* Great opportunity to join Youth Justice on an ongoing basis in Malmsbury.
* Lead end-to-end project delivery across precinct priorities, monitoring milestones and providing insights to support continuous improvement and decision-making.
* Provide strategic advice and project support to the Director of Operations, coordinating and delivering policy, procedural and operational initiatives, portfolio responses, performance reporting, and monitoring actions arising from reviews and recommendations
* Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships and engagement activities.
The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is responsible for the statutory supervision of young people in the criminal justice system in Victoria focusing on prevention, diversion, and early intervention as the most effective and fiscally responsible ways of reducing youth crime. As an area within the department, Youth Justice is committed to the demonstration of the Victorian Public Sector values. The values are: responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect, leadership and human rights.
Youth Justice Custodial Services aim to engage young people in change by addressing their offending behaviour and equipping them with the skills required for positive community participation, within a safe and secure environment.
The Malmsbury Youth Justice Precinct accommodates young men with a focus on vocational training, employment opportunities and education, enhancing rehabilitative outcomes.
Reporting to the Director, Custodial Operations, the Senior Project Officer provides strategic advice and project support to senior leadership, coordinating policy, procedural and operational initiatives, including reform implementation, reporting and project delivery. This role will work with closely with young people, staff and key stakeholders, providing advice on emerging issues, supports continuous improvements, and leads key engagement and governance activities.
The Opportunity
* Ongoing, full-time position based at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Precinct but working flexibly across other Youth Justice Custodial Precincts (Cherry Creek & Parkville), where needed to respond to operational requirements.
* VPS Grade 5 role: $116,413 - $140,849 per year plus superannuation.
* Plan, coordinate and manage end-to-end projects within the precinct, ensuring alignment with business plan objectives and effective delivery, including priority reform initiatives and the Youth Justice Operating Philosophy.
* Provide authoritative and strategic advice on complex and sensitive matters (such as incident management and attendance), through data analysis, and strategic reporting to inform operating policy and procedure.
* Identify, advise and apply risk mitigation approaches and solutions in response to a range of complex and sensitive issues including system wide impacts across a broad range of stakeholders.
* Lead, facilitate and provide support to a range of committee and stakeholder meetings, including the coordination of agenda, minutes and presentations, and progress of actions, milestones, activities and deliverables.
* Proactively build and maintain positive stakeholder relationships and communication channels, using informal and formal methods of communication.
* Lead the coordination, scheduling and implementation of operational recommendations and initiatives arising from the operational processes.
* Perform other duties as required for the Director, Custodial Operations Malmsbury and the Senior Leadership team.
To be successful in this role you will have:
* Demonstrated experience in managing complex projects and collaborating with a range of stakeholders to achieve project deliverables.
* Demonstrated experience in developing systems and processes to monitor progress of milestones, activities and deliverables.
* Demonstrated knowledge and experience of working within a complex operational environment, including directly with young people, will be highly regarded.
You will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check, which you will need to maintain for the period of employment.
To learn more about the type of skills you will need to thrive in this role, please read the position description.
What's in it for you?
You will be working for the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which is one arm of the Victorian State Government, a recognised top employer of choice nationally. All our staff work to the vision of a safe, just, innovative and thriving Victoria.
There are many advantages in working for the department, including:
* 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.
* Up to $10K in relocation allowance for eligible candidates who move to within an hour's drive of the facility.
If you have any queries, please contact Tina Gee on 0409 175 *** or ********@justice.vic.gov.au
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 ***************@justice.vic.gov.au 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. One of the ways we do this is by recruiting a diverse workforce – 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.
If this sounds like a compelling job that you believe your skills would be a great match for, please APPLY NOW. Applications close 11.59pm, 25 May 2026.
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 the contact person listed on this ad.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:
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.