Manager, Strategic Business Support - Projects

V/Line

Drive strategic priorities and support executive decision ‑ making across Projects.
Translate strategy into action to enable successful project outcomes.
Coordinate leadership engagement, insights, and performance across the portfolio.

V/Line’s purpose is to connect Victorians through safe, reliable, and accessible transport. We believe in giving all Victorians opportunities through travel and transport – connecting them to jobs, education, family and friends, services, tourism and trade.

V/Line is experiencing significant growth and we’re delivering more services, more trains, cheaper fares, and huge projects. With more than 3700 weekly train and coach services, an expansive freight network and unprecedented rail investment, millions of Victorians depend on us to deliver. You could be one of our 2700 committed team members who are up to the challenge.

About The Role

The Projects Group is responsible for developing, delivering and assuring project-related changes and improvements across the regional rail network.

The Group coordinates, integrates and delivers major projects and network change in a safe, collaborative and innovative manner, enabling V/Line to shape the improvement and modernisation of V/Line’s regional transport service.

Your role as the Manager, Strategic Business Support – Projects, ensures alignment with the group’s strategic direction by monitoring and following up on emerging risks, opportunities, and deliverables, and by translating strategic objectives into actionable support for the Executive Director and Directors.

Acting as a coordination point, the position anticipates needs, facilitates informed decision-making, and drives effective communication and engagement across leadership forums to enable successful project outcomes.

As well as performing duties specified in this position description an employee may be required to undertake other duties or functions consistent with their classification, capabilities, and skills.

Position Accountabilities

Strategic support

Translate strategic direction into clear actions, work plans, and operational activities for the Projects Group.
Lead the Projects Leadership Teams strategic planning, business planning cycles, and change initiatives across the Projects Group.
Conduct analysis and prepare strategic insights, briefs, and recommendations for executive decision ‑ making.
Anticipate executive and leadership needs by proactively gathering information, identifying upcoming challenges, and preparing solutions.
Coordinate follow ‑ up actions from leadership and governance forums, ensuring issues are monitored and progressed.
Coordinate the implementation of strategies to ensure alignment with Corporate Business Plan and support the Projects Senior Leadership Team on the development and tracking of the annual team and group plans.
Participate and lead improvements in processes, tools, team engagement.

Communication and reporting

Produce high ‑ quality documentation and business reporting that supports informed decision ‑ making and aligns with strategic priorities across the Projects Group.
Collaborate and maintain relationships with stakeholders throughout the business and externally, to expedite responses and information transfer.
Prepare and support internal communication such as monthly updates to all staff, key events, meetings, presentations etc.
Develop and facilitate Projects Priority forums and Leadership engagement sessions (in collaboration with senior leaders and subject matter experts from across V/Line) to ensure Projects leaders understand team priorities.

Stakeholder management

Develop and maintain effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders at a senior/executive level, including Project teams, People and Finance divisions, and inter agency teams.

Executive administrative support

Serve as the primary contact on ED and Director activities and respond to internal and external enquiries about Projects Group activities and personnel.
Provide administrative support to the Executive Director and Projects SLT, including calendar management, agenda preparation, minute taking and action tracking.
Support management across the Projects division by drafting papers, briefs and resolutions, preparing briefing materials, and distributing action items for committees and working groups.
Oversee the maintenance of key business registers within Projects such as contracts register and motor vehicle register.

Event coordination

Organise and coordinate events, meetings, team events and conferences; including booking venues and catering, preparing draft agendas, minute meetings and follow up on associated actions.
Coordinate Toolbox talks/Safety seminars including sourcing information to present, scheduling, creation of agendas and minutes.

If your skills or experience don’t exactly match our listed requirements, we still encourage you to apply. We value diverse perspectives and believe in the potential for growth and development.

About You

Reporting to the Executive Director Projects, the Manager, Strategic Business Support – Projects plays a key role supporting the Projects Leadership Team and provides proactive oversight of key issues, priorities, and activities within the Projects Group.

Selection Criteria

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE And PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Demonstrated understanding of how organisational strategy and business planning cycles are translated into projects across the full project lifecycle within a transport or public sector environment.
Proven ability to interpret strategic objectives and convert them into clear project scope, delivery strategies, and practical work plans across the project lifecycle.
High ‑ level written communication skills with demonstrated experience producing project documentation that supports governance and decision ‑ making throughout the project lifecycle.
Ability to define tasks to be delivered to meet agreed outcomes, and coordinates others in the execution of project work activities.
Ability to monitor progress of tasks against project and strategic plans and takes corrective action when required.
Knowledge of public sector decision ‑ making processes, record ‑ keeping obligations, and confidentiality standards (desirable).
Qualifications in Project Management, Business Management, Public Administration, or a related field (desirable).

Why V/Line

In addition to free myki travel, we offer:

Community impact – Make a genuine difference. Work in a role that connects Victorians, every day.
Huge potential – We’re transforming, and you can too. Be a change maker, recognised for your contribution and creativity.
Dynamic environment – V/Line operates in a constantly changing space. Join a fast-paced and exciting organisation.
Collaborative team – You’ll be part of a broader supportive team. Surround yourself with talented, passionate peers.
Flexible working – We support flexible working. Work in a way that supports you to thrive in your role.

We are committed to ensuring a comfortable and accessible recruitment experience. If you need any adjustments or have specific accessibility requirements at any stage of the process, please contact our Talent team at [email protected] or 1800 800 007 for confidential support.

As an equal opportunity employer, V/Line is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace and network that reflects the communities we serve. We accept and value the contributions of all our employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, age or disability. We were also named a Work 180 endorsed employer for the second year in a row – meaning, we are committed to creating a great workplace for women.

We proudly acknowledge First Peoples of Victoria. We acknowledge their ongoing strength in practicing the world’s oldest living culture. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners’ lands, waters, and skies on which we live and pay respects to their Elders past and present.

At V/Line, safety is our priority. Successful applicants will undergo relevant pre-employment and medical checks to meet our safeworking standards . V/Line is also a proud Child Safe employer.