CEO Community Services jobs

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.

About the Branch/Group

The Consumer Affairs and Local Government (CALG) Group supports better engagement between customers, businesses, and government by leading strategy, policy development, regulatory design, sector support, and program delivery. It focuses on delivering efficient, customer-centred services for Victorians while improving service accessibility, scalability, and digital capability. The Sector Engagement and Program Delivery Division supports local government and consumer portfolios through the effective management, delivery, and evaluation of funded programs and sector support initiatives. The division works with councils, community organisations, industry partners, and government stakeholders to co-design programs, monitor outcomes, and ensure funding aligns with portfolio priorities. It also supports emergency management preparedness and recovery, administers grants and community funding programs, provides policy and administrative support to the Victorian Local Government Grants Commission, and manages strategic stakeholder engagement activities to strengthen relationships with councils, peak bodies, and local government partners.

About the role

Reporting to the Executive Director, Sector Engagement and Program Delivery, this role oversees a range of funded programs services and grants that are delivered to the Victorian community. This includes financial counselling, renting and consumer services; tenancy services; and the Victorian Property Fund grants program, consumer services grants, working with the Director CAV and Minister for Consumer Affairs, and aligning to the agreed portfolio strategy. This role is also responsible for the provision, award, and tracking of Victorian Property Fund grants and manages contracts and memorandum agreements across government and non-government agencies including the Rental Stress Support Package. The role is responsible for ensuring these programs form a cohesive and effective part of the broader consumer affairs portfolio suite of services and functions. This includes working closely with other relevant executives and stakeholders to build strong and productive relationships, align programs with agreed portfolio strategy and regulatory priorities and ensure alignment is maintained through program design, implementation, review and evaluation. The Director plays a key role in ensuring funded programs deliver measurable impact, respond to emerging consumer and market issues, and contribute to coordinated portfolio and system-wide outcomes.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will need to possess the following attributes:

• People management: Proven ability to lead and support high-performing, productive and engaged teams.
• Policy and program development: Experience identifying and responding to emerging issues, using strong analysis and providing strategic advice to senior stakeholders in sensitive environments.
• Influence and negotiation: Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, resolve differences and achieve program outcomes.
• Relationship building: Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across government and non-government organisations.
• Operations experience: Senior-level experience managing service delivery across a range of business units and program areas.
• Strategic planning: Experience contributing to strategic planning, developing business plans, and implementing innovative approaches to achieve long-term organisational goals. For more information, please see the position description.

This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia. You must be an Australian citizen, as this role requires a security clearance. For more information, please see the position description.

How to apply

Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on Tuesday 6 October 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.

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