• Position: Permanent - Full Time
• Location: Preston VIC 3072
• Salary: $106,389 - $111,092 based on level of experience, plus super

The Organisation

The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) is an Aboriginal Community-Controlled organisation that supports and advocates for the Aboriginal Community and is the largest organisation of its kind in Australia. The VACCA team is committed to the organisation’s visions and values, passionately providing support, service and advocacy for our children and vulnerable community members.

Our strength lies with our people.

About the role

The Senior Project Officer will oversee the design and management of innovative research and evaluation projects, encompassing the pilot and implementation stages of various programs and service reform initiatives across the VACCA regions. This role entails maintaining a vigilant oversight of evidence on innovations in programming and practice within the Indigenous child and family welfare sector, both nationally and internationally. Additionally, the Senior Project Officer will contribute to developing a forward-thinking research agenda and conduct comprehensive research and evaluation projects.

About You

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to and understanding of VACCA’s vision and values, with a deep appreciation of Aboriginal societies, cultures, and contemporary issues affecting Aboriginal people in Australia. They should possess extensive knowledge of research and evaluation practices within an Indigenous context, and the ability to adapt mainstream standards to the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO) framework. The candidate should have experience in developing program logic, theory of change, and data plans and tools, and be adept in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including conducting literature reviews.

Expertise in developing program descriptions, assessing program evaluability, and conducting stakeholder analysis is essential. The candidate should be capable of analysing organisational and political contexts and possess strong project management skills, including preparing project briefs, negotiating with clients, managing tasks and schedules, and handling communication, budget, and risk management.

A commitment to professional development in research, evaluation, and content areas, along with the ability to reflect on their practice, is crucial. The candidate must also exhibit highly developed written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal skills for internal consultancy, and conflict resolution, and the ability to motivate others.

• Minimum tertiary qualified in relevant field, a research-based master’s degree will be very well regarded
• Requirements: Current COVID-19 vaccination (including booster dose, as applicable), a Working with Children’s Check for a paid employee (or willingness to obtain) and a Victorian Driver's Licence.

What we can offer you

• A supportive environment that includes comprehensive induction
• The support of regular internal supervision
• Professional development and training opportunities 
• Attractive salary packaging to increase your take-home pay
• 17.5%  loading on annual leave
• Access to agency vehicles for all work-related travel 
• Access to Employee support and wellbeing programs 
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• Opportunity to work and build connections with the Aboriginal Community and culture
• Fitness Passport - allowing you (and your family) access to any of the facilities available in this program 

 We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people to apply.

Applications should include a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria and a current resume.

We encourage applicants to view the Position Description before applying.

Please click here  Senior Project Officer - Innovation - L6 (1).pdf to download the position description for this role. 

We are committed to Aboriginal self-determination and supporting strong, safe, thriving Aboriginal communities and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity, honouring all cultural backgrounds, abilities, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities and spiritual beliefs.

VACCA is a child-safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people with zero tolerance for child abuse. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement of employment and periodically following commencement.

VACCA is an equal opportunity employer and has a smoke-free workplace policy.