Senior Advisor, Executive Services

About us

The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government. We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses. We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.

About the role

Working within the Regulator and Group Operations team, the Senior Advisor, Executive Services supports the effective delivery and improvement of executive and ministerial services within the Consumer Affairs portfolio.

The role acts as a central point of coordination for Ministerial and Departmental correspondence and advice requests, leading a team consisting of two other staff responsible for correspondence and complaints. Through the team, correspondence and complaints are handled from receipt to endorsement. The role works closely with the team to ensure handling is in line with Executive and Ministerial expectations and oversees quality controls and improvement.

The role also administers a range of governance and integrity processes on behalf of CAV. In administering these processes, the role is also responsible for ensuring timely completion and best practice, department-aligned process is applied (and where possible, continuously improved) across the scope of work.

The role works closely with other areas of CAV; the Consumer Affairs and Local Government group; and the department more broadly. Strong stakeholder engagement; high attention to detail; and acumen in government administration are critical for this role.

About you

To be considered for the role, you must be able to demonstrate:

• Broad skills and experience in relevant governance systems, procedures, policies and functions relating to public administration; able to work to the requirements of executive and ministerial offices and continuously improve systems to better meet the needs of stakeholders.
• Proficient in writing for executive, ministerial, Cabinet, and Parliamentary audiences, with the ability to gather and interpret data to make evidence-based reports and recommendations.
• Manages issues effectively `up, down, and sideways' in the Consumer Affairs portfolio effectively, coordinating and comprehending complex matters for appropriate allocation and handling whilst providing timely and suitable briefings to responsible and accountable stakeholders in relevant formats (such as briefings, presentations, and reports).
• Outstanding coordination and attention to detail skills; able to manage multiple work products across different areas of work in the Consumer Affairs portfolio. Approach to work products is authoritative and aligned to best practice and standards when compared to other groups.
• Excellent stakeholder management, maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders and agency representatives as required to support the timely completion of work products in the Regulator and Group Operations area.

Mandatory requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualifications relating to public administration; law; or policy would be highly regarded.
• Relevant experience working in government coordination roles (e.g. executive coordination, strategic adviser), would be highly regarded.
• Relevant experience or subject matter expertise within the Consumer Affairs portfolio would be highly regarded.

Key accountabilities

• Leads a team responsible for handling high volumes of Ministerial and Departmental correspondence and complaints within the Consumer Affairs portfolio, ensuring handling is in accordance with business rules; legislative requirements; and expectations of endorsers and stakeholders.
• Administers and provides specialist advice on a range of governance and integrity processes on behalf of CAV, including (but not limited to) coordinating preparations for Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearings; coordinating freedom of information requests for CAV; managing feedback and complaints regarding CAV services (from individuals and entities such as the Victorian Ombudsman); and preparing materials and advice for portfolio statutory appointments.
• Provides Executive Services to the office of the minister responsible for the Consumer Affairs portfolio, including managing the process for appointments to statutory bodies and other entities within the portfolio and managing responses to Parliamentary Matters such as Questions on Notice, Constituency Questions, and Adjournment Debates.
• Prepares or contributes to the preparation of authoritative reports; papers; presentations; briefs; Cabinet items; and correspondence within tight timelines and at an exceptional level of quality and clarity.
• Produces reports that provide assurance on the effectiveness of activities and identify opportunities for improvement, researching and analysing complex issues and interpreting data to develop informed, evidenced-based recommendations.
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective working relationships.

For specific responsibilities please review the attached position description.

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

How to apply

Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on 1st October 2025. All applications should include:

• a resume; and
• a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages)

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 DGS has a COVID-19 Vaccination policy which strongly recommends all DGS 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.

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