confident Recruitment (DCR) organisation and committed to inclusive recruitment. If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJSIR Recruitment Team on , or via email at with the position number in the subject line. For additional contact details for our team please review the attached Position Description, located under Job Attachments in the right hand menu.

How to Apply

Please click the 'Apply Now' button. As part of the application process, you will need to provide a copy of your resume and cover letter.

Applications close at 23:59pm on Tuesday, 26 August 2025.

Applications close Tuesday 26 August 2025 at 11.59pm

Posted

12 August 2025