Manager - Strategy and Education

Overview

Work Type: Ongoing - Full-time

Salary: $142,790 - $191,084

Grade: VPS 6

Occupation: Education and training

Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs

Reference: VG/DE/VRQA/1931983

The role of Manager, in the Strategy and Education team, is a new role which will establish and lead a new team at the Victorian Registrations and Qualifications Authority working on school regulation. The team's functions will span education, engagement, risk and trend analysis, inquiries into school responses to child-safety incidents and short notice inspections/visits of schools to drive and monitor compliance with minimum standards for schools.

The VRQA is the Victorian schools, apprenticeships and traineeships regulator, a statutory entity with independent functions that is part of the Department of Education, also reporting to an independent board.

About the Department

The department 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 Division

The VRQA is the Victorian schools, apprenticeships and traineeships regulator, a statutory entity with independent functions that is part of the Department of Education, also reporting to an independent board. The Schools Division of the VRQA is responsible for registering all Victorian schools, and in the process ensuring they meet child safety and other obligations. It is also responsible for undertaking reviews of schools and other related providers to ensure they are continuing to meet their obligations. It works closely with a range of external stakeholders to deliver this function, including applicants wishing to become school proprietors, existing schools, various areas of the Department of Education, the Victorian Catholic Education Authority, Independent Schools Victoria, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, other national and state regulators and independent reviewers the VRQA engages.

About the Role

The Strategy and Education Manager is responsible for the Strategy and Education team in the Schools Division. This is a new team delivering some existing and some enhanced and new functions. The team's functions will include:

education functions, to drive voluntary compliance with the minimum standards

trend and risk identification, including through data analysis, to help identify where to direct our focus

the development and implementation of a new program of short notice inspections/visits to monitor ongoing compliance

responding to and working with co-regulators on child safety incidents

project management to support the new and enhanced functions delivered by the team.

To be successful in this role, you will have managerial experience with excellent analytical, conceptual, and strategic thinking, excellent communication skills, project management skills, and have experience in government regulation, assurance, compliance, or legal settings. A strong understanding of child safety will be highly regarded.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

Extensive management experience in a government context is essential. Education, legal, regulatory and/or child safety expertise will be highly regarded.

It is a condition of ongoing employment that successful candidates hold a valid Victorian Working with Children Check.

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&#160 ;located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Dean Woodgate (Deputy CEO, Schools) via Dean.Woodgate@education.vic.gov.au .

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 07 July 2026

Applications close Tuesday 7 July 2026 at 11.59pm

Posted

23 June 2026