Senior Risk Adviser

The Policy, Strategy and Performance (PSP) group supports the Department to maintain its intensive focus on delivery, performance and engagement in order to achieve the Education State reform agenda and the Department’s strategic vision. PSP leads policy reform and strategy, using evidence and informed governance, to improve the education and development of children, young people and lifelong learners in Victoria. The role reports to the Chief Risk Officer and is located in the Risk and Business Continuity Team within the Planning Risk and Non-Government Schools Division. This Division delivers a high-level strategic management and service support functions for the department that encompasses non-government schools, risk, planning and reporting.

About the role

The role is part of the Risk and Business Continuity Team that plays a critical second line of defence role for the department and leads a range of key activities to implement the department's risk management strategy and framework.

The role delivers a critical risk advisory service and use effective business partnering to facilitate robust management of strategic, operational, program and project risks across the department and portfolio entities.

The roles is responsible for:

• supporting the execution and review of the risk framework with associated reporting, tools, guidelines and systems
• provision of expert advice on complex issues and support to the department and portfolio entities in relation to risk management
• supporting the coordination of strategic and operational risks management across the department including facilitation of risk reviews and workshops
• development, coordination and delivery of risk training content and programs to further develop risk awareness and capabilty across the department
• driving an uplift in the identification and execution of controls and risk treatment plans to manage critical risk exposure in line with the department's risk appetite 
• supporting the development and implementation of the risk management strategy and associated initiatives and actions to uplift risk management capability and culture
• developing and implementing mechanisms to assess the department's risk maturity, capability and culture
• supporting the administration, procurement and enhancements of the department's risk and business continuity modules/systems
• providing high-quality analysis, reports and briefings relating to risk management for the department's and portfolio entities' risk exposures.

The role actively engages and builds and maintains relationships with departmental stakeholders to support effective risk management and reporting.

About you

We are looking for a candidate an experienced risk professional interested in working with stakeholders across the department to drive ongoing uplift in risk capability and maturity across the department and portfolio entities.

We are looking for candidates who can think laterally and want to work on new and difficult problems. To be effective in this role, you will need to be:

• Experienced in the practical application of enterprise risk management in the public sector or in a large organisation, including ability to develop and build capability within an organisation
• Comfortable engaging, facilitating and partnering with a wide range of stakeholders and uses understanding of the stakeholder's organisational context to ensure outcomes are achieved
• Demonstrate organisational and situational awareness of the evolving risk landscape related to the department and education sector in Victoria
• Ability to embrace complexity, generate valuable insights and develop practical solutions
• Flexible and ability to thrive within a collaborative team environment with changing priorities and needs of senior decision makers

What's next?

If you are interested in applying, please submit your CV and a short cover letter (one to two pages).

If you'd like to know more about the role or the team please contact the Risk Team at

The Risk and Business Continuity team and the Department of Education 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 diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the  HRWeb and our  Diversity and Inclusion page

Applications close May 12, 2024.