Senior Program Manager, Workforce Strategy | Melbourne - CBD

Job Description

• Great opportunity to join Youth Justice on an ongoing basis in Melbourne.
• Provide leadership and oversight for complex analytical initiatives focused on the coordination and execution of Youth Justice's workforce strategy and work plan
• Lead a comprehensive program of work relating to the employee lifecycle of Youth Justice Custodial and Community frontline workforces

The Senior Program Manager, Workforce Strategy will provide a key role in leading specific projects to deliver Youth Justice's workforce strategy and work plan. The role will be responsible for leading a team supporting key workforce projects, including compliance monitoring and reporting, and the coordination and delivery of initiatives related to learning and development; attraction, recruitment; engagement and retention; health and safety (including occupational violence mitigation); workforce planning and organisational development and structures.

Youth Justice is responsible for the statutory supervision of children and young people in contact with the criminal justice system in Victoria. Children and young people who are involved in Youth Justice are either supervised in the community, or within custodial services. Youth Justice works with children and young people to address their offending behaviour and help them achieve positive change in their lives; and works closely with families, stakeholders and service partners to promote opportunities for young people's rehabilitation.

The Opportunity

• Ongoing, full-time position based in Melbourne.
• VPS Grade 6 role: $138,631 - $185,518 per year plus superannuation.
• Lead and manage a team to coordinate and deliver high priority, high profile workforce initiatives to support youth justice system priorities relating to the workforce lifecycle.
• Closely engage with operational stakeholders to build relationships and knowledge to inform the effective design and delivery of workforce reforms.
• Provide authoritative strategic and innovative advice to departmental executives and Ministers on complex and potentially sensitive matters in relation to workforce and other related matters.
• Lead and manage project-focused working groups and governance settings to guide the implementation of workforce initiatives, including working with stakeholders across the department to ensure that business objectives are met on time and within budget and quality requirements. 

To be successful in this role you will have

• Strong background in workforce planning, organisational development and design, human resources management or industrial and legislative frameworks
• Experience leading complex strategic projects and strategy formulation, project compliance and collaborative workforce analysis
• Experience working collaboratively within a broader team of multidisciplinary project and policy managers and specialist technical experts
• A relevant qualification in public policy, human resources, law or other relevant fields is desirable.

You may be required to obtain a Working with Children Check, which you would need to maintain for the period of employment.

To learn more about the type of skills you will need to thrive in this role, please read the position description.

What's in it for you?

You will be working for the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which is one arm of the Victorian State Government, a recognised top employer of choice nationally. All our staff work to the vision of a safe, just, innovative and thriving Victoria.

There are many advantages in working for the department, including:

• Job stability – position as a member of the Victorian Public Service (VPS).
• A fair salary– enjoy great work conditions and salary sacrificing options.
• Transparent performance framework– approach your work with confidence in how you're tracking, working to professional development plans agreed on by you and your manager.
• Generous leave entitlements– provisions for many forms of leave; including personal, parental, carers, study, cultural, compassionate, and sick leave.
• Employee Assistance Program support – you are encouraged to use this short-term, confidential counselling service if you're experiencing emotional stress, relationship problems, conflict with others or personal issues. It is also available for financial counselling and retirement planning.

If you have any queries, please contact Charlie Allen on 0419 750 092 or Charlie.Allen@justice.vic.gov.au

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact Aboriginalrecruitment@justice.vic.gov.au if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.

For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being made

We want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. One of the ways we do this is by recruiting a diverse workforce – we welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and cultural background. We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector.

We're proud of our individual differences. We're proud of the many languages we speak and the stories we can share with each other. We hope you will share your story too.

If this sounds like a compelling job that you believe your skills would be a great match for, please APPLY NOW. Applications close 11.59pm, Sunday 20 Jul  2025.

How to apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.