Manager, Child Safeguarding Investigations

About the Role

An engaging and important opportunity exists for a skilled senior leader with strong regulatory investigations expertise. This role is responsible for leading work in relation to complex, sensitive and often high-profile child safeguarding matters, including child sexual abuse in early childhood education and care services. As a Manager in the Complex Investigations Branch, you will develop QARD's investigative approach to these matters as well as building the associated capability of staff in accordance with the relevant Law, Regulations and Government policy.

You will also undertake, lead and/or contribute to large, high-profile, complex investigations in the branch with a small team of investigation officers. You will be responsible for providing authoritative and expert advice, information and recommendations to senior management in relation to investigations, sanctions and other compliance matters.

The position, reporting to the Director, Complex Investigations, will also be required to regularly collaborate with other QARD teams such as our regional operational teams to lead strategic investigative planning, provide expert advice, enable knowledge sharing and explore opportunities for continuous improvement in our investigation and sanction related work.

The position is a frontline response role and at time will be required to travel across Victoria to respond to high investigation cases. Occasionally, this will include planned overnight stays.

Work Type

This is an ongoing position at the VPS6 level based in Melbourne CBD.

Attributes

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• the ability to investigate alleged contraventions of legislation including planning, collecting evidence, having case discussions, taking witness statements and conducting interviews with persons subject of an allegation and writing reports and recommendations about further action

• experience in the planning, conducting and leadership of complex operational investigations

• the ability to identify, gather and analyse evidence and information in a court-admissible manner in relation to sensitive, high-profile and complex matters such as in relation to sexual misconduct and child abuse.

• strong conceptual and analytical skills, including an ability to interpret legislation, standards, guidelines and practices to ensure effective regulation of the ECEC sector

• strong interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders (internal and external)

strong planning and organising skills and attention to detail.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Professional senior experience in the conduct of regulatory or criminal investigations in relation to sexual misconduct
  Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and/or Cert IV or Diploma in Government Investigations or equivalent

Mandatory

Successful applicants will be required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children's Check and Victorian driver's licence.

About the Department

The role of the Department of Education is to support Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society. The department supports a culture of leadership, learning and renewal in all workplaces with opportunities for career development and advancement.

Further information about the department is available at:

About the Division

The Department of Education is the Victorian Regulatory Authority for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services under delegation from the Secretary. The Quality Assessment and Regulation Division (QARD) in the department regulates and quality assesses Victorian ECEC services. It drives the delivery of high-quality services and ensures the safety, health and wellbeing of Victorian children attending those services.

QARD regulates approximately 4,900 services including family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs, as required by the Education and Care Services National Law 2010 (National Law). QARD also regulates around 180 services operating under the Victorian Children's Services Act 1996 (Children's Services Act); these include occasional care and limited hours services.

QARD is responsible for:

• approving providers and services as required by the National Law and Children's Services Act

• monitoring and enforcing service compliance and conducting investigations in response to notifications and complaints

• assessment and rating of family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs against the National Quality Standard (NQS) for Early Childhood Education and School Age Care

supporting legislative policy development.

QARD is also the integrated sector regulator of the Child Safe Standards for all early childhood services in Victoria.

Further information about QARD is available at:

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Emma Bradford, Director, Complex Investigations via or

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 26th of November 2025.