Location Profile
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Department leads the delivery of education and development services to children, young people and adults both directly through government schools and indirectly through the regulation and funding of early childhood services, non-government schools and training programs.
Information about the structure of the Department, including details about each of our Ministers, key staff, regional offices, strategy and annual reports are available at: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/default.aspx
ORGANISATIONAL VALUES
Victorian Public Sector Values
DE employees commit to the public sector values as outlined in Section 7 of the Public Administration Act 2004, DE has adopted these values
* Responsiveness
* Integrity
* Impartiality
* Accountability
* Respect
* Leadership
* Human Rights
For more information on the DE's values, visit: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx
Selection Criteria
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
1. Victorian Public Sector Values as detailed in Organisational Values section above.
2. Extensive experience in the leadership and management of policy implementation and service delivery in large complex organisations undergoing significant structural and cultural change.
3. A broad knowledge of learning and development systems including an understanding of strategy, systems, institutions and sector perspectives.
4. Evidence of outstanding oral and written communication skills, interpersonal and negotiating skills and the ability to use these to lead and motivate internal staff and external stakeholders and manage complex issues.
5. Demonstrated financial acumen and highly effective budget management experience.
Role
ROLE CONTEXT
Schools and Regional Services
Schools and Regional Services comprises 17 Areas within four regions across the state, as well as 5 central Divisions. The responsibilities of Schools and Regional Services include:
* service delivery including performance, contract management, funding delivery and acquittal
* program implementation including detailed implementation planning and delivery
* local area engagement, advice, support and partnerships
* workforce capability development, professional practice leadership and delivery
* emergency management including critical incident response
* supporting strong regional partnerships with early childhood services, schools and other education providers to deliver high-quality services and outcomes with a 0-18 focus.
The regional model is designed to:
* connect between central government policy and the delivery of high quality services to Victorians
* drive outcomes across all stages of learning through expert advice and support
* connect with families, service providers, schools and communities
* lead, collaborate and partner at a local level to overcome social and economic challenges facing our communities, towns and cities
* deliver health, wellbeing and support services to children, young people and their families to assist them in their learning and development
* improve connectedness and transitions between important points in a child's life - such as between early childhood, kindergarten, school and tertiary education
* assist and support children and young people who are vulnerable, disengaged, and those with disabilities or challenging behaviour.
Position Scope
There are 17 DET Education Area Executive Director positions, each leading one of the 17 areas within the four regions across the state. Each area supports significant a numbers of early childhood services, government primary, secondary and specialist schools.
Each area comprises a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team of staff. Education Area Executive Directors are expected to develop and maintain a high profile in their area including active participation in cross-government governance arrangements.
Education Area Executive Directors may need to work from more than one office location in their area.
ROLE PURPOSE
Under the leadership of the relevant Regional Director, Education Area Executive Directors will work closely and collaboratively as part of a regional and statewide team to:
* implement government learning and development strategies, including the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes;
* design, broker and deliver high quality education and early childhood services that are responsive to local needs;
* improve early childhood service and school outcomes and performance across the area.
They will lead a multi-disciplinary team of professionals who:
* facilitate a community-wide approach to the integration of the learning and development system at the area level;
* work closely with government schools to drive strong school improvement and student outcomes, including through the implementation of the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes;
* leverage government and community resources to achieve common learning and development outcomes, including through a team around the learner approach;
* broker partnerships and networks to improve child/learner outcomes;
* support early childhood services, where appropriate, to improve the wellbeing, learning and development outcomes of the children, young people and adult learners who use their service;
* provide services to support the health and wellbeing of children and young people, particularly the vulnerable, to enable them to learn and develop to their full potential.
