About the Department
The Department of Education supports Victorians to build prosperous, socially engaged, happy and healthy lives. It does this by supporting lifelong learning and healthy development, strengthening families and helping to equip people with the skills and knowledge for a 21st century economy and society.
About the Early Childhood Education Group
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) group plays a key role in operational policy development, service program design and commissioning to ensure a child and family centred, outcomes focused, integrated system. Together with the other groups in the Department of Education, ECE group works to ensure that every child has the best start in life.
In ECE group we provide specific oversight of the early childhood education system, regulate early childhood education services and implement relevant legislative reforms. We deliver on the Victorian Government's key social and economic policy reforms to strengthen early childhood education.
About the Early Childhood Strategy Division
The Division is a small and influential strategic policy unit within ECE group that leads on strategic policy design, funding reform and future design of the early childhood sector, including in relation to the Best Start, Best Life reforms: https://www.vic.gov.au/kinder.
In addition to building policy capability across ECE group and the department, ECSD is responsible for delivering high quality analysis and advice to a range of key stakeholders and Ministers. Our work has a strong focus on increasing equity and quality across the education system to improve outcomes for children experiencing disadvantage and plays a critical role in ensuring the ECEC system is working well to ensure the delivery of high-quality early childhood education and care for all children in Victoria.
About the Role
The Executive Assistant will provide executive support to the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Strategy Division and project support to the broader team, as necessary. The role will provide high quality executive and administrative support as well as management of services for office support, correspondence, recordkeeping and application of administrative policies, procedures and protocols and other project support assistance as required.
The work will entail administrative functions, finance support, the set up and operationalisation of information management structures, liaison with diverse and at times senior stakeholders and assisting with procurement activities, briefs and slide decks as required.
The work is fast-paced and diverse, and the ideal candidate is intellectually agile, willing and able to learn while working with novel products or processes, and comfortable in a complex and dynamic environment.
The role requires strong collaboration within a high-performing team and across the Department. The team is supportive, friendly and passionate about improving children and families' outcomes and driving policy reform. We aim to be a welcoming workplace for individuals from diverse backgrounds who reflect the many communities that education policy affects.
Your duties will include:
Executive support:
- Managing the executive day folder/calendar, and other executive support services as required
- Coordinating responses and facilitating internal communicating processes as required
- Arranging meetings/events such as booking and preparing venues, agendas
- Coordinating travel and other arrangements for meeting and event attendees
- Collating and distribute material and documents for meetings and events
Office project management and project planning:
- Supporting business improvement initiatives by developing written, visual and project management products and tools
- Assisting with briefs and slide decks as required
- Providing administrative and project support to the Division and across all work streams
- Identifying and utilising appropriate project planning methods
- Identifying and mapping the scope of a project to deliver business needs
Procurement responsibilities:
- Using appropriate purchasing processes that reflect the complexity of the procurement in accordance with departmental policy
- Entering purchase requisitions into Oracle and processes invoices
Qualifications and Experience:
To be considered for the role, you must be able to demonstrate:
- Experience in executive support functions and/or project management experience.
- A working knowledge of budgeting and finance processes.
- Demonstrated commitment to customer service, with high level interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, flexibly, and constructively in a team, within a busy environment to ensure continuous and efficient operation and work proactively to enhance work systems and practices.
- Outstanding computer skills including extensive experience with Microsoft Word and Excel and an ability to troubleshoot technical difficulties.
How to apply
Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience and suitability to the role in line with the duties, required capabilities and the Key Selection Criteria outlined in the Position Description.
Further Information
For more details regarding this position please see attached position description.
For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Justine Watson - Manager via (03) 9084 8894 or [email protected]
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.
Preferred applicants may be required to have a Working with Children Check, a police check and 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 31st August 2026
