Manager OHS Services, North Eastern Victoria Region

Role context

Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division 

The Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division (ESWI Division) vision is to create safe, healthy, respectful and inclusive working environments for Department employees to thrive and succeed.

The ESWI Division performs it functions through teams that span from prevention, through to response and recovery, along with strategy, advice and support, and diversity and inclusion. These teams adopt a holistic approach for supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce across schools, central and regional offices. This includes Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Workers' Compensation policy advice and support, for both physical and mental health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The objectives of the Division are to:

• promote positive wellbeing in working environments
• prevent against known and expected risks to health, safety and wellbeing 
• respond swiftly and effectively to manage potential issues as they emerge and prevent injuries
• support employees to recover from injury and illness, and return to work
• promote respectful and inclusive workplaces that upholds equal opportunity and prevents discrimination, bullying, harassment and sexual harassment
• promote human rights and workforce diversity and inclusion.

OHS Implementation Services Branch 

The OHS Implementation Services Branch provides Victorian government schools with systems, resources and expertise to support schools to manage occupational health, safety and wellbeing, with the objective of reducing administrative workload for schools by providing targeted service, support and advice. The Branch includes the operational Statewide OHS Services Team, the Statewide Systems and Support Team and the eduSafe Plus Team. 

The Statewide OHS Services Team is made up of four locally based teams that provide on the ground OHS services and support to schools, including: 

• support with tasks in preparation for OHS Assurance assessments and with completion of post audit actions 
• support with emergency management planning tasks 
• proactive regular and risk-based OHS and emergency management planning support through onsite visits  
• delivery of targeted OHS initiatives 
• responsive support to service requests 
• support with building OHS and emergency management planning capability in school leadership. 

Key Selection Criteria

1.      `Victorian Public Sector Values as detailed in DE Values section

2.      `Leadership' and `People Management as detailed in the Required Capabilities section

3.      `Specialist Expertise in OHS as detailed in the Required Capabilities section  

4.      'Relationship Building' as detailed in the Required Capabilities section 

5.      'Planning and Organising' as detailed in the Required Capabilities section 

Key accountabilities

Delivery of core OHS Services business 

•         Ensuring the outputs and outcomes for the Statewide OHS Services Team are identified and successfully delivered
•         Ensuring Statewide OHS Services Team performance goals and targets are developed, communicated, understood and met
•         Ensuring the OHS service provided by the team complies with relevant legislation and statutory obligations 
•         Collaboration and partnerships within and across teams are established to deliver on core business of OHS Services

Direction setting and supervision

•         Establish and maintain a safe and healthy workplace which conforms to compliance standards, and supports responsible workplace behaviours
•         Model Victorian Public Sector Values
•         Provide employees with the leadership, information and guidance required to achieve outcomes and to ensure that these meet compliance requirements

Recruitment and Staff development

•         Undertake staff recruitment and selection to meet workforce needs according to HR and merit processes
•         Identify staff development needs and support and encourage staff to meet their professional goals
•         Assist staff in the practical application of new skills and knowledge

Individual performance management

•         Clearly define staff roles and performance expectations
•         Conduct performance appraisals
•         Provide support through timely resolution of professional issues and problems

Team effectiveness management

•         Establish and maintain a resilient, diverse and high performing team
•         Establish and maintain a collaborative and effective workplace 
•         Establish and maintain a safe and healthy workplace which conforms to compliance standards is established and maintained

Expert OHS advice and leadership

•         Provide expert OHS advice to schools, regional partners and key department stakeholders, including executive leaders
•         Lead and supervise provision of OHS advice and emergency management planning tasks

OHS policy implementation

•         Implement or support strategic OHS and change initiatives
•         Provide information and advice to the Statewide Systems and Support team on recommendations for changes to OHS policies and procedures

Financial authorisation 

•         Exercise the duties in accordance with the approved position (as a financial delegate) as authorised under Direction 2.4 of the Standing Directions of the Minister for Finance 
•         Approve financial obligations (expenditure and commitment) for the appropriate transaction type and value as authorised under Direction 2.4
•         Ensure that the purchasing rules and principles of procurement have been followed as per departmental procurement policies  

