Principal Policy Adviser, Strategic Policy & Projects

About us
The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government. We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses. We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.

About the role
The Principal Policy Adviser of Strategic Policy and Projects is responsible for providing advice on complex whole of government strategic policy and digital transformation priorities.

Key responsibilities include the development of strategic advice to the government, departmental executives, and stakeholders on complex policy, legislative and operational issues related to government's digital transformation agenda.

The role leads the development of a range of policy advice and projects within a politically sensitive environment, as well as supporting other priority projects on an ad-hoc basis to support delivery of government's digital reform agenda.

About you

To be considered for the role, you must be able to demonstrate:

• Demonstrated experience leading digital, technology or whole of government strategy development, including extensive knowledge of the wider digital economy and advances in technology and how these impact in a government context.
• Demonstrated experience in leading strategic policy and strategy development, providing practical advice to government to solve complex problems that improve delivery of government's digital transformation agenda.
• Highly developed knowledge of government policy practices and conventions, including demonstrated experience in leading policy formulation and development of large-scale, whole-of-government projects in complex environments to Ministerial and senior government stakeholders.
• Highly developed communication skills with demonstrated written and verbal ability to tailor technical concepts and analysis into concise Ministerial and senior executive briefings, discussion papers and Cabinet material.
• Strong policy analysis skills, including the ability to formulate and communicate policy options and recommendations, diagnose emerging issues, and identify broader strategic links and potential implications of proposed policy options.

Desirable requirements

• A relevant tertiary qualification.
• Understanding of policy development approaches and processes and/or strategic policy is desirable.
• Experience in government would be well regarded.

Key AccountabilitiesProvide strategic, evidence-based advice and recommendations for the development of strategic policy, priority projects, and digital strategy and reform that supports government to accelerate digital transformation.

• Lead advice to improve implementation of government's digital strategy, with responsibility for research, priority projects and strategy to support government to accelerate digital transformation.
• Provide strategic advice and support on system-wide reform and digital transformation system investment and opportunities, with capacity to deliver a work program of short, ad-hoc and longer terms projects, and provide leadership on a range of strategic reform projects.
• Lead the preparation of briefings, submissions for Cabinet committees, proposals for incoming government and budget bids, ensuring that activities are strategically coordinated to meet departmental objectives and Ministerial and government directions.
• Apply a highly developed understanding of public sector digitaltransformation commensurate with an understanding of the social and economic contexts, including State-wide, national or international influences and opportunities for reform.
• Initiate, manage, and maintain effective relationships within DGS, central agencies, and other stakeholders to assist in the delivery of government's digital transformation objectives and solve inter-agency issues.

For specific responsibilities please review the attached position description.

This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

How to apply

Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on 2nd July 2025. All applications should include:

• a resume; and
• a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages)

In accordance with the Jobs and Skills Exchange Policy, Victorian Public Service employees are required to apply via the JSE for primary consideration access.

Other relevant information

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees and clients and consistent with the department's obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OH&S Act), to support this DGS has a COVID-19 Vaccination policy which strongly recommends all DGS employees be fully vaccinated.

Preferred candidates will be required to complete a Pre-employment Declaration and Consent Form. Employment of successful candidates will be subject to a National Police Check.

DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.

Applications close Wednesday 2 July 2025 at 11.59PM