Principal Project Manager

About us

The Workforce Inspectorate is an independent statutory authority and undertakes education, compliance and enforcement functions in relation to the following Victorian laws:

• Child Employment Act 2003 
• Owner Drivers and Forestry Contractors Act 2005
• Long Service Leave Act 2018
• Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005
• Workforce Inspectorate Victoria Act 2020

The Workforce Inspectorate is responsible for ensuring compliance with the above legislation. This includes providing advice and information about rights and responsibilities, assessing applications, and issuing child employment licences to allow children under 15 years to be employed, investigating alleged breaches of the legislation, and responding to non- compliance with appropriate compliance and enforcement measures including commencing a prosecution.

The Workforce Inspectorate undertakes a range of compliance activities in accordance with the Owner Drivers and Forestry Contractors Act 2005 and will similarly monitor, assess, and seek compliance with the statutory framework of the Long Service Leave Act 2018. 

The Workforce Inspectorate is a ‘sector regulator’ under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005. The legislation provides Workforce Inspectorate with a contemporary, graduated set of regulatory powers to monitor and enforce compliance with the child safe standards.

The Workforce Inspectorate also receives and refers complaints related to Victorian Government construction projects.

Introductory Statement

The Principal Project Manager, Apprentice and Trainee Regulator will lead the establishment of the apprentice and trainee regulatory function within the Workforce Inspectorate, ensuring the organisation is ready to implement its new legislative responsibilities, subject to the relevant legislation being enacted. The role will establish and lead a multidisciplinary project team, recruit and develop team capability, and oversee all aspects of the establishment project, including project scope, deliverables, milestones, implementation planning and funding models.

The role will work closely with senior executives and the Project Management Board to establish the required governance, workforce capability, systems, processes and service delivery arrangements. The successful candidate will bring significant expertise in interpreting legislation and regulatory practice, with the ability to translate legislative intent into an effective operating model and operationalise registration, compliance and enforcement functions. Strong project and organisational management skills, knowledge of government processes including procurement and probity, stakeholder engagement capability and a high level of attention to detail are essential.

About the role

The Principal Project Manager, Apprentice and Trainee Regulator will lead the establishment of a new regulatory function within the Workforce Inspectorate, working collaboratively across a multidisciplinary team and with senior executives, government agencies, regulators, industry and other key stakeholders. The role will be responsible for ensuring organisational readiness, including developing and managing comprehensive project plans, governance arrangements, budgets, resources, systems, processes, workforce capability and service delivery models, while providing regular reporting to the Project Control Board.

Key responsibilities include leading project delivery and implementation, proactively managing financial, risks, issues and dependencies, coordinating subject matter expert inputs, and providing strategic advice on governance, operating models, regulatory practice and legislative requirements. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong project and risk management capability, excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, and expertise in interpreting legislation and translating regulatory requirements into practical policies, procedures and service delivery models. They will also bring strong leadership and team development skills, strategic and innovative thinking, sound judgement, and the ability to influence, negotiate and build productive relationships across complex government and regulatory environments.

A tertiary qualification in a relevant field (regulation, management, law, finance or public administration) would be advantageous.

For more information, please see the Position Description ( insert Dropbox link).

How to apply:

To be considered for this position applicants must submit:

• a resume
• a cover letter - addressing the key selection criteria (within two or three pages).

Applications close at midnight on 13 September 2026. If you require a copy of this advertisement in an accessible format, please contact the Recruitment team.

Your applicated is to be submitted online by selecting the "Apply Now” button.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to complete a Pre-employment Declaration and Consent form along with a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. Applicants must be an Australian citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process. 

The Workforce Inspectorate actively promotes diversity, inclusion, and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people with disabilities. All roles at The Workforce Inspectorate can be worked flexibly, however this may differ from role to role. 

The Workforce Inspectorate is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its employees consistent with our obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (OH&S Act). To support this the Workforce Inspectorate has a COVID-19 Vaccination policy which strongly recommends all employees be fully vaccinated.