Required capabilities

Specialist Expertise in OHS

•         Sound technical health safety and wellbeing knowledge with significant understanding of relevant legislation and codes
•         Knowledge of contemporary health, safety and wellbeing theory and practice
•         Ability to act as a coach or mentor to own staff and colleagues to support and improve their OHS practice, professional development and work effectiveness

Leadership

•         Experience in leading health, safety and wellbeing initiatives as part of central and local leadership teams
•         Motivates others to deliver on goals and objectives
•         Builds team commitment by demonstrating personal conviction
•         Translates organisational strategy into meaningful long-term plans and objectives for own area of responsibility

People Management

•         Maximises effectiveness by selecting, developing, managing and motivating a high performing team
•         Aligns team with the organisational values and goals through effective people management and modelling
•         Ensures staff are effectively deployed through effective workforce planning practices
•         Clearly defines role expectations, monitors performance, provides timely and constructive feedback and facilitates employee development

Influence and Negotiation

•         Builds behind-the-scenes support for ideas to ensure buy-in and ownership
•         Gains agreement to proposals and ideas
•         Involves experts or other third parties to strengthen a case
•         Uses chains of indirect influence to achieve outcomes (e.g. Gets A to show B so B will tell C)

Planning and Organising

•         Establishes systems and procedures to guide work and track progress
•         Identifies processes, tasks and resources required to achieve a goal
•         Recognises actual and potential barriers and finds effective ways to deal with them
•         Sets clearly defined objectives and priorities and operates accordingly, reviewing and adjusting as required

Results Orientation

•         Ensures the team understands and takes ownership of work to execute the organisation's vision and strategy
•         Sets and achieves ambitious goals for themselves and for their team
•         Harnesses others' energy and diverse skills in achieving results
•         Displays a strong improvement orientation by removing barriers to staff and organisational performance
•         Perseveres when the 'going gets tough' and in the face of resistance or setbacks

Conceptual and Analytical Ability

•         Deals with concepts, ambiguity and complexity comfortably
•         Makes sound and timely decisions balancing judgement, analysis and intuition
•         Uses analytical and conceptual skills to reason through problems

Personal qualities

Developing Others

•         Actively seeks to improve others skills and talents by providing constructive feedback, coaching and training opportunities
•         Appropriately delegates responsibilities to further the development of others
•         Empowers others by investing them with the authority and latitude to accomplish tasks

Flexibility

•         Accepts changed priorities without undue discomfort
•         Adaptable
•         Open to new ideas
•         Recognises the merits of different options and acts accordingly

Customer Focus

•         Actively seeks to meet customer needs
•         Committed to delivering high quality outcomes for clients
•         Listens to customers
•         Seeks ways to improve services

Relationship Building

•         Builds trust through consistent actions, values and communication
•         Establishes and maintains relationships with people at all levels
•         Forges useful partnerships with people across business areas, functions and organisations
•         Minimises surprises
•         Promotes harmony and consensus through diplomatic handling of disagreements
•         Proven ability to build positive and productive relationships with principals, school leaders and staff in complex areas (or local leaders and staff in other workplaces)

Qualifications

Essential: Relevant qualification in Occupational Health and Safety or equivalent professional experience

Key role details

•         Position title: Manager OHS Services, NEVR
•         Group: Employee Safety, Wellbeing and Inclusion Division, People and Executive Services Group
•         Region: North Eastern Victoria Region
•         Classification: ES2-6 
•         Employment status: Ongoing  
•         FTE: 1.0 
•         Salary range: $141,011 to $163,012. Note that Salary shown includes 30 days of additional attendance required, as compared to standard ES roles. This means the successful candidate will be entitled to four weeks of annual leave, to be taken during periods as agreed with their manager.
•         Position reports to: Senior Manager, Statewide OHS Services 
•         Location: DE Regional Office location & Melbourne CBD

Role purpose

We are seeking an exceptional individual for the pivotal role of Manager OHS Services, NEVR. This new position is an exciting opportunity to lead a growing team to deliver an enhanced service to schools and work collaboratively with managers in other regions and other key leaders in the Department. 

You will build and lead a team of OHS Service Officers in the NEVR who will undertake OHS compliance and emergency management planning tasks in schools, including tasks conducted in preparation for OHS Assurance assessments and implementing recommendations post audits. You will drive delivery of the OHS Services Program, track and monitor delivery and outcomes, and ensure consistent, high quality service across the team. 

You will have demonstrated yourself as a successful leader with positive stakeholder relationships, strategic thinking and skilled problem-solving in a complex service delivery environment. Your extensive OHS expertise is complemented by your demonstrated leadership and ability to drive a positive workplace culture.  

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Statewide OHS Services, the role is one of four regional managers across the state. The role will be required to work closely with their counterparts as well as with school principals, and other key staff in the Departments regions and central office, including key partners in Emergency Management.

To view the position description, see: https://www.schools.vic.gov.au/Position_descriptions

Key responsibilities for this role will include: 

• Working with the ESWI Division leadership team, including the Senior Manager, Statewide OHS Services and the other Manager OHS Services across the other regions, to strategically and successfully deliver the Department's OHS Services function including implementing consistent processes and ways of working 
•  Building and leading a strong service culture within the team, ensuring a strong focus on client service to schools and a commitment to creating the best possible outcomes for the health, safety and wellbeing in schools and reducing school administrative burden 
• Managing the operational aspects necessary for the successful delivery of the Department's OHS Services function including: 
  - planning and organising 
  - scheduling and effectively deploying resources 
  - monitoring and tracking service delivery 
• Undertaking effective workforce planning including recruitment activities to expand your regional team of OHS Service Officers, leading onboarding
• Providing leadership in the provision of OHS expertise, including managing and leading your team of OHS Service Officers to provide OHS compliance and emergency management planning services to schools 
• Building strong collaborative relationships with: 
  - key regional leaders, including Emergency Management and Provision and Planning teams
  - the OHS Services Statewide Systems & Support Team and the eduSafe Plus Team
  - key external stakeholders including WorkSafe 
• Driving the implementation of key Department systems including the uptake and implementation of eduSafe Plus in schools (the Department's digital OHS system) 
• Ensuring that regular quality assurance reviews are conducted to identify development needs, drive continuous improvement and to ensure advice provided and the standard operating procedures used are appropriate to the schools' needs.

Individuals with the aptitude, experience and/or qualifications to fulfill the specific requirements of the position.

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value 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 roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@education.vic.gov.au

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

Other relevant information

·     Applicants should keep a copy of the position description as it cannot be accessed once the job has closed.

·     Candidates are advised that the key selection criteria must be addressed. Visit http://www.careers.vic.gov.au/vacancies/tips-for-applying for guidelines and tips for applying for government positions and addressing key selection criteria.

·     The Department of Education is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity. The Department welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability. For more information about our policy:  

• visit http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Documents/Disability-Reasonable-Adj-in-Workplace.pdf or
• contact Corporate People Services on (03) 7022 1***.

·     If you need assistance or adjustments to fully participate in the application or interview process for this role, please contact the person listed under `Position Contact'

·     Successful applicants are subject to a satisfactory criminal record check prior to employment. New DE employees are required to meet the cost of the criminal record check.

• A current employee Working with Children Check Victoria is required for this role.
• If appointed from outside DE, successful applicants may be required to complete a pre-employment health declaration.
• A probationary period of up to 3 months may apply for a person appointed to an ongoing position from outside the Public Service or the Teaching Service.
•  All DE employees are required to comply with relevant legislation, including legislation regarding the management of Departmental records, the Code of Conduct for Victorian public sector employees and Departmental policies and procedures in the conduct of their employment.
• Standard public service terms and conditions apply. Information about DE's operations and employment conditions can be obtained from the following websites: www.education.vic.gov.au and www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb.
• To support DE's commitment to its Environmental Management System, DE employees are expected to always act in an environmentally responsible manner.
•  A current driver's licence is mandatory for this role.

Privacy notification

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Your personal information is kept secure and confidential and managed in accordance with the Department of Education and Training Information Privacy Policy. If you have any concerns about how your information is being managed or wish to obtain a copy of the Department's Information Privacy Policy, please contact Corporate People Services on 9637 3828 or visit our website http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/privacypolicy.aspx

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx