Executive Director, Land and Biodiversity Policy

About the role

As the Executive Director you will be involved in shaping the strategic direction of the Land and Biodiversity Policy Division and supporting the Deputy Secretary in its overall management, strategic planning, policy development and service delivery activities.

You will play a major role in building a high performing, capable and customer focused workforce and culture aligned to deliver DEECA's vision. You will have strengths in self-awareness, thought leadership, and executing delivery through people. You will display a willingness to learn from feedback and modify behaviours accordingly.

You will have a track record of strategically leading a large workforce, dealing comfortably with ambiguity and complexity, and distilling and synthesising interconnected and multiple sources of information to grasp the essence of issues in a complex and multi stakeholder environment. You will confidently challenge the status quo, and make difficult decisions. You will have demonstrable experience embedding the organisations vision and strategy to create meaning for your leadership team to ensure delivery on corporate objectives. You will have extensive experience in building and maintaining relationships with a broad range of people, and proactively shaping relationships with group counterparts and key stakeholders.

About you:

To be successful in the role, you will have:

• Experience as a senior leader with a proven record of success working in a large, complex organisation and leading change management and improvement initiatives.
• Experienced in working closely with community groups, Ministers and/or multiple stakeholders and an understanding of the processes and levers that apply to Government is highly desirable.

About the Group

We employ approximately 6,300 staff, including around 600 seasonal staff, across more than 86 locations throughout Victoria, across energy, environment, climate action, water, agriculture, and resources portfolios.

Our challenge is to maintain Victoria's liveability, with a population expected to almost double by 2050, while responding to climate change and protecting our natural environment, infrastructure and heritage for future generations. We take a community-centred approach and involve communities and key stakeholders in decisions and policies that affect them and we collaborate across our portfolios to design and deliver services and programs.

This is a fixed term position available for a period of up to 5 years. The work location for this position is flexible within Victoria with hybrid work arrangements available.

To be considered for this position, applicants are encouraged to submit a resume and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages) summarising their skills and relevant experience.

For further information, please refer to the attached position description or call Carolyn Jackson, Deputy Secretary RECAFP on or email

Applications close at midnight on Sunday, 9 November 2025.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to:

• undertake pre-employment screening, including completion of a Declaration and Consent form and a National Police Check

• have their misconduct declarations validated, irrespective of whether misconduct has been declared or not

• provide at least two appropriate referees, including their current direct line manager or where relevant (i.e. because they are not employed) most recent direct line manager in accordance with the requirements set out in executive reference checks.
• provide evidence of their right to work in Australia

For more information about the pre-screening requirements for this position, please refer to the position description.

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave.