Executive Director, Senior Secondary Pathways Reform

SES-2 Executive Director, Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Division

• Lead Victoria's senior secondary reform program
• Strengthen outcomes and engagement for all secondary students

Do work that makes a real difference - lead generational reform in senior secondary education by expanding access to vocational and applied learning, enhancing student engagement, and strengthening career pathways. Join the Executive Leadership Team and collaborate across government, industry, and the education sector.

About us

The Strategy and Secondary School Reform Group (SSSR) plays a critical leadership role in delivering the Education State agenda, ensuring the Department of Education's efforts are strategic, coherent, and focused on long-term impact.

SSSR supports the Department to:

• Set strategic direction to deliver Education State priorities
• Lead policy design and implementation of key reforms, including senior secondary pathways
• Align departmental and national reform efforts through clear prioritisation and sequencing
• Use data and insights to monitor progress and drive Education State outcomes

The Senior Secondary Pathways Reform Division, within the SSSR Group, delivers major reforms to ensure every student has access to a relevant, engaging and future-focused senior secondary education.

About the role

As part of the Executive Leadership Team, the Executive Director, Senior Secondary Pathways Reform leads governance, strategy and delivery of this ambitious reform agenda across the Department and with external partners.

This pivotal leadership role is responsible for:

• Overseeing the planning, design and delivery of high-profile reforms (VDSS, applied learning, pathways for early leavers) and establishing robust monitoring and reporting frameworks
• Driving transformation in collaboration with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) and other agencies
• Providing high-level strategic and operational advice to the Secretary, Minister, and interdepartmental decision-makers
• Developing and maintaining networks and relationships with internal DET stakeholders, the Victorian Government, industry, community and external partners
• Leading, motivating and building a high-performing team to undertake policy design, implementation oversight, evaluation and reform delivery
• Establishing and managing stakeholder advisory groups to ensure diverse perspectives and advocacy in reform implementation

About You

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• A strong record of achievement at executive level in policy reform, system transformation or program delivery
• Demonstrated capability in navigating government systems and engaging with senior decision-makers
• Experience leading strategic education or youth-related initiatives with high public and stakeholder interest
• Excellent conceptual, analytical, and financial skills
• Proven influence, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement capabilities
• Ability to lead a motivated, high-performing team in a complex environment
• Commitment to collaboration, results, and public value

The role has a salary range of $298,489 to $430,740 (TRP), offering hybrid work arrangements, meaningful and challenging work in an environment that encourages values-based leadership.

Please see the Position Description for other relevant information regarding the application process including pre-employment checks, privacy statement, and how to request reasonable adjustments.

How to apply

Please submit a resume and a cover letter (no more than one A4 page). There is no requirement to make a separate statement in response to each of the key selection criteria, however the cover letter should provide an overview of how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the key selection criteria specified in the Position Description.