Accountable for the area's contribution to improved learning and development outcomes by:
* Facilitating the development of relationships, networks and partnerships to improve cooperation and system integration to lift learning and development outcomes, address service gaps and contribute to broader community aspirations;
* In conjunction with Senior Education Improvement Leaders, the Executive Directors for School Improvement, School Support and Early Childhood Implementation, and central Groups, monitoring and evaluating individual school and early childhood service performance and improvement strategies, overseeing a portfolio of interventions, and sharing effective practice across areas;
* Assisting schools and early childhood services to broker partnerships and networks where there is an identified need or a clear missed opportunity;
* Facilitating the integration of the learning and development system at the area level with a particular focus on the transitions between the stages of learning;
* Supporting regional provision planning, including the provision of new schools and early childhood services in growth areas and the consolidation of services in areas experiencing significant decline in demand;
* Establishing processes to ensure the learning and development needs of rural components of the area are given a high priority;
* Working with other agencies, including DFFH Area Managers, local government and community based organisations to address the wellbeing and engagement needs of vulnerable children and young people at the local level;
* Leading and managing responsive local solutions to implement agreed projects;
* Supporting the Regional Director as the delegate of the Secretary as employer of government school principals including performance management (as agreed);
* Leading and developing a high quality Koorie workforce that supports Koorie children, young people and their families to develop and learn to their full potential;
* Leading and developing a team of health and wellbeing professionals with a focus on quality, program fidelity and professional practice improvement;
* Delivering high quality health and wellbeing services that meet the needs of children, learners and their families;
* Implementing consistent, outcome-based standards for service delivery which enable flexible and responsive local service provision;
* Identifying and implementing opportunities for service integration that provide a better and more seamless experience for children, learners and their families;
* Contributing to service redesign to improve service quality and get better efficiency from the resources available;
* Exemplifying integrity and setting a standard for others, supporting others to manage conflicts of interest, and using resources responsibly;
* Modelling public sector values (integrity, accountability, impartiality, responsiveness, respect, leadership and commitment to human rights).
Responsibilities
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND KEY ACTIVITIES
Regional leadership, strategy and service delivery development
* Contribute to the development of regional strategic priorities with a focus on integration of strategies and programs.
* Contribute to the development of regional planning and policy/program implementation at the area level.
* Provide input into Departmental policy and program development, and policy and program refinement in light of implementation experience.
* Take a leadership role for specific region-wide projects or committees as required by the Regional Director.
* Be a highly effective and contributing member of the Regional Leadership Team; taking collective responsibility for regional planning and service redesign to drive improved regional service quality, delivery and outcomes.
* Support the work of other regional Executive Directors to contribute to improved outcomes of the regional learning and development system. This includes sharing knowledge of effective practice across the region, including managing integrity and compliance risks.
* Lead the interaction with local government areas within the area as the senior DET representative.
Prioritise, plan and manage for results
* Take responsibility for and implement collective decisions of the Regional Leadership Team.
* Maintain focus on high risk and/or high impact planning and integration matters, school and early childhood service actions, service delivery areas.
* Take personal responsibility for managing issues and risks effectively at the area level.
* Develop and maintain an effective planning, performance monitoring and reporting regime for the area.
* Develop and maintain an area community planning function to improve learning and development outcomes. This includes provision planning and planning to address demographic changes.
* Facilitate the integration of the learning and development system at the area level by identifying and acting on opportunities to broker partnerships and networks that will assist integration.
* Leverage community resources and skills to achieve common objectives for the local learning and development system.
* Executive Director School Improvement and central Groups) and lead a portfolio of interventions.
* Improve the quality of the services directly delivered by the area in order to deliver on key priorities and achieve agreed service delivery targets.
Lead and manage the Area and maintain effective relationships
* Select, manage and motivate staff and teams, including developing staff and preparing future leaders through ongoing coaching, feedback and development opportunities.
* Establish effective working relationships with schools and early childhood services, other government agencies, partnerships and education sector and community groups with a presence in the area to ensure area planning for the learning and development system and service provision is coordinated and aligned; assist in the implementation of reform projects across the area.
* Target and engage directly with local communities of interest, agencies and other areas involved in implementation and delivery to gain input on strategy, policy and implementation from the sector. This includes a specific responsibility to engage with local Koorie communities.
* Represent the Regional Director on interagency and other regional forums as required.
