Director, Justice Assurance and Review Office

Work type: Full time

Salary: Salary not specified

Grade: VPS STS

Occupation: Executive Management

Location: CBD

Reference: VG/D00832-MAY25

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we're looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We're all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we'd love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children's rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit

We're proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• Lead the Justice Assurance and Review Office.
• Fixed, full time opportunity (Parental leave backfill for 12 months) to work with a high-performing and passionate team.
• STS Grade 7: $188,297 - $256,088 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Director, Justice Assurance and Review Office to provide a critical role within Integrity, Regulation and Legal Services.

About the Business Unit

Integrity, Regulation and Legal Services provides legal, policy, integrity and assurance expertise to the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) and Justice Ministers. Integrity and Reviews provides integrity and assurance expertise and the DJCS staff supporting the operation of the Post Sentence Authority and the Inspector-General for Emergency Management.

The Justice Assurance and Review Office (JARO) assists the Secretary to ensure that adult prisons and youth justice facilities are safe, secure and humane. It provides high-quality advice on areas of risk and opportunities for improvement in corrections and youth justice. JARO's key activities include:

• reviewing all deaths in adult prisons and youth justice facilities
• reviewing select deaths of offenders in the community
• assessing and reviewing serious and significant incidents in custody
• monitoring and assessing serious incidents which affect the performance of the systems, including youth justice precincts, youth justice community services, prisons, Community Correctional Services and prisoner transport
• administering the Independent Prison Visitor Scheme on behalf of the Minister for Corrections.

About the Role

The Director is responsible for providing authoritative, strategic leadership and management for JARO and drive the development of recommendations that apply system-wide and drive service delivery improvements in the adult correctional and youth justice environments.

Some of your duties will include:

• Develop and use robust monitoring systems to provide authoritative expert advice to the Secretary on emerging and ongoing high-risk issues across the Corrections Victoria and Youth Justice portfolios.
• Influence departmental, Corrections Victoria and Youth Justice policies by providing strategic advice and leadership, drawing on specialist expertise to oversee JARO's functions, including strategic, financial planning, operations, and workforce professional development.
• Drive the development and implementation of strategic and operational priorities for JARO that respond to emerging systemic issues or other drivers.

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:

• Significant demonstrated specialist experience leading and managing a complex review or research institute or function in a highly sensitive environment.
• Exceptional track record of providing high level expertise on contemporary and innovative assurance, monitoring, and review activities and using complex technical information to inform high quality and timely advice to senior stakeholders.
• Significant experience utilising expertise in identifying critical risks, systemic issues in a custodial or similar environment and developing innovative and practical solutions to address these.
• Significant achievement with a substantial body of demonstrated effectiveness in operating in an environment with a high degree of sensitivity and risk in a way that enhances the standing of the agency/organisation and influences state-wide outcomes.

Qualifications/requirements

• Relevant experience in the criminal justice system would be an advantage.
• A relevant tertiary qualification, professional qualification and/or extensive executive experience is highly desirable.

How to Apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

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.

Applications close Sunday 15 June 2025 at 11.59PM