The Senior Project Manager within the Delivery Team is responsible for acquiring land to facilitate the construction of educational facilities throughout Victoria - including site-suitability investigations, developing strategies to mitigate risks to program, understanding of relevant planning schemes, stakeholder management with various landholders (including developers, private individuals, other government agencies and local government authorities), ensuring compliance with relevant policies and guidelines, valuations, compulsory acquisition, and negotiating contracts of sale or other relevant legal agreements.
This role is Fixed Term till 14/09/2029 ~ 3 year term.
About the Department
The Department of Education 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 Major Projects & Property Division is responsible for delivering educational infrastructure projects and programs, including the acquisition and management of land as well as delivery of capital infrastructure projects.
The Property Branch represents the Minister for Education and Minister for Children's interests as a land owner, and provides specialised land and property related advice and support to schools and other areas within DE and the VSBA. The Branch's work covers the whole of the property life cycle, being:
Acquisition of land for new schools and early childhood facilities and to expand existing educational facilities
Property agreements and general support for the management of the land and property issues on behalf of the Minister for Education and the Minister for Children.
Land Regeneration, covering closed or vacant education sites. This includes management and disposal of land no longer required for education use, as well as management of sites being retained for future school or early childhood provision.
About the Role
The role will also contribute to the development and implementation of Government's Best Start Best Life program from a land perspective and any other new strategic land acquisition initiatives led by the Department of Education. An important element of the role is the provision of timely advice and specialist support to other areas within the VSBA and the Department in relation to the VSBA's Land Acquisition Program. Given the high profile nature of the projects, the role requires exceptional stakeholder management skills to ensure that the projects are delivered on time and on budget, and communication and reporting are delivered to the highest standard. Key stakeholders include the Office of the Minister for Education, the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive team of the VSBA, local government authorities, other government Departments and Government agencies such as the Valuer-General Victoria and the Victorian Government Land Monitor. The role would suit someone with well-developed interpersonal skills, knowledge of land development and strong experience in working collaboratively as part of a team. 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.
The Land Acquisition Un it consists of three teams, Forward Planning, Site & Infrastructure, and Delivery. The work undertaken by the Land Acquisition teams includes collaboration with other areas of the Department of Education on provision analysis for education demand; liaison with local councils and land developers on timing for developments; undertaking site identification for future acquisition; site suitability investigations and works; valuation; negotiation with landholders (which may include developers, private individuals, other government agencies and local government authorities); ensuring compliance with relevant policies and guidelines; and negotiating contracts of sale and other relevant legal agreements.
Further Information
For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.
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
John Sirotic - Manager via
[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.
Applications close 11:59pm on Thursday 18 June 2026.
