The VCAA is a statutory body responsible to the Victorian Minister for Education, serving both government and non-government schools. We provide high quality curriculum, assessment and reporting for all Victorian students birth to 18 years.
An exciting opportunity exists to join the Corporate Services Division in the IMT Branch, IT Projects Unit as a Senior Project Officer in an ongoing full-time position.
- Salary: $116,413 to $140,849, plus 12% superannuation
- Employment type: Ongoing
- Usual hours of work: Full time (flexible work arrangements may be available)
- Usual work location: East Melbourne / Hybrid
About the Division
The Corporate Services Division supports the VCAA in delivering high-quality services through strong governance, operational support and enabling functions.
The IMT Branch plays a key role in supporting the organisation's digital, technology and information management needs.
Within the IMT Branch, the IT Projects Unit is responsible for leading and delivering complex ICT projects that support organisational priorities and contribute to implementation of the VCAA ICT Strategy and roadmap. The unit works across business and technical teams to provide structured project management, strengthen governance, coordinate delivery resources and support consistent, transparent and disciplined project delivery practices across the branch.
Role Purpose
The Senior Project Officer leads the planning, governance and delivery of complex, cross-functional ICT projects that require formal oversight and dedicated project management. The role supports entity and group performance and engagement, contract management and program implementation, while ensuring positive and productive interactions with stakeholders and peers.
This role is responsible for coordinating project planning, scheduling and resource allocation across a portfolio of project activity. It manages project governance, dependencies, risks, issues and stakeholder communications, supports progress reporting, and oversees vendor and contractor engagement where required.
Working across business and technical teams, the Senior Project Officer ensures projects are planned and delivered in a disciplined, transparent and consistent way aligned with organisational priorities, resource constraints, and the VCAA ICT Strategy and roadmap. The role helps establish effective project controls, including scope, schedule, risk, change and governance arrangements, to support timely and informed decision-making.
The role will also use and support project management tools such as Jira to improve visibility, planning and tracking of work. In addition, it supports the branch to adopt new ways of working through continuous improvement in project governance, delivery practices and team coordination.
This role contributes to stronger project discipline, improved delivery confidence, clearer accountability and more effective implementation of technology initiatives across the IMT Branch.
Attributes
To be successful in this role, you will bring strong project delivery, governance and stakeholder engagement capability within a complex ICT environment. You will be a highly organised and collaborative professional who can lead project planning and execution across multiple teams, while maintaining clear oversight of dependencies, risks, resources and delivery outcomes.
You will ideally demonstrate:
- strong experience in project management, program delivery or ICT project leadership in a complex environment
- demonstrated success managing projects with formal governance, cross-functional dependencies and multiple stakeholders
- proven ability to establish and maintain project controls, including scope, change, risk, schedule and budget oversight
- experience in vendor management, contractor engagement or third-party oversight
- the ability to coordinate project planning, delivery timeframes, governance forums and progress reporting across a range of stakeholders
- experience using Jira or similar project management tools to improve project visibility, planning and tracking
- demonstrated ability to support and embed new ways of working that strengthen project governance, delivery practices and team coordination
- strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to prepare clear, data-informed project reports and briefings
- experience working in matrixed organisations with competing priorities and complex stakeholder environments
- sound judgement, strong critical thinking and the ability to resolve issues and support delivery momentum in a changing environment
- a commitment to the Victorian Public Sector Values of Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights.
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- 5-7+ years' experience in project management, program management, or IT delivery leadership.
- Demonstrated success managing projects with formal governance, cross-functional dependencies, and multiple stakeholders.
- Strong experience in vendor management, contractor recruitment, or third-party oversight.
- Proven ability to establish and enforce project controls, including scope, change, risk and budget.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to prepare clear, data-driven progress reports.
- Experience working in matrixed organisations with competing priorities and complex stakeholder landscapes.
- Demonstrated ability to balance formal governance discipline with delivery agility.
- Bachelor's degree in information technology, business or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Project management certification such as PMP or PRINCE2.
- Experience working in government, education or another large, complex organisation.
- Understanding of government or education sector complexity, compliance and decision-making dynamics.
How to Apply
Applicants are encouraged to include a Curriculum Vitae and a Cover letter addressing the key selection criteria provided in the position description.
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 Chris Hofmann, Chief Information officer, [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 08 September 2026.
