Manager, Regional Development, Great South Coast
- Salary: $142,790 - $191,084 (Plus Superannuation)
- Ongoing, full-time role (flexibility may be available)
- Usual work location: Warrnambool (flexibility may be available)
The Role
The Manager Regional Development is responsible for leading strategic regional development investment and coordination of the Regional Partnership, as well as other key government priorities, to leverage the unique strengths of the region and build place-based prosperity and drive economic growth for Victoria. The role also plays a lead in the implementation of economic recovery initiatives in the region.
Leading a team of regional and economic development professionals, the role will deliver a dynamic and varied work program including responsibility for delivering a range of regional development initiatives for businesses and communities throughout the region to facilitate region and business intelligence, investment and export opportunities. The position is responsible for providing strategic advice, executive and governance support to the Great South Coast Regional Partnership in order to progress regional plans, strategic directions and priority projects. The role also leads Regional Development Victoria's (RDV) response to economic recovery in the Great South Coast region.
Main accountabilities:
- Lead the Great South Coast Regional Development team in the delivery of major and whole-of-government regional development initiatives, strategies and government priorities that support regional liveability and prosperity, utilising and leveraging knowledge of the local region, its communities, industry, and government, as well as understanding of local trends, opportunities, and risks.
- Supporting the Regional Director in their role as Accountable Executive, in the management and coordination of the Regional Partnership, providing strategic advice and executive and governance support to the Great South Coast Regional Partnership in order to progress Regional Economic Development Strategy, as well as environmental and social priorities, regional plans, strategic directions, preparation of business cases and priority projects including on matters such as economic recovery, and negotiation of project and commercial matters.
- Manage and oversee the planning, implementation and delivery of a range of economic development, business and industry activities through regional DJSIR programs including RDV grants and place-based programs ensuring best-practice and consistent delivery approaches. Identify, manage and deliver new investment initiatives, such as investment support packages utilising commercial acumen and a sound understanding of regional economies, workforce, geography, stakeholders and transport in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders and in alignment with investment KPIs.
- Lead the team in driving integrated investment in place by understanding, influencing, and negotiating with key internal and external stakeholders and partners by developing and maintaining strategic relationships and networks with Federal, State and local government, community organisations, business, and industry.
The Team
The position of Manager, Regional Development, Great South Coast forms a part of the Barwon South West branch within the Regional Development Victoria group.
We work with businesses, communities and across government to deliver economic growth, create jobs, build resilience, and support economic recovery in our regions. We have a strong role in activating networks; building partnerships; realising outcomes that boost local economic and community resilience; and bringing the lived experience of communities into government decision making. In delivering our portfolio priorities, we work closely with parts of government given the many synergies and linkages with other priorities across government.
About You
- Specialist Expertise: Proven experience in providing high level authoritative advice on complex and sensitive issues to senior management and key stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to apply the drivers of regional development from a statewide and place-based perspective to achieve outcomes and established networks with senior regional stakeholders to realise significant enhanced outcomes for the region, including a working knowledge of recovery initiatives.
- People Management: Aligns team with the organisational values and goals through effective people management and modelling; maximises effectiveness by selecting, developing, managing and motivating a high performing team, clearly defines role expectations, monitors performance, provides timely and constructive feedback and facilitates employee development; ensures staff are effectively deployed through effective workforce planning practices.
- Project Management: Consults, liaises with and influences key stakeholders; produces detailed project plans where objectives are clearly defined and action steps for achieving them are clearly specified; monitors performance against objectives and manages project risks and issues; ensures project objectives are met. Demonstrated leadership and project management experience with experience delivering large scale complex public sector projects, including planning, solution identification and contributing to the implementation of large-scale, whole-of-government projects.
- Stakeholder Management and Influence and Negotiation: Demonstrated ability to build collaboration and consensus across a wide range of stakeholders across government and the private sector, and regional and community organisations to achieve government priorities; Gains agreement to proposals and ideas; builds behind- the- scenes support for ideas to ensure buy-in and ownership; uses chains of indirect influence to achieve outcomes, for example, `gets A to show B so B will tell C'; involves experts or other third parties to strengthen a case.
Further Information
For a confidential discussion, please contact Brett Ince, Regional Director, Barwon South West on 0409 414 008 or [email protected].
The Department is committed to creating and maintaining a child safe organisation. We have zero tolerance of child abuse and are committed to taking the necessary steps to protect children from harm by adopting a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety in accordance with the Child Safe Standards.
Successful candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Records Check prior to commencing employment with the Department. For further information on the position, please refer to the attached position description.
Please note: We are committed to inclusive recruitment. If you require an adjustment to participate in any stage of the recruitment process or have a particular requirement to be communicated with by either telephone or email only, please notify the DJSIR Talent Acquisition Team on 0472 875 685, or via email at [email protected] with the position number in the subject line.
How to Apply
Please click the `Apply Now' button. As part of the application process, you will need to provide a copy of your resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria outlined in the position description.
Applications close at 23:59pm on 21 June 2026.
