Senior Advisor to the President

About the organisation

Court Services Victoria delivers corporate and facilities support that enables the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative work of Victoria’s courts and tribunals, along with the Judicial College and Judicial Commission. Together, the Supreme, County, Magistrates’, Children’s and Coroners Courts, VCAT, the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria and Court Services Victoria are known as the Courts Group.

The organisation supports each part of the Courts Group to achieve its own goals while also backing cross-cutting opportunities that create wider value for the justice system.

VCAT handles civil and administrative disputes and reviews decisions made by government and other authorities. Its work spans residential tenancies, planning and environment matters, consumer and building disputes, guardianship and administration, professional regulation, and human rights issues that affect people, businesses and government across Victoria.

About the role

VCAT is looking for an outstanding Senior Advisor to the President to deliver trusted strategic, policy and executive support to the President of Victoria’s largest tribunal.

In this position, you will work closely with the President, CEO and Executive Team to shape high-quality advice, executive communications and strategic initiatives that strengthen leadership, governance and public service outcomes.

This role suits someone who is confident working in a fast-moving, sensitive environment and who enjoys dealing with complex organisational and justice-sector matters.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare high-standard briefings, submissions, correspondence and strategic advice for the President.
• Draft speeches, presentations, talking points and other executive communication materials.
• Undertake research and analysis on complex policy, governance and justice-sector topics.
• Organise leadership forums, governance activities and strategic planning work.
• Assist with engagement across senior stakeholders in government, courts, tribunals and the wider justice sector.
• Spot emerging risks, opportunities and priorities and turn them into practical recommendations for decision-making.
• Develop effective working relationships across the President’s Chambers, Executive, member leadership and corporate teams.

About you

You are a trusted adviser with strong strategic judgement, excellent communication skills and the ability to interpret complex issues quickly. You are comfortable working through sensitive situations and turning analysis into clear, practical guidance.

Requirements

• Background in policy, executive advisory, governance, strategic communications or a similar field.
• Strong writing ability, including experience producing briefings, speeches, executive correspondence and reports.
• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to combine complex information and convert it into useful recommendations.
• Good stakeholder engagement and relationship-building capabilities.
• Professional judgement, discretion and political awareness when handling sensitive matters.
• Strong organisation and the ability to balance several priorities in a dynamic setting.
• Tertiary study in law, public policy, public administration, communications or a related area is preferred.
• Experience in government, the justice sector, courts, tribunals or statutory authorities is preferred.
• Understanding of Victorian Government decision-making and governance frameworks is preferred.

Benefits

• Work in a collaborative team with strong collegial support.
• Contribute to fair, efficient and affordable access to justice for the Victorian community.
• Option to purchase a Fitness Passport for discounted access to gyms and pools.
• Competitive VPS employment conditions, including flexible leave entitlements.
• Access to professional and career development opportunities.

How to apply

To apply, submit a resume and a short cover letter with your application.

Other information

Court Services Victoria is committed to increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation through its Koori Employment Plan.

The organisation values diversity and encourages applications from LGBTQIA+ people, women, people of all ages, people with disability, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and neurodiverse candidates.

Applicants who need adjustments to the recruitment process or an alternative format for any application material can contact the listed contact person by email.

As part of maintaining a safe and respectful workplace, pre-employment screening is required and may include reference checks, police checks and misconduct screening. These checks are treated confidentially and form a standard part of the hiring process.