Principal Policy Officer

The Department of Health plays a critical role in the Victorian health system and is responsible for shaping it to meet the health needs of all Victorians. We’re focused on supporting Victorians to be as healthy as they can; whether through alerting them to seasonal risks like thunderstorm asthma, notifying them of contact with communicable diseases, safeguarding their drinking water, developing the best health, wellbeing and care facilities in the world, being at the forefront of mental health and wellbeing treatment or accelerating medical research. It’s all part of the way we partner with the community to help every individual lead a healthy life.

About the role:

The Planned Care Recovery and Reform Program is responsible for continuing to drive best practice across the planned patient journey. This cuts across both co-design and delivery of system reform through to system governance and accountability, underpinned by a focus on equity and priority populations (such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Victorians) to ensure timely and equitable access to planned care for all Victorian consumers.

The Principal Policy Officer, Reform Design and Delivery, the identification, development and implementation of initiatives to reform the planned care systems (planned surgery and outpatient care), whilst building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders who represent a workforce, consumer and government lens. Front and centre of this is the implementation of the Planned Surgery Reform Blueprint, containing ten key reforms to reshape the Victorian planned surgery system. Additionally, the unit leads priority projects and election commitments, such as the 10,800 laparoscopies for endometriosis and associated conditions initiative and the Metro CRM Project, as well as providing oversight and management of 8 Delivery and Innovation Teams and 23 Patient Support Units (who are health service based planned care recovery and reform entities), which drive on the ground improvement.

Demonstrating relevant experience and expertise in health systems, government processes, stakeholder consultation, policy design, and program implementation, this role will provide the opportunity to engage with a wide range of stakeholders and impart enduring reform in the healthcare sector. You will provide leadership to team members and work with other partners to coordinate advice on cross-portfolio strategic policy issues, corporate, budget, staffing, governance and financial matters. You will contribute to a positive team culture to build and sustain positive stakeholder relationships.

About us:

At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected.  

We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all. 

How you'll make a difference:

Suitable applicants will be able to demonstrate:

Knowledge and Skills

Leadership - Builds a cohesive team with clarity around goals and accountabilities; obtains needed personnel, resources, and information for the team; supports individuals and the team, delegating responsibilities appropriately; brings together the best possible group to achieve objectives.

Policy Skills - Formulates and communicates public policy options and recommendations; keeps up-to-date with a broad range of contemporary issues; scans for links and potential implications of proposed policy options; liaises with stakeholders.

Project Management - Consults, liaises with and influences key stakeholders; produces detailed project plans where objectives are clearly defined and actions for achieving them are clearly specified; monitors performance against objectives and manages project risks and issues; ensures project objectives are met.

Communication - Highly developed interpersonal and negotiation skills, with an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, provide advice on processes and policy and work effectively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.

Stakeholder Management - Identifies and manages a range of complex and often competing needs; identifies issues in common for one or more stakeholders and uses them to build mutually beneficial partnerships; and finds innovative solutions to resolve stakeholder issues.

Problem Solving - Seeks all relevant information for problem-solving; liaises with stakeholders; analyses issues from different perspectives and draws sound inferences from information available; identifies and proposes workable solutions to problems; implements solutions, evaluates effectiveness and adjusts actions as required.

Systems Thinking - Diagnoses trends, obstacles, and opportunities in the internal and external environment; understand the linkages between natural systems and communities to inform policy; conceptualises and defines the systems working within the organisation.

Personal Qualities

Decisiveness - Takes rational and sound decisions based on a consideration of the facts and alternatives; makes tough decisions, sometimes with incomplete information; evaluates rational and emotional elements of situations; makes quick decisions where required; commits to a definite course of action.

Developing Others - Actively seeks to improve others' skills and talents by providing constructive feedback, coaching, and training opportunities; empowers others by investing them with the authority and latitude to accomplish tasks; appropriately delegates responsibilities to further the development of others.

Integrity - Committed to the public interest; operates in a manner that is consistent with the organisation's code of conduct; inspires trust by treating all individuals fairly.

Initative and Accountability - Proactive and self-starting; seizes opportunities and acts upon them; takes responsibility for own actions.

Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities with the ability to meet deadlines while working in pressured situations.

Conceptual and Analytical Ability - Deals with concepts, ambiguity and complexity comfortably; uses analytical and conceptual skills to reason through problems, has creative ideas and can project how these can link to innovations.

Creativity and Innovation - Generates new ideas; draws on a range of information sources to identify new ways of doing things; actively influences events and promotes ideas; translates creative ideas into workplace improvements; reflects on experience and is open to new ways to improve practice.

Teamwork - Cooperates and works well with others in the pursuit of team goals; collaborates and shares information; shows consideration, concern and respect for others' feelings and ideas; accommodates and works well with the different working styles of others; encourages resolution of conflict within group.

Qualification

A tertiary qualification in fields related to health, public policy, business and/or management, or health administration would be desirable.

Specialist Expertise

Significant knowledge and experience in government, health sector and/or health service delivery would be desirable, with skills and experience in project management and implementation.

Understanding of legislative process and ability to interpret and apply legislation.

What we offer:

• The opportunity to perform meaningful work, making direct contributions toward enabling Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world.
• A wide range of growth and development opportunities within the department and wider Victorian Public Service & Sector.
• A strong commitment to work-life balance, including a diverse array of flexible working arrangements.