Title:  Senior Project Officer - Violence Reduction Unit

About Us

The Victorian Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) was established in December 2025 to reduce violence in Victoria through an early intervention and prevention approach. It operates across Government to tackle and disrupt violence by:

• Taking a preventative and public health approach to address the root causes of violence
• Coordinating across Government and local services so crime prevention works better, with fewer gaps
• Using data and intelligence to target its interventions when and where they’re needed most
• Investing in and delivering the programs that are proven to turn people away from crime, and new programs which address gaps and emerging crime trends
• Engaging directly with the Victorian public and the communities and young people most affected by violence

Our vision is to achieve meaningful and measurable reductions in violent crime, through partnerships with communities.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director, Statewide Coordination and Engagement, the Senior Project Officer will lead and deliver projects and activities that support the VRU’s statewide coordination, engagement and place-based work. The role will provide high-level advice and complex project management, with a focus on stakeholder engagement, local initiatives and the delivery of the VRU’s Rapid Response Model, including secretariat responsibilities, stakeholder coordination and rapid response activities across local areas.

The role will also support the implementation of the VRU’s Engagement Strategy, including planning and delivering events such as seminars and forums, and contributing to the Youth Impact and Violence Prevention Partnership Collectives. In addition, the Senior Project Officer will provide high-level administrative support across the function, including maintaining records, preparing briefs and meeting materials, and assisting with procurement, finance and other business administration activities.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the VRU’s Rapid Response Model, coordinating Emergency and Incident Management Teams, stakeholders and communities to support recovery and prevent further violence following critical incidents, including timely follow-up and reporting.
• Lead complex projects and programs within the Statewide Coordination and Engagement function, including project planning, governance, risk and issue management, delivery against timelines and continuous improvement of VRU initiatives.
• Provide strategic advice and lead engagement activities, preparing high-quality briefs, reports and submissions for senior executives, while planning and delivering complex VRU events, consultations and stakeholder engagements.

• Build strong stakeholder partnerships and provide leadership, working collaboratively across government and community organisations to influence and negotiate outcomes, support place-based violence prevention initiatives, mentor staff and contribute to a high-performing team.

About You

We are seeking applicants who have demonstrated experience from the following criteria:

• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex and sensitive issues, identify risks and opportunities, and develop practical, evidence-informed options and high-quality advice to support government priorities and senior decision-making.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex programs and projects from planning through to implementation and continuous improvement, including governance, risk management and evaluation, while building strong stakeholder relationships and influencing and collaborating to achieve outcomes.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience within Victoria’s service system, and the ability to engage with stakeholders and navigate complex systems to achieve outcomes for the Victorian community.

This role is a fixed term 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 13th September 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. VRU 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 VRU can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.