Principal Policy Officer

Principal Policy Officer Salary : $138,631 - $185,518 (Plus superannuation) Ongoing position Usual hours of work : Full time Usual work location : Melbourne CBD The Role As a Principal Policy Officer, you will support the Advisory Board Chair and the Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) leadership in the delivery of the Advisory Board's annual priorities. This includes providing quality research and policy advice relating to the vocational education sector and the skills shortages within Victoria. The successful candidate will require a strong understanding of the vocational education and training sector, and related government priorities coupled with excellent written and verbal communication skills. The role will be required to provide consistent support and guidance to the VSA's Advisory Board and its Chair as well as engage with a variety of stakeholders - both internal and external. Key accountabilities Lead a program of research initiatives relating to the vocational education sector, skill shortages and other government and industry priorities as aligned to the Board's annual strategic workplan and wider VSA strategic objectives and deliverables. Lead policy co-ordination relating to issues of strategic importance to the Board and VSA, including but not limited to issues relating to digital skills, employability, clean economy, workforce supply and demand, and skills shortages. Formulate evidence based strategic recommendations and best practice approaches for the Board and Board Chair and the VSA Executive to inform the delivery of vocational training across Victoria. Prepare Board papers, complex briefings, reports, submissions and research material on a range of topics as raised by the Advisory Board and VSA Senior Executive. Develop project plans, manage risks and issues and focus on continuous improvement. Ensure that projects support and are connected to the wider VSA key priorities and deliverables. Ensure quality and timeliness of advice are provided consistent with government requirements, practices and protocols. Present findings to Advisory Board members and other senior stakeholders across the VSA and government, as required. The Team The position of Principal Policy Officer will work within Services Branch, which sits within Victorian Skills Authority Group. The Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) provides evidence-based planning and solutions to meet current and future skills needs in Victoria. We are an administrative office led by a chief executive officer and supported by an advisory board of key stakeholders. We report directly to the Minister for Skills and TAFE and work closely with the Office of TAFE Coordination and Delivery and the Skills and TAFE Group within DJSIR. Our role is to gather and analyse industry data, identify where there are current and emerging skills shortages in Victoria's workforce, work with stakeholders to develop strategies to fill these gaps and drive engagement, collaboration and innovation across Victoria's skills system. The VSA has 4 branches – Engagement and Skills Reform Branch, Services Branch, Analysis and Insights Branch and Executive and Corporate Services Branch. About You To be successful in this role you will have the following skills and experience: Policy design and development : Formulates and communicates public policy options and recommendations. Develops a clear narrative for the policies and business cases including clear problem definition and objectives. Considers impact of policy to strategic plans, community needs, complementing programs and policies across the service. Future focus : Understands the broader context when reviewing an issue or problem and supports others to do so. Is future oriented in analysis, thought and action. Actively seeks out new technology to enhance team systems, processes and service delivery. Undertakes planning to ensure the organisation is future ready through managing change. Project management : Translates strategies into programs or projects that enables achievement of outcomes. Undertakes procurement and contract management as required, aligned to Victorian government and VSA guidelines and protocols. Produces detailed project plans where objectives are clearly defined. Defines governance, including success measures, roles and responsibilities, progress monitoring, and identifies and manages risks. Consults, liaises with and influences key stakeholders. Ensures project objectives are met. Innovation and Continuous Improvement : Uses understanding of clients or stakeholders' context to design and implement systems for continuous improvement within team or organisation. Reviews and analyzes internal and external information to improve effectiveness and quality of work. Creates team environments where innovation and creativity are fostered and rewarded. Communication : Identifies key messages and information required for decision-making. Provides high level advice on influencing and the needs of target audiences. Tailors written communication to target audiences. Prepares complex reports, briefings, papers, agendas and other written materials. Maintains a high level of professionalism in written materials aligned to Victorian government guidelines and VPS values. Ensures timely written responses. Edits and approves contributions from others. Further Information For a confidential discussion, please contact Nick Condratoff, Manager, Advisory Board Advice and Support Unit on ________. The department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with the Child Safe Standards. Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description. Please note: We are accredited as a Disability Confident Recruitment (DCR) organisation and committed to inclusive recruitment. If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJSIR Recruitment Team on ________ or via email at ________ with the position number in the subject line. For additional contact details for our team please review the attached Position Description, located under Job Attachments in the right hand menu. How to Apply Please click the 'Apply Now' button. As part of the application process, you will need to provide a copy of your Resume and a Cover Letter addressing the Key Selection Criteria as outlining in the position description. Applications close at 23:59pm on Thursday, 11th December #J-18808-Ljbffr