Manager, Programs and Engagement

About Us
The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone’s experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government.  We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses.  We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.  

You can find out more about our Ministers, leadership and entities here: Department of Government Services. 

Sector Engagement and Program Delivery branch
The Sector Engagement and Program Delivery branch administers a range of funded programs that are provided to support Victorian councils and communities. These include funding for council, library and community projects, as well as allocating Commonwealth funding. Teams work closely with industry, stakeholder, and government partners to ensure effective co-design and feedback in administering priorities.

Funded Programs teams develop and implement high quality, responsive, and timely government funding programs that support local government and community organisations to deliver critical infrastructure and services to meet the needs of Victorians. The branch also provides administrative and policy support to the Victorian Local Government Grants Commission. Teams support strategic program and capability review; design; funding provision and administration; and stakeholder management for portfolio responsibilities across the Consumer Affairs and Local Government outputs. Staff support councils and stakeholders receiving funding to utilise and deliver these funded programs through oversight and best practice approaches.

The Programs and Engagement team develops and maintains stakeholder engagement strategies, including strategies for engagement with councils and peak bodies. The team also provides secretariat and administrative support for Local Government Victoria and Council CEO forums, and ensures the Minister is supported with strategic local government stakeholder engagement initiatives such as Secure Work Reporting and the Victorian Aboriginal Local Government strategy (VALGs). Further, the team supports the branch with coordinating and prioritising program management and delivery responsibilities.

About the Role
The Manager, Programs and Engagement is responsible for leading a high-performing team that manages engagement with key stakeholders in relation to the local government portfolio. This includes leading the delivery of a range of Ministerial and executive forums and other stakeholder engagement activities. The Manager engages with senior stakeholders across the local government sector and the Victorian Government to support effective collaboration and input on key reforms and initiatives impacting the sector.

The Manager has highly developed organisational and written and verbal communication skills and provides authoritative and timely advice to senior stakeholders on complex program issues, options and solutions as well as overseeing the preparation of Ministerial briefings and correspondence. The Manager, Programs and Engagement also supports the Director, Program Delivery and Sector Engagement in the development and delivery of key funding programs that support Victorian councils and communities.

The Manager fosters a culture of collaboration and inclusion within their team to work effectively and efficiently with stakeholders within the Sector Engagement and Program Delivery Division and with key internal stakeholders across the department, other government departments and agencies, peak bodies and the local government sector.

Key Accountabilities

• Innovation and Originality: Identifies and responds to new and emerging strategic issues impacting on the operating environment.
• Policy and Projects: Provides policy advice to government, senior levels of the organisation and key external stakeholders.
• Communication: Provides authoritative expert advice on complex issues within own area.
• Rules, Guidelines and Frameworks: Develops policies, programs and initiatives that impact on programs or major functional areas.
• Knowledge and Proficiency: Uses knowledge of structures, processes and culture of government, the sector and the Department to develop policies and new program or project initiatives.

Mandatory requirements

• An ability to support the Department’s emergency management response as required.
• Current Driver Licence.
• Occasional overnight travel may be required (the specific nature of this will be subject to individual discussion and will aim to balance work and personal needs).

This is an ongoing position. This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

For more information, please see the Position Description.

How to apply 
Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on Sunday, 26 July 2026. All applications should include: 

• a resume; and  
• a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages).

Other relevant information
To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing role is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.  Preferred applicants will be required to undertake pre-employment screening. DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.