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.

Application Closes: 8 March 2021

Role: Medical Lead, CCOM (Role until - 30 June 2021)

Number of vacancies available: 2

Office Location(s): 50 Lonsdale Street/Work from home

Position Summary: 

The successful applicant will play a key role in relation to developing, delivering and improving investigation and control activities in Victoria's Health Protection activities, with a particular focus on the ongoing response to COVID-19.  

This position will be responsible for providing authoritative public health advice, information and where appropriate direction to departmental officers, management, key stakeholders including local public health units and members of the community relating to COVID-19. This job offers an excellent opportunity for those wishing to develop skills in health protection policy and planning preventative health and public health emergency management.

This position will be responsible for managing a number of medical officers within their assigned team.

This position is required to participate in an on-call roster and provide response outside of standard business hours.

Are you:

• A Medical Practitioner registered with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority with an interest in public health issues?
• Skilled and experienced in developing and leading public health and health protection activities?
• Proactive in taking the initiative with a commitment to continuous improvement?
• Confident in managing people and resources?

Responsibilities:

• Provide expert public health medical, technical and strategic advice and input to policy development, review and reporting on significant issues across the COVID-19 response.
• Provide public health medical advice and information to respond to incidents and emergencies in the range of environmental health and communicable diseases.
• Improve public health outcomes by working collaboratively with health experts on the development of standards, procedures, guidelines and policies.
• Rapidly identify and characterise public health risks allowing interpretation of implications for policy, practice and being able to appropriately prioritise a response.
• Provide timely expert advice and develop open and effective communication strategies including collection of highly complex, contentious or sensitive information on matters of public health.
• 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 and initiatives that meet government and departmental objectives within resourcing, timeline and budget parameters.
• Review and report on high priority issues, risks and trends and prepare and present comprehensive reports, ministerial briefs and cabinet and agency submissions on complex issues.
• Pro-actively build and maintain effective working relationships and facilitate the flow of information across the department and with key external stakeholders in particular with COVID Quarantine Victoria (CQV) and Local Public Health Units (LPHU).
• Maintain an understanding of Commonwealth and State legislative and policy reform directions to influence policy development.
• Represent the department on committees and community-based forums concerned with achieving government and departmental objectives.
• 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 clients and the department's ability to deliver, or facilitate the delivery of, effective support and services.
• Provide leadership and guidance based on advanced expertise.
• Contribute advanced expertise and knowledge to benefit strategic planning and organisation/sector-wide outcomes.
• Manage a range of projects/functions each with  significant budget, staff responsibilities or strategic importance.
• Respond productively to deliver solutions and outcomes in an organisational environment complicated by scale, heterogeneity and complexity.

HOW TO APPLY:

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

Please note: 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 a 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.vic.gov.au/department-health>

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