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 Victorians into the future. We also lead the Victorian Government's response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Working with our partners, we oversee Victoria's health system including mental health, ageing and aged care and preventive health. We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated to provide responsive and quality services to all Victorians. All jobs can be worked flexibly and we encourage job applications from Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ and people from culturally diverse backgrounds and differences to realise the potential of our employees for innovation and delivering services.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Manager, Legal Policy is a key role that provides high level policy advice on mental health, drugs and related legal and legislative matters, manages key project components in relation to these matters and develops proposals and recommendations for the consideration of senior executives and ministers. This also includes responsibility for providing legal policy advice to the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist and support to the Forensic Leave Panel. The Manager will also support implementation of the Royal Commission's recommendations including through the implementation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022.

The division values and welcomes applications from people with lived experience of mental illness, mental health challenges or psychological distress, including as a family member, carer or supporter.

Are you?

• Able to work under pressure to meet timelines, ensuring a high level of quality and accuracy in your work?
• Analytical with an ability to think conceptually and apply policy concepts to complex issues?
• An excellent communicator, able to work well with a broad range of stakeholders?

Accountabilities:

• Manage projects that deliver complex, sensitive research and investigations into mental health and drugs and related legislation and policy, including analysing the interaction between legislation, service delivery and consumer and carer outcomes.
• Effectively manage and provide leadership to a team, including:
• (a)    defining team roles and expectations
• (b)    leading and supporting individuals to achieve their potential and contribution to organisational goals and outcomes; providing timely and constructive feedback
• (c)    modelling behaviours integral to good people management and departmental values
• (d)    Contributing to the monitoring and evaluation of projects to ensure departmental objectives are met.
• (e)    proactively building and maintaining positive relationships with peers and stakeholders across the department.
• Manage the full life cycle of projects to meet departmental objectives including project development and delivery, monitoring and evaluation.
• Provide high quality business intelligence, authoritative advice and sound policy recommendations to senior management and government based on comprehensive research.
• Oversee the development of policy solutions that meet project objectives within resourcing, timeline and budget parameters.
• Forge strong connections across the department, other key departments and other external stakeholders to facilitate a collaborative approach to the delivery of mental health and drugs and related legislation policy projects.
• Respond flexibly and adapt approaches in order to deliver outcomes in the face of uncertainty.
• Keep accurate and complete records of your work activities in accordance with legislative requirements and the department's records, information security and privacy policies and requirements.
• Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and for that of others in the workplace by working in accordance with legislative requirements and the department's occupational health and safety (OHS) policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate how the actions and outcomes of this role and work unit impact consumers and carers and the department's ability to deliver, or facilitate the delivery of, effective support and services.

Mandatory Vaccination Policy

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk to the health of its workers and clients. As it is an essential element of any role within the department that employees be able to attend work onsite and to do so safely, employees are required to be up-to-date with their vaccinations against COVID-19 as a condition of their employment. This requirement applies unless they have a medical condition which means they cannot be vaccinated against COVID -19. Therefore, the department will ask any prospective employee, who has been identified as the preferred candidate for a role within the department, to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination status prior to any offer of employment being made. If a prospective employee has a relevant medical condition which means they cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19, they should contact the department to discuss their individual circumstances.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants are encouraged to apply online, submitting a cover letter and a current resume.

The Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE) Recruitment Policy allows for priority consideration for Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.

As such, these employees are strongly encouraged to submit their application through https://www.vic.gov.au/jobs-and-skills-exchange rather than via external advertisement.

For this position, you are not required to address each of the key selection criteria in a separate written document.

Preferred candidates will be required to complete pre-employment screening, including national police check and misconduct screening.

Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process.

For further information please visit the Department of Health <https://www.health.vic.gov.au>

Click 'Apply Now' to submit your interest in this position.