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 and 50 new early learning centres.

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

The Senior Program Advisor / Contract Manager will work as part of a flexible and high-performing School Cleaning Unit (SCU). The SCU is responsible for supporting all Victorian Government Schools with the delivery of cleaning services, including management of the Metropolitan Area-Based Cleaning Model, and for school cleaners to receive their lawful wages and entitlements.

The role will lead the contract management functions of the Metropolitan Area-Based Cleaning Model and support the broader SCU including dedicated Project Officers assigned to support the contract management team. The responsibility includes validating the contract deliverables, resolving issues, and managing performance.

The role also leads the delivery of other departmental programs and initiatives, including providing guidance and strategic support throughout the program lifecycle and ensuring alignment with objectives in the local work area.

All VSBA staff have a shared responsibility to meet the same service standards outlined in the VSBA Customer Service Charter. Our goal is to make every interaction with the VSBA a positive one for our customers, colleagues and key partners regardless of our individual role or team.

Key responsibilities of this role include:

• Providing leadership and acting as the first point of escalation for the broader contract management team.
• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with service providers and schools to manage risks and resolve issues impacting service delivery
• Using expert knowledge of contract compliance to ensure contract management functions are delivered, manage non-compliance and underperformance and provide guidance on strategic contract management to the leadership team.
• Collaborating with internal teams on a range of matters, such as planning, commercial discussions, legal and communications
• Assisting the Manager, Operations Manager and Senior Contract Manager with the development and performance management of School Cleaning Unit staff.
• Reviewing and improving existing and establishing new processes aligned with the objectives of the School Cleaning Unit
• Supporting the School Cleaning Unit with any other school cleaning-related matters.

Role-specific requirements:

• A valid Driver's License.
• A valid Working with Children Check (WWCC).
• Regular travel is expected and may include work outside of normal business hours.
• Usual work location: 33 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne, VIC 3002

About you

• Highly developed conceptual and analytical skills, including a record of achievement in, contract management, effective communication, and strong stakeholder management
• Results-oriented, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an emphasis on customer service, team development and effective people management.
• Demonstrated ability to build continuous improvement, productive relationships and strong negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to develop effective working relationships, to working collaboratively with a team of professionals and drive a positive workplace culture.

What we offer

• Meaningful work that is varied, satisfying and rewarding by making Victorian government schools clean and safe for school communities.
• Professional growth and development opportunities across the department and the wider Victorian Public Services.
• A hybrid working model focused on collaboration and teamwork.
• Diversity and inclusion—As one of Victoria's largest employers, the department is committed to creating an inclusive organisation and ensuring its workforce represents the community it serves.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position, please see the attached position description.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Chris Okamura [email protected] 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 Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g. large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

This is a full-time fixed term position for 3 years not beyond 30/6/2028

Applicants are encouraged to include a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria (no more than 3 pages) and a resume.

Hybrid working arrangements are available with a minimum starting position of a 3 days per week in the office for full-time employees (pro-rata for part-time employees).

Applications close 11:59pm on 19/03/2028