Principal Policy Officer

Lead significant work that strengthens community Youth Justice Operations and Practice.Develop innovative evidence based policies that are informed, culturally safe and aligned to the Youth Justice Case Management Framework.Contribute to improving the outcomes of young people's futures.The Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) is responsible for the supervision of children and young people in the Victorian criminal justice system. Youth Justice is responsible for overseeing services responding to children and young people in the criminal justice system, providing strategic advice and delivering strategic outcomes to address youth crime and reduce offending.The Community Operations & Practice Team provides leadership, oversight and advice to support the ongoing development of state-wide community-based youth justice services.The Opportunity Full time position, fixed term until 30June 2027 based in the Melbourne CBD with travel to regional Youth Justice offices.VPS Grade 6 role: $142,790 - $191,084 per year plus superannuation.Lead work to strengthen statewide community Youth Justice Operations and Practice.Develop innovative ideas, policies and processes, and provide authoritative advice to senior decision makers.Develop practice guidance and training aligned to the Youth Justice Case Management Framework.Actively engage internal and external stakeholders, regularly liaising with frontline, operational staff in community youth justice.To be successful in this role you will have:Experience in the Youth Justice community environment and knowledge of contemporary best practice in case management.Experience working in a senior VPS policy or operational role with a proven track record in public sector management and project or program delivery.Strong knowledge of and/or experience in Victorian government administrative processes.Ability to operate within a complex and dynamic environment, with capacity to be highly responsive and agile, exercise sound judgement, and communicate clearly.A tertiary qualification in public policy, social sciences, criminology, law and/or project management is also desirable.You will be required to obtain a Working with Children Check, which you will need to maintain for the period of employment.To learn more about the type of skills you will need to thrive in this role, please read the position description.If you have any queries, please contact Daniel Godinez Lambert on 0498 183 924 or [email protected]'s in it for you?You will be working for the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which is one arm of the Victorian State Government, a recognised top employer of choice nationally. All our staff work to the vision of a safe, just, innovative and thriving Victoria.There are many advantages in working for the department, including:Job stability - position as a member of the Victorian Public Service (VPS).A fair salary- enjoy great work conditions and salary sacrificing options.Transparent performance framework- approach your work with confidence in how you're tracking, working to professional development plans agreed on by you and your manager.Generous leave entitlements- provisions for many forms of leave; including personal, parental, carers, study, cultural, compassionate, and sick leave.Employee Assistance Program support - you are encouraged to use this short-term, confidential counselling service if you're experiencing emotional stress, relationship problems, conflict with others or personal issues. It is also available for financial counselling and retirement planning.Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.Applicants are welcome to utilise support from the Aboriginal Recruitment Team throughout the recruitment process. Aboriginal candidates are encouraged to contact [email protected] if they would like cultural support and guidance through the application process.For Aboriginal Designated and Prioritised positions, a Certificate of Aboriginality (CoA) will be required prior to an offer of employment being madeWe want to make sure all Victorians feel represented by the department's work. One of the ways we do this is by recruiting a diverse workforce - we welcome people of any gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and cultural background. We are also committed to the Victorian Government's promise to increase the number of veterans working in the public sector.We're proud of our individual differences. We're proud of the many languages we speak and the stories we can share with each other. We hope you will share your story too.If this sounds like a compelling job that you believe your skills would be a great match for, please APPLY NOW. Applications close 11.59pm, Tuesday 13 October 2026. How to applyPlease click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include national police checks and misconduct screening.If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.IMPORTANT INFORMATION:CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.