Effective management within business systems and policies
* Support the delivery of area goals, targets and direction including the effective deployment of staff, resources, material and knowledge.
* Ensure that appropriate financial, human resources, contracting and other business systems, policies and processes are followed consistently within the area.
* Manage budgets to ensure best value for money is achieved.
Financial Authorisation
* Exercise duties in accordance with the approved position as a financial delegate as authorised under Direction 2.4 of the Standing Directions of the Minister for Finance.
* Financial obligations (expenditure and commitment) for the appropriate transaction type and value are approved as authorised under Direction 2.4
* Ensure purchasing rules and principles of procurement are followed by all staff in the area as per departmental procurement policies.
* Ensure all appropriate financial obligations and relevant documentation within the area is for a business purpose in accordance with policy requirements.
Contract Management
* Resolve contract disputes and discrepancies as required.
* Ensure all contract documentation produced in area is compliant with departmental policy
Procurement responsibilities
* Ensure all procurement activities within the area are appropriately analysed, approved and monitored.
* Ensure appropriate purchasing processes are used by all staff in the area, in accordance with departmental policy.
* Ensure area has a well-developed and appropriate annual procurement plan.
* Support others to understand and manage conflicts of interest when undertaking procurements.
Who May Apply
This role is open to all classifications.
Diversity and Inclusion
The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@education.vic.gov.au
Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
Child Safe Standards
Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy
DE Values
The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview
Other Information
REQUIRED CAPABILITIES
* Leadership
* Teamwork
* Influence and Negotiation
* Stakeholder Management
* Organisational Awareness
* Relationship Building
* Interpersonal Skills
* Conceptual and Analytical Ability
QUALIFICATIONS
* Relevant tertiary qualifications
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
* Applicants should keep a copy of the position description as it cannot be accessed once the job has closed.
* To apply to this position please submit your CV and an application addressing the Key Selection Criteria in the Position Description.
* Visit http://www.careers.vic.gov.au/vacancies/tips-for-applying for guidelines and tips for applying for government positions and addressing key selection criteria.
* The Department of Education (DE) is committed to diversity. The Department places considerable effort and resources into responding to the needs of employees with a disability. People from disadvantaged groups are encouraged to apply for this position.
* Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants can contact Brett West, Yamatji man, in the Koorie Outcomes Division to talk about the recruitment process, the Department and supports for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the department. Mobile: 0477 726 *** or email on: **********@education.vic.gov.au.
* Successful applicants are subject to a satisfactory criminal record check prior to employment. New DE employees are required to meet the cost of the criminal record check.
* If appointed from outside DE, successful applicants will be required to complete a pre-employment health declaration.
* A probationary period of up to 6 months may apply for a person appointed to an ongoing position from outside the Public Service or the Teaching Service.
* All DE employees are required to comply with relevant legislation, including legislation regarding the management of Departmental records, the Code of Conduct for Victorian public sector employees and Departmental policies and procedures in the conduct of their employment.
* Standard public service terms and conditions apply. Information about DE's operations and employment conditions can be obtained from the following websites: www.education.vic.gov.au and www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb.
* To support DE's commitment to its Environmental Management System, DE employees are expected to act in an environmentally responsible manner at all times.
* For Allied Health employees working in the regions, a current driver's licence is mandatory, and a capacity to access private transport with approved comprehensive insurance cover.
* For regulatory early childhood employees working in the regions, a current driver's licence is mandatory.
PRIVACY NOTICE
We are collecting your personal information for the purposes of processing and considering your application for employment. We will use and disclose the information we collect from you only for these purposes. Unsuccessful job applications are retained for six (6) months and then securely destroyed.
Your personal information is kept secure and confidential and managed in accordance with the Department of Education Information Privacy Policy. If you have any concerns about how your information is being managed or wish to obtain a copy of the Department's Information Privacy Policy please contact Corporate People Services on 9637 3828 or visit our website http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/privacypolicy.aspx
Conditions of Employment
* All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
* Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
* A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
* Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx