About us:

Tenants Victoria is the peak body for Victorian renters, and the rental law specialist community legal centre in Victoria. Our vision is for safe, secure and affordable homes for Victorian renters in a fair housing system. We provide information and referrals, legal advice, casework support, representation, financial counselling, and social work services to renters experiencing hardship and disadvantage, each year assisting more than 10,000 individual renters. We also provide rental law advice, support, and training to tenancy and community sector workers, and advocate to make laws fairer for Victorian renters.

About the role:

This is more than a job: it’s a chance to help shape a better future for Victorian renters. Reporting to the Director of Policy, Advocacy and Engagement and working closely with the Policy Lead, the Policy Advisor plays a key role in advancing Tenants Victoria's policy, advocacy and law reform agenda.

You will contribute to and lead policy projects that seek lasting improvements for renters. You will undertake policy research and analysis, develop submissions and reports, engage with stakeholders, and support advocacy campaigns that influence government decision-making and public understanding of renter issues.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled policy professional who is passionate about social justice, housing affordability and improving outcomes for Victorian renters.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and analyse policy challenges affecting Victorian renters and develop practical policy responses.
• Monitor and analyse legislative, regulatory and policy developments relevant to housing and tenancy issues.
• Prepare high-quality submissions, briefing papers, reports and responses to consultations, inquiries and reviews.
• Collaborate with service delivery teams to ensure policy positions are informed by client experiences and emerging issues.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of advocacy strategies and campaigns.
• Support the preparation of submissions to government departments, parliamentary inquiries and other decision-making bodies.
• Undertake stakeholder consultation and engagement activities to strengthen policy development and advocacy efforts.
• Represent Tenants Victoria in meetings, forums and consultations with external stakeholders.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and organisational projects as required.

What you'll bring

• Ability to analyse and synthesise complex policy, legal and research information to develop evidence-based recommendations.

• Excellent research, policy analysis and critical thinking skills.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to produce clear, concise and accessible policy documents.
• Sound conceptual and problem-solving abilities.
• An understanding of government policy development, implementation and parliamentary processes.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, consultation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A collaborative and solutions-focused approach to working with diverse stakeholders.
• High levels of initiative, professionalism and attention to detail.
• A genuine commitment to social justice and improving outcomes for renters.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications in public policy, political science, social policy or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in policy development, policy analysis, advocacy, research or a related field.
• Experience preparing policy submissions, reports, briefing papers or consultation responses.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and consultation experience.
• Ability to translate research, evidence and data into practical policy recommendations.
• Commitment to the vision, values and purpose of Tenants Victoria.

Desirable

• Experience in social research.
• Knowledge of tenancy law, housing policy or issues affecting renters in Victoria.
• Experience developing law reform submissions, reports and presentations.
• Advocacy or campaigning experience.
• Experience facilitating lived experience consultation and engagement processes.
• Familiarity with Community Legal Centres and the broader community sector.

Why work with us?

• Permanent full-time position.
• Modern Melbourne CBD office with hybrid working arrangements (minimum 3 days in the office).
• Five weeks' annual leave to support wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Access to generous not-for-profit salary packaging benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing free and confidential counselling support.
• Join a collaborative, values-driven organisation committed to social justice and housing equity.
• Opportunity to influence public policy and advocacy that delivers meaningful change for Victorian renters.

NEXT STEPS

If you are passionate about using policy and advocacy to create a fairer housing system and improve the lives of renters, we would love to hear from you!

Tenants Victoria is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, people with lived experience of renting and members of the LGBTIQA+ community.

To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.

For a confidential discussion and role specific questions please contact Bessie Tripatzis, People & Culture Manager on 0411 961 558 during business hours.

All offers of employment are subject to Tenants Victoria screening process, including a Working with Children's Check and National Police Records Check. Applicants must have unrestricted working rights in Australia.

Please note, we are not accepting applications from recruitment agencies for this position.

The position description is attached.