Title:  Senior Policy Officer

About Us

We work for the people of Victoria by helping the Government achieve its strategic objectives.  We do this by supporting the Premier, the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples and the Multicultural Affairs, as well as the Cabinet. Our vision is to be recognised and respected leaders in whole-of-government policy and performance. 

DPC upholds and demonstrates the values of the VPS and is the embodiment of VPS leadership.  DPC’s values are adopted from the Public Administration Act 2004: 

• Leadership 

• Integrity 

• Responsiveness 

• Impartiality 

• Accountability 

• Respect 

• Commitment to Human Rights. 

About the Branch

The Office of the Secretary supports the Secretary of DPC, Jeremi Moule, and his leadership of the DPC and the Victorian Public Service.  

The Treaty Negotiations and Strategy Branch is responsible for leading, implementing and facilitating a whole-of-government approach to the Treaty process in Victoria. Our work includes:    

• leading Treaty implementation and negotiations with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Gellung Warl and other First Peoples’ Representative groups on behalf of the State    

• embedding a whole-of-government, coordinated and focussed approach for implementation and negotiation of Statewide Treaty and Traditional Owner Treaties with Aboriginal Victorians    
• ensuring that all Victorians are informed of, and engaged in, the Treaty process, by sharing information and milestones for Treaty    
• supporting the State to meet its obligations under the Advancing the Treaty Process with Aboriginal Victorians Act 2018 and ensuring that it is a fair, honest and open Treaty partner    

• advising government and senior leadership groups on specific strategic reforms and priorities for policy and program action relevant to Treaty and self-determination    

• supporting the Premier and the Minister for First Peoples to deliver government priorities for Treaty and self-determination.     

• building and maintaining effective communications and engagement with Aboriginal leaders, Traditional Owners, organisations and communities through the First Peoples’ Assembly of Gellung Warl.   

• providing secretariat support and strategic advice to advance the work of the Treaty Interdepartmental Committee and to support its engagement across government. 

About the Role

The Treaty Negotiations and Strategy Branch within the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) is seeking talented and passionate individuals committed to progressing the Victorian Government’s nation leading work with First Peoples. This is a unique opportunity to work in new and innovative ways that recognise First Peoples as the self-determining drivers of Aboriginal affairs in Victoria. These roles will contribute to the ground-breaking work in the areas of truth, Treaty, self-determination and cultural rights. 

This role is to back-fill leave arrangements in an existing position in the Treaty Negotiations and Strategy branch.  

The Senior Policy Officer will work within the Treaty Negotiations and Strategy branch to support the delivery of branch priorities, including the delivery of strategic advice on Treaty related matters and supporting whole-of-government Treaty reform. 

This is a unique opportunity for a high performing and motivated Senior Policy Officer to work in a ground-breaking area with few precedents as the Victorian Government pursues Treaty in genuine partnership with Aboriginal Victorians. The Senior Policy Officer will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to deliver initiatives.

Reporting to the Manager, the successful applicant will possess excellent policy skills, as well as strong written and verbal communication skills and be adaptive in a dynamic work environment. You will be confident in managing projects and leading whole-of-government reform, as well as providing high quality strategic advice on complex policy issues to the Minister for First Peoples, Premier, Cabinet and senior executives on Treaty and other related matters.

The Office of the Secretary recognises the invaluable contribution of existing Aboriginal staff and is committed to promoting Aboriginal leadership within the department. The Office welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people interested in this position to apply. 

About You

As our ideal candidate you will have:  

• A demonstrated ability to lead production of and deliver high quality, strategic, clear, evidence-based and solution-focussed policy advice and work outputs for the branch and departmental senior executives, Ministers and the Premier.   

• The ability to operate with a high level of autonomy in managing projects and working collaboratively with relevant DPC branches, across government and with external stakeholders including counterparts in other jurisdictions, institutions, universities, and where relevant and required, the Treaty bodies.  

• A developed understanding of systemic State intersections with marginalised or vulnerable groups and the ability to apply superior analytical skills and strategic nous to develop and deliver negotiating positions, policy, or projects.  

• Proficiency in supporting delivery of a whole-of-government approach to Treaty in Victoria, by leading stakeholder engagement in particular areas to ensure opportunities to progress Treaty are realised and developing and coordinating stakeholder discussions and forums.     

• A demonstrated ability to contribute to a culturally safe, positive and collaborative organisational culture, supportive of learning and development, innovation and continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.    

• The ability to deliver duties and represent the State’s interests in negotiations with stakeholders and/or Treaty Bodies, in accordance with the Treaty Guiding Principles, and public service obligations to act in the public interest and support the government of the day.  

This role is a Fixed term, Full-Time position until 10 September 2027.

For more information, please see the Position Description.

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

How to apply 

Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on Wednesday 29 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. DPC 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 DPC can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.