Manager, WOVG Real Estate

Company description:

About Us

The Department of Government Services (DGS) was established on 1 January 2023 to improve everyone's experience of doing business and interacting with the Victorian government. We bring important day-to-day services together in one department to make things easy and seamless for Victorians and businesses. We are doing this by connecting and digitising our systems and platforms across state and local government as well as streamlining our corporate and procurement services.

You can find out more about our Ministers, leadership and entities here: Department of Government Services.

Job description:

About the Branch/Group

The Government Services Policy and Strategy Division provides expert policy advice helping set the strategic direction and reform agenda of the Department of Government Services and the government services portfolio. The Division is responsible for policy and strategy advice in relation to digital, emerging technology, identity, shared services, procurement, accommodation, cyber and telecommunications.

About the Role

The Manager, Whole of Victorian Government Real Estate leads the strategic management and performance of the DGS-managed property portfolio, encompassing a complex mix of leased and owned assets, including VPS offices and critical public-facing facilities. The role provides high-level commercial property and asset management advice to executive stakeholders, with responsibility for portfolio optimisation, asset performance, risk, governance, investment priorities and complex property transactions. It ensures strong contract management, governance and value-for-money outcomes while supporting broader whole-of-government property and asset objectives.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the whole-of-government real estate portfolio, ensuring owned and leased assets are optimised to support service delivery, financial sustainability and government priorities.
• Provide evidence-based advice to executives on complex property, asset and commercial matters, including risk, governance, market conditions and value for money, supported by high-quality briefs and options papers.
• Lead complex property transactions and programs, including leases, capital projects and commercial negotiations, while maintaining strong governance, contract management, legislative compliance and probity.
• Build effective relationships across government and with external stakeholders to influence outcomes and resolve competing priorities, while leading multidisciplinary teams and fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

About You

We are seeking applicants who have demonstrated experience from the following criteria:

• Extensive experience managing complex owned and leased property portfolios, with the ability to provide strategic advice and recommendations to executives.
• Strong analytical capability to interpret complex asset, financial, utilisation and market data, identify risks and develop evidence-based recommendations and asset management strategies.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear briefs, submissions and reports and communicate complex information effectively through written, visual and graphical formats.
• Proven ability to build relationships, negotiate and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, while leading teams and complex projects through change, managing competing priorities and fostering adaptability, innovation and continuous improvement.

A tertiary qualification in in Property, Property Economics, Real Estate, or a related commerce/business discipline is considered highly desirable for this role.

This role is an ongoing position. This position is only open to applicants with relevant rights to work in Australia.

You must be an Australian citizen, as this role requires a security clearance.

For more information, please see the Position Description.

How to apply 

Apply before the advertised closing date 11:59pm on 13 September 2026. All applications should include: 

· a resume; and 

· a cover letter which addresses the key selection criteria (within three pages).

Other relevant information

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing role is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident. Preferred applicants will be required to undertake pre-employment screening. DGS actively promotes diversity, inclusion and an equal opportunity workplace. We welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. All roles at DGS can be worked flexibly, however it may differ from role to role.