Manager, School Cleaning Unit

This position is a Senior Leadership role requiring someone with demonstrated experience in complex and high-risk contract management and extensive stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
About the Department
The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.
The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education
About the Victorian School Building Authority
The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) is part of the Department of Education. Established in 2016, it oversees Victoria's largest school building program since the state introduced free public education in the 1870s.
The VSBA upgrades and expands existing schools and plans, designs and builds new schools to meet enrolment demand. We also support schools to maintain their buildings and grounds by offering expert advice and coordinating maintenance programs and grants.
With Victoria recently introducing two years of funded kindergarten, the VSBA is also working with the early childhood sector on a massive kindergarten construction program.
About the Division
The Asset Management Division helps schools maintain and manage their buildings and grounds and ensures they are more energy efficient. The Division trains school leaders as facilities managers and supports them to develop school maintenance plans. They coordinate programs, assessments, and systems to ensure schools are routinely maintained and cleaned.
The Division includes the Asset Management Branch, School Asset Management Support Branch, Facilities Branch, Maintenance Delivery Branch and the Programs Branch.
About the Role
Reporting to the Director of the Facilities Branch, the Manager leads the School Cleaning Unit (SCU) and is part of the Facilities Branch leadership group. This role involves providing strategic leadership to ensure best practices in cleaning services across government schools, managing Area-Based Metropolitan School Cleaning Agreements, and acting as an expert negotiator and key influencer with strong stakeholder management skills
- This position may be required to participate in evening and/or weekend work, including some travel
- During any emergency situation, you may be required to work outside typical business hours.

Attributes
- Knowledge and experience in facilities management - soft services - cleaning (preferred)
- Experience leading and managing large, high-performing teams within complex environments.
- Strong writing and presentation skills, enabling you to communicate complex problems and propose solutions clearly.
- Experience building and maintaining positive relationships with key stakeholders and facilitating program delivery.
- Highly developed strategic planning abilities to achieve results in complex, politically sensitive environments within agreed quality, cost, and timeframes.
- Proven ability to manage commercial and financial challenges, navigate complex contracts and interpret legislative requirements.
- Expertise in contract administration and commercial negotiations allows you to offer sound advice that drives successful outcomes.

Further Information
Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.
Applications close 11:59pm on 20th October 2024
Hybrid working arrangements are available, but regular attendance at the central office is required.
This is a full-time fixed term position for 3 years.
Applicants are encouraged to include a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria (no more than 3 pages) and a resume