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NICOLE ORRISS

310 Lydiard St North, Soldiers Hill, VIC, 3350

Telephone: 03 9027 5458 (Work); 0447 959 868 (Mobile)

Email: nicole.orriss73@gmail.com

Professional Profile

I am a PRINCE2 accredited project manager and MSP accredited program manager with a background in developing and delivering key government programs and significant regional infrastructure projects. I am a strong collaborator, working with local, state and federal governments, the private and not-for-profit sectors, community groups and consultants. I have excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills with the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships. I thrive in high pressure working environments and am recognised for maintaining a positive and productive attitude in all circumstances and finding pragmatic strategically desirable outcomes.

Career Summary

2009 - Current: Manager Major Infrastructure / Contract and Program Director

Regional Development Victoria - Melbourne

Regional Development Victoria (RDV) is a statutory body which grows employment and economic opportunities in regional Victoria. The Regional Infