Executive Treaty Coordinator

The Executive Treaty Coordinator will be responsible for leading the Department of Education's work to support the Treaty process, including collaborating across the breadth of the organisation and Whole of Victorian Government to inform Statewide Treaty negotiation positions.
Executive Treaty Coordinator
Department of Education
VPS Level: VPS Senior Technical Specialist
Salary: $177,488 to $241,387
Work type: Fixed Term to 30 June 2027
Location: CBD
Occupation: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander / Policy
Job description:
This position is open to all suitable candidates. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.
About the role:
Treaty negotiations in Victoria will soon commence. The Department of Education (the department) is committed to supporting the Treaty process, which will provide a new foundation and resource base for Aboriginal Victorians to steer issues and decisions that affect their lives.
To coordinate the department's role in this important work, we have established two positions within the Office of the Deputy Secretary, School Education Programs and Support - an Executive Treaty Coordinator (Senior Technical Specialist) and a Senior Policy Officer - Treaty. The formal reporting line for work deliverables from the department's Treaty Unit will be directly to the Secretary, with day‑to‑day support from the Deputy Secretary SEPS, the Deputy Secretary's Office and the Koorie Outcomes Division.
The Executive Treaty Coordinator will be responsible for leading the department's work to support the Treaty process, including collaborating across the breadth of the organisation and Whole of Victorian Government to inform Statewide Treaty negotiation positions.
The Executive Treaty Coordinator requires exceptional working knowledge of the Victorian Treaty process including legislation, policy, agreements and frameworks, and of the Victorian Government's Aboriginal self-determination agenda. The successful applicant will possess sophisticated and culturally aware negotiation and collaboration skills. The Executive Treaty Coordinator will have demonstrated knowledge of governance, risk and change management. The Executive Treaty Coordinator will have professional or lived experience demonstrating commitment to the rights of First Peoples in Victoria, including cultural rights, self-determination, Treaty and Truth. Additionally, education‑specific knowledge and experience will be highly regarded to represent the department in WoVG negotiations and authorisations.
The department's Treaty roles will work closely with the Whole of Victorian Government (WoVG) Treaty roles in other Victorian Government departments. The Executive Treaty Coordinator will be required to build and maintain formal relationships to existing Truth, Treaty and Self-Determination teams to progress department-wide approaches to Treaty readiness, alignment, education, communication and reform work on behalf of the department.
Department of Education is a contemporary and agile workplace and supports flexible, hybrid working arrangements.
The Executive Treaty Coordinator, supported by the Senior Policy Officer - Treaty, will:
act as the primary point of contact between Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC, as lead negotiators) and the department, and manage formal and informal engagement throughout Statewide Treaty position development
deliver positions on Statewide Treaty negotiations as the authorised lead in the department, to DPC, to ensure departmental expertise and authority are embedded in Treaty negotiations
lead and manage relationships with department Secretary, Ministers, expert teams and other internal stakeholders across the portfolio to coordinate advice and authorisation of department positions
leads identification of portfolio implement