Policy Officer

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. 

The Group Strategy Projects Branch

The Group Strategy Projects branch takes a systems view across Local Government and Consumer Portfolios. It maintains a future focus, monitoring emerging data, evidence and trends and collaborating across government to establish a clear strategic plan. It designs, leads and delivers system reform projects in-line with this strategic plan, DGS and Government priorities.

The Portfolio Outcomes team:

• informs long term system strategy using data insights, outcomes measurement and econometrics;
• supports the development and delivery of key strategic projects in all phases of the project lifecycle, including economic analysis and to ensure portfolio outcomes are met; and

The Group Strategy Projects team:

• Develops long term system strategy, using inputs from the Portfolio Outcomes team as well as broader context from emerging evidence, stakeholders, government, and considering jurisdictional trends and objectives
• Leads the delivery of Group Strategy Projects, which focus on system reform across the CALG Group Portfolios;

Enable strategic planning across CALG by providing thought leadership and access to enabling capability in facilitation, ideation and options analysis

• Elicits, evaluates and maintains a register of reform ideas in each of the Consumer and Local Government portfolios

About the Role
As a Policy Officer in the Group Strategy Projects team, you will contribute to strategic policy work that shapes better outcomes for consumers and local communities across Victoria. You will support the team's work by researching contemporary trends, evidence and developments across jurisdictions, helping to ensure an evidence-based approach to consumer protection and local government reform. Working under the direction of the Manager and Senior Policy Officers, you will assist in building and maintaining productive relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders including local councils, industry bodies and consumer advocacy groups.

You will contribute to the development of tools, frameworks and materials that support horizon scanning and strategic thinking across the Consumer Affairs and Local Government Group. This includes supporting consultation activities designed to achieve the best outcomes for consumers and local communities, and contributing to the communication of strategic priorities using a range of formats and modalities.

You will be a developing policy professional with an interest in evidence-based policy practice and public sector innovation. You will bring strong research and analytical skills, and a curiosity about emerging trends and issues in the consumer affairs and local government portfolio. You will have a willingness to contribute across a range of tasks in a dynamic, project-based environment, and an interest in developing your skills in strategic thinking and stakeholder engagement.

Successful candidates to these positions could have any of general public sector skillsets, policy skills, project management skills or data analytics skills.

Key Accountabilities

• Interprets and applies business plans and policies to own area of responsibility
• Defines the appropriate methodology in the analysis of policy or research options
• Prepares reports, briefs and correspondence on complex issues that impact at program or organisational level
• Develops and implements operational communication and consultation strategies on specific projects
• Researches and applies advanced theoretical knowledge in a specialised field to operational problem solving
• Develops and implements operational policy which impacts the immediate work area
• Contributes to strategic policy development within a specific field of expertise

Desirable requirements

• Tertiary qualification in public policy or related field is desirable
• Experience in Data Analysis will be well regarded

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 Monday, 27 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.