Title:  Senior Program 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.

Social Policy Group

The Social Policy Group (SPG) brings together social policy and program delivery expertise, alongside coordination of the State’s management of the Multicultural Affairs portfolio. SPG advises the Premier and Cabinet on the education, justice, health, families, fairness and housing, and community, security and emergency management portfolios, and supports the Minister for Multicultural Affairs in overseeing the portfolio.

Multicultural Affairs Branch

Multicultural Affairs works in partnership with Victoria’s diverse communities and brings together policy and program functions that support the Victorian Government’s commitment to fostering an inclusive, engaged and harmonious multicultural society. Multicultural Affairs comprises two branches: Programs and Partnerships, and Policy. The Office of the Victorian Multicultural Commission is funded through the portfolio and works closely with Multicultural Affairs.

About the role

The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) is seeking a talented and experienced VPS5 Senior Program Officer to join Programs and Partnerships in Multicultural Affairs.

As a Senior Program Officer, you will lead and support the delivery of grant programs across Programs and Partnerships, contributing to all stages of the grant’s lifecycle, from program design and implementation through to monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

You will bring strong experience in program and grants management, with the ability to exercise sound judgement, manage competing priorities, and deliver outcomes in a complex and fast-paced environment. You will work collaboratively across internal teams and provide authoritative advice to support effective program delivery. Experience with grants management systems (such as Grants360) and a strong understanding of Victorian Government processes, including briefings and correspondence, will be highly regarded.

The role requires highly developed interpersonal and self-management skills, with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders, including multicultural communities. You will apply well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills to identify issues, manage risks, and contribute to continuous improvement across programs.

You will possess strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare high-quality, accurate and timely advice, briefs, reports and correspondence for senior executives and ministers. Strong project management capability, attention to detail, and the ability to work with a high degree of autonomy are essential to ensure the successful delivery of program outcomes.

About You

We are seeking applicants who have demonstrated experience from the following criteria: (insert from the PD)

• Program and Grants Management (Delivering Results; Managing Projects): Demonstrated experience delivering complex grant or program initiatives across the full lifecycle, including design, implementation and evaluation. Proven ability to manage competing priorities, mitigate risks, and deliver high-quality outcomes within established governance frameworks.
• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving (Critical Thinking and Problem Solving; Systems Thinking): Well-developed conceptual and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, identify emerging issues, and develop practical, evidence-based solutions. Experience contributing to continuous improvement of programs, systems and processes.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Influence (Working Collaboratively; Influence and Negotiation): Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, and to influence and negotiate outcomes in sensitive or complex environments.
• Communication and Ministerial Briefing (Communicate with Impact): Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated experience preparing clear, concise and accurate briefs, reports and correspondence for senior executives and ministers within tight timeframes.
• Judgement, Initiative and Accountability (Initiative and Accountability; Political and Organisational Context): Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgement, work with a high degree of autonomy, and take accountability for decisions and outcomes. Strong understanding of government processes, and the ability to provide authoritative advice within a complex organisational and political context

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 Thursday 30 April 2026. All applications should include: 

· a resume; and 

· a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages).

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

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.