Senior Manager, Legal Policy and Priority Projects

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: DJCS/

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we're looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We're all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or cultural background.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children's rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers

We're proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

Responsibilities

• Manage the development and delivery of priority projects and legal policy reforms related to Victoria's Youth Justice system.
• Oversee and manage the Legal Policy and Priority Projects teams to deliver quality outcomes and work collaboratively with key project partners, cross departmental counterparts and sector organisations.
• Lead project management activities, as well as high quality briefings, reports and strategic advice for senior stakeholders.

Opportunity

• Fixed term, full time position for 2 years based in the Melbourne CBD.
• VPS6 role: $142,790 - $191,084 per year plus superannuation.
• Lead and oversee the Legal Policy and Priority Projects teams to deliver critical priority reforms relating to Victoria's Youth Justice system including to support YJ Act implementation, Council on Bail, Rehabilitation and Accountability (COBRA) and implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Working Group within quality, resourcing and timeline parameters.
• Lead project management activities, as well as high quality briefings, reports and strategic advice for senior DJCS executives, the DJCS Secretary and Ministers.
• Provide expert policy analysis and advice on reforms relating to Victoria's Youth Justice system, including the identification of emerging issues, opportunities, risks and trends impacting on the achievement of complex and sensitive programs, initiatives and reforms.
• Work closely with the Project Director - South Sudanese Australian Expert Working Group Implementation to co coordinate and drive the implementation of recommendations arising from the Expert Working Group.
• Proactively oversee and lead stakeholder consultation, communication and governance for key workstreams.
• Oversee and lead the development of supporting legal instruments, such as regulations and delegations, that underpin the YJ Act.

Qualifications

• Sound experience in government legal policy design, project delivery and/or service design.
• Knowledge of current policy direction, research and issues within Youth Justice and the criminal justice system more broadly, or the ability to understand these issues quickly.
• Strong conceptual, legal policy and analytical skills with the ability to analyse complex policy, operational and legal issues.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Working with Children Check for the period of employment.

Benefits

• Job stability - position as a member of the Victorian Public Service (VPS).
• A fair salary - enjoy great work conditions and salary sacrificing options.
• Transparent performance framework - approach your work with confidence in how you're tracking, working to professional development plans agreed on by you and your manager.
• Generous leave entitlements - provisions for many forms of leave, including personal, parental, carers, study, cultural, compassionate and sick leave.
• Employee Assistance Program support - you are encouraged to use this short term, confidential counselling service if you're experiencing emotional stress, relationship problems, conflict with others or personal issues. It is also available for financial counselling and retirement planning.

EEO and Diversity

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process. For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being made.

We want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. We welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and cultural background. We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector.

We're proud of our individual differences. We're proud of the many languages we speak and the stories we can share with each other. We hope you will share your story too.

How to Apply

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Erin O'Keefe on or .

Important Information

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.

Applications close Thursday 23 July 2026 at 11.59pm