Reporting to the Executive Director, the Manager, Sector Collaboration and Strategic Delivery will lead a small, high-performing team that coordinates divisional engagement with the early childhood sector and drives strategic delivery across ELPAP. The role also supports the executive with clear line of sight over divisional priorities, emerging issues, obligations and performance, while enabling branches to work in a more connected, consistent and strategic way.

The role will lead a high performing team, having responsibilities for:

coordinating sector-facing activity and responding to emerging issues and priorities to streamline engagement and minimise administrative burden on the sector
supporting engagement with governance groups, steering committees or working groups to support coordinated decision-making
providing strategic advice, executive briefings and progress reporting to inform decisions and oversight.
strengthening cross-divisional collaboration, alignment and coordination to progress shared priorities and objectives.

Attributes

You bring resilience, flexibility and strong outcomes focus to complex, fast-moving environments. You demonstrate self-awareness and sound judgment, work collaboratively across teams and with external stakeholders, and actively promote inclusion. You remain calm under pressure, think strategically while staying grounded in delivery, and build trust through clear communication, integrity and a genuine commitment to enabling others to succeed.

Qualifications and Experience

Required: A tertiary qualification across any of the following including in commerce, project management or policy development.
Desirable: Experience in developing high impact advice to senior executives in a public sector context.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit a CV and a two-page cover letter summarising their skills and experience against the requirements of the role.

About the Division

The Early Learning Practice and Participation Division is the departmental leader in supporting access to quality early education to support the best start of life for Victorian children, no matter their background or context.

The Early Learning Practice and Participation (ELPAP) Division guides, supports, and inspires high-quality educational practice that improves the learning and development outcomes of Victoria's young children in government funded early learning programs. The Division's work is underpinned by a commitment to ensuring that all children are able to access, be included in, and engage with early learning. ELPAP leads operational policy and program development to deliver high quality, inclusive kindergarten programs and to support participation for children experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage, those who stand to benefit most from early learning.

The Division, aligned to the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) and National Quality Framework (NQF):

Set expectations

Expands the evidence-base

Stewards system-wide adoption of evidence informed interventions

To car ry out this work, the Division is organised into 2 branches: the Early Learning Participation Branch and the Professional Practice Branch. Together, these branches lead work across several key focus areas:

Delivering practice quality enablers that improve workforce retention and recognition

Developing and implementing participation and inclusion supports for all children

Implementing needs-based funding for kindergartens

Working with system partners to proactively identify and connect children who might otherwise miss out on kindergarten, ensuring their enrolment and attendance

This role reports to the Executive Director and sits within the Sector Collaboration and Strategic Delivery Unit.

About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description for the capabilities to address in application.

The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Pippa Procter – Executive Director via Pippa.Procter@education.vic.gov.au

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g. large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on Wednesday 18 November 2026.

Applications close Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 11.59pm

Posted

4 November 2026