Principal Analyst

About the Department

The department provides a wide range of learning and development support and services.

The department provides policy leadership, plans for the future of education in Victoria and leads key cross-sector collaboration. The department plays an important system steward role by providing support, guidance, oversight and assurance across early childhood and school education systems, as well as directly providing school education and 50 new early learning centres.

About the Division

Kindergarten Expansion and Funding Reform (KEFR) works collaboratively across the Department and with the sector to undertake place-based service delivery and monitoring, support the ongoing supply of early childhood teachers and educators and deliver infrastructure projects to ensure the success of these reforms.

About the Role

The Principal Analyst will undertake policy development and data analysis as part of a team working on the expansion of kindergarten which is driving strategic initiatives aligned with departmental reform objectives. Working in the Policy and Provision branch, the Principal Analyst supports development of data tools, data analysis, policy development, and translation of findings into actionable insights that inform strategic decision-making to shape the design and implementation of the Best Start Best Life reforms.

The Principal Analyst is responsible for leading analytical expertise, driving informed decision-making, and strategic initiatives. The incumbent generates insights from complex datasets, enabling data-informed business modelling and fostering data-driven performance enhancements. The Principal Analyst is also responsible for leading data governance, strategy, analysis, and integration. The incumbent collaborates with stakeholders and provides leadership to optimise data utilisation, ensure compliance and drive data-driven decisions, generating insights from complex datasets, enabling data-informed business modelling and fostering data-driven performance enhancements.

The Senior Policy and Data Analyst, in particular, this role is a leadership position responsible for the development, maintenance and utilization of a range of complex modelling tools.

• Understanding quantitative implications of policy views and decisions
• Developing data modelling and mapping tools and functions to improve decision making
• Data analysis and translating data results into insights.

We are seeking a strategic thinker who is curious and can identify opportunities to synthesise a range of data and modelling tools, to optimise data utilisation and data-driven decisions, translating results into clear insights for decision-makers, and collaborating with stakeholders to support effective delivery of the Best Start Best Life reforms.

This opportunity will suit an experienced strategic policy thinker with exceptional conceptual and data analytical capabilities and who works well with diverse stakeholders.

The Policy, Provision and Commissioning division plays a key role in shaping the implementation of the Best Start, Best Life reforms, supporting the strategic direction and implementation of the reform activity as it specifically relates to whole of reform program management and monitoring, policy and integration, infrastructure and local planning, and modelling and provision.

Attributes

The successful candidate will be self-motivated and curious. Demonstrating policy, analytical and communication skills, experience in using data and evidence to inform policy advice, and an ability to collaborate with stakeholders and work effectively in a team environment.

The role requires a proactive self-starter with a good understanding of government systems and processes and an ability to work in a complex, sensitive environment.

As our ideal candidate you will have:

• A strong understanding of modelling approaches to identify quantitative impacts of different policy options
• Policy skills including analysing and critically evaluating information, and identifying the potential implications and risks of proposed policy options
• Well-developed conceptual and analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to undertake research and synthesise information from diverse sources
• The ability to translate data results into actionable insights to inform strategic decision-making
• Strong written communication skills
• Experience working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders on complex policy issues.
• Supporting executive reporting to inform of the ongoing progress being made to achieve the Best Life, Best Start reform;
• Monitoring the implementation of the roll-out through project management tools and reporting; and
• Strengthening existing internal and external stakeholder relationships in order to drive the reform.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Tertiary qualification(s) in a relevant field

Further Information

For more details regarding this position please see attached position description.

Your application needs to include a resume, and a cover letter (max 2 pages) that responds clearly but succinctly to the key selection criteria outlined in the position description.

The department 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 our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion page

Applicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.

Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.

For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Erin Giles, Director, Policy and Provision via email **********@education.vic.gov.au.

Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and may be subject to other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.

Applications close 11:59pm on 2 September 2026.