Senior Policy Advisor

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced and high performing individual to join the Social Policy Group as Senior Policy Advisor within the Community Security and Emergency Management Branch at the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Community Security and Emergency Management plays a vital role in shaping Victoria's emergency management agenda and has an opportunity to advise on high profile emergency management policy issues at the centre of Government. This will include high-level secretariat and project support to key state security and emergency management fora.

Core duties include preparing high quality policy advice and analysis for the Premier, Secretary and other senior officers across a range of emergency management issues and liaising with other Victorian Government departments and agencies to develop, influence and guide policy and project development across the emergency management sector.

The Police and National Security team leads advice to the Premier and senior executives on matters relating to Victoria Police, including organisational management, legislated police powers and functions, and supporting other departmental teams reviewing policy proposals across Government with implications for Victoria Police. The team also plays a key leadership role in Victorian national security policy including counterterrorism, countering violent extremism, and intergovernmental coordination of security issues.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will have:

• Proven strategic policy skills including an ability to draw on evidence from a range of sources and apply different frameworks and perspectives to identify options, risks and solutions to achieve desired policy outcomes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare complex briefs, submissions, reports and correspondence targeted to the relevant audience.
• Strong conceptual and analytical skills exhibited through a demonstrated ability to handle high level concepts and complexity with ease and to solve problems outside previous experience by applying models, frameworks and synthesising information from a range of disparate sources.
• Highly developed interpersonal and negotiation skills, with an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and work effectively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities with the ability to meet deadlines while working in pressured situations.

Mandatory requirements:-

• Applicants must be Australian citizens.
• Applicants must be willing and able to obtain a national security clearance.
• Applicants must be willing and able to participate in the branch's emergency standby roster to provide out-of-hours coverage and support during a significant emergency.

For more details regarding this position, please see attached position description for the key selection criteria to address in application.

The closing date for this position is Sunday, 02 November 2025.

How to apply:

Apply before the advertised closing date, all applications should include:

• a resume
• a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within two pages)

This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

Other relevant information:

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees and clients and consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OH&S Act), to support this DPC has a COVID-19 Vaccination policy which strongly recommends all DPC employees be fully vaccinated.

Preferred candidates will be required to complete a Pre-employment Declaration and Consent form. Employment of successful candidates will be subject to a National Police Check.

DPC actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people with disabilities. All roles at DPC can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.