Adviser

Organisation: Department of Transport and Planning
Occupation: Strategic Management
Reference: 6006
The Office of the Victorian Government Architect (OVGA)
The Office of the Victorian Government Architect (OVGA) is a Division of the Strategy and Precincts Group within DTP.
OVGA offers design advice and advocacy on projects that significantly affect Victoria's built environment.
OVGA provides strategic and constructive advice to government to articulate the vision and values that underpin its civic investments and support its role as:
Leader - through principles and policies that embed expectations of design quality in all stages of a project life cycle.
Enabler - through processes that encourage collaboration and awareness of the value in building legacy; and An informed client - that demands high quality and enduring outcomes in realising capital works programs.
The OVGA team has strong public and industry design expertise and includes experienced specialists in areas including architecture, urban design, and landscape architecture.
OVGA provides a positive, supportive culture and a work environment that encourages and enables high performance.

We're focused on outcomes that deliver more choice, connections and confidence in our travel, ensuring the whole transport network works as one to deliver better services and outcomes.

About the Role
This is a Fixed Term, full time position until 1 August 2025.

The OVGA is looking for a highly motivated and publicly minded design professional to fill a role as Adviser on landscape architecture and urban design.
This is an exciting and immediate opportunity to join OVGA in promoting design capability and culture, through advocacy and advice that supports high-quality design outcomes for the Victorian community.

The Adviser on landscape architecture and urban design will support OVGA's role working across government on a range of significant design-led policy initiatives and built environment projects in sectors including housing, health, education, transport, justice, culture and precincts.

The Adviser on landscape architecture and urban design will be an experienced landscape architect and/or urban designer.
They will have the ability to provide excellent, well-researched verbal and written design advice on matters related to the quality of our built environment.
The Adviser will contribute to OVGA's strategic advocacy initiatives including its guidance publications.

This is a unique opportunity to join a team making a significant contribution to the quality of Victoria's built environment and develop your strategic thinking, negotiation, and engagement skills.

In addition to the above, a driver's license is a prerequisite.
Out of hours work may be required, including occasional evening, weekend work or overnight travel.

Position Outcomes
The Adviser on landscape architecture and urban design will support OVGA in promoting high-quality design across government initiatives and lead collaborative, complex projects to enhance the built environment.
This role includes stakeholder engagement, advising on design and procurement for public projects, conducting research to inform OVGA's advocacy, and contributing to guidance publications and government briefs.

Key Selection Criteria –
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Communicate with Impact (Applied) - Prepares and delivers logical, sequential and succinct written and verbal advice and communication.
Uses clear and concise language.
Uses messages and media appropriate to the audience and presents information to develop an understanding of the topic.
Influence and Persuasion (Applied) - Consistently adapts the content, style, message or tone of advice, key messages and presentations to suit the audience and plans how to tackle objections.
Applies own ideas by linking them to others' values, needs and goals.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (Applied) - Resolves issues through deep understanding or interpretation of existing guidelines.
Where guidelines are not available, analyses ideas available and identifies, either individually or in consultation with others, a pathway to resolve problems.
If required, determines additional information needed to make informed decisions.
Applies critical thinking and problem-solving concepts in the right context.
Partnering and Co-creation (Applied) - Identifies and partners with users, stakeholders, experts, to ensure active collaboration in the design process to understand user needs, obtain ideas, insights and input.
Works with stakeholders and users to develop models/approaches and coordinate testing to validate the strategy, program or outcome.
Ensures decisions are made within agreed timeframes.
Project Delivery (Applied) - Executes work tasks in response to project plans.
Where plans are not defined, prioritises tasks in line with the urgency and impact of work.
Utilises approved task management tools, maintains accurate project records, and takes corrective action when required.
In addition to the above requirements, the role requires adaptability to changing priorities, a collaborative approach to teamwork, and strong support for colleagues, particularly in challenging situations.

Qualifications and Experience
Mandatory
A tertiary qualification in landscape architecture and/or urban design.
A minimum of 5 years demonstrated professional practice.
High quality verbal and written communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate professionally, clearly and confidently on design with stakeholders and clients.
An understanding of the values and processes of design.
Good knowledge of the design industry, either in private practice, a not-for-profit organisation or government.
Experience with design evaluation/or design review.
An understanding of urban design, strategic planning, and the planning system.
Experience in outward facing roles, including stakeholder and client engagement.
Good level of Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop capability.
What we offer
Meaningful work making Victorian communities more accessible and liveable Professional growth and development opportunities across the department and the wider Victorian Public Services A hybrid working model focused on collaboration and teamwork Optimal work-life balance initiatives including flexible working arrangements Opportunity to work across multiple urban and suburban hubs We prioritise the development of a safe and inclusive culture Culture Value
We are an equal opportunity employer, embracing a diverse range of applicants such as veterans, and people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, LGBTQIA community members, individuals with disabilities and/or health conditions, as well as those from varied faith and cultural backgrounds.
At our department, we prioritize the development of a safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture through shared actions and behaviours that align with our strategy and direction.
This empowers our employees to effectively contribute to our goals.

How to Apply
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Applications close 11.59pm on Thursday, 28th of November 2024.

All Applications should include a resume and a cover letter.
For further information about the role please contact Matthew Borg - Principal Adviser, Architecture and Urban Design via
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 Transport and Planning will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know by phone or email if you need any adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process.
If you require the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g., large print) due to viewing difficulties or other accessibility needs, we are happy to accommodate.

Job type: Full Time - Fixed Term
Job classification: VPSG4
Contact: - Principal Adviser, Architecture and Urban Design
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