Principal Policy Officer

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.

The Government Services Policy and Strategy Division 
The Government Services Policy and Strategy Division provides expert policy advice helping set the strategic direction and reform agenda of the Department of Government Services and the government services portfolio. The Division is responsible for policy and strategy advice in relation to digital, emerging technology, identity, shared services, procurement, accommodation, cyber and telecommunications.

About the role
The Principal Policy Officer (PPO) is a fixed-term, project-funded role providing with a specific focus to provide policy advice and deliver policy-related products for the Children’s Digital Program (CDP) as part of the Service Victoria workplan.

The PPO is accountable for developing and delivering priority government policies and strategies related to the CDP. Working closely with their Director, the PPO will lead, deliver and support work across the full cycle of policy and strategy, as it relates to the CDP. This includes leading, facilitating and participating in cross-portfolio and inter-jurisdictional discussions to progress CDP priorities.

In addition, the PPO will collaborate with colleagues and executives across DGS on defined priority projects contributing their policy, strategy and reform expertise, specifically where there is an intersect with the CDP (Service Victoria) projects. This includes leading cross-divisional collaboration, especially with the DGS Operations Group and the DGS Organisational Strategy, Governance and Performance Group, to deliver this work.

The PPO builds and maintains strong relationships at senior levels with a diverse range of stakeholders, such as external service providers, peak bodies, client departments and agencies.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead, develop implement and evaluate policies and strategies that deliver Government Services priorities for the Children's Digital Program.
• Oversee, coordinate and deliver key projects and work programs that contribute to the delivery of the Children’s Digital Program. This includes supporting the cross-departmental Steering Committee and working on activities as directed by the CDP Program Manager.
• Deliver authoritative, outcomes-focused advice to senior executives and decision makers.
• Identify, build and maintain productive relationships at senior levels to achieve effective outcomes with key stakeholders. In particular, foster and maintain strong working relationships with the DGS Operations Group, the DGS Organisational Strategy, Governance and Performance Group, DPC, DFFH, and DTF.
• Take an active role in supporting capability development and wellbeing for those in the Branch, including supporting the Director to set direction and coordinate cross-functional teams to respond to priorities or deliver defined projects, as they relate to the CDP priorities.
• Champion continuous improvement, innovation and organisational alignment.

This is a fixed term role available until 30 June 2027. The position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia. 

For more information and the key selection criteria, please see the Position Description. 

How to apply:
Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on Thursday, 20 August 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 candidates will be required to complete a Pre-employment Declaration and Consent Form. Employment of successful candidates will be subject to a National Police Check.  

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

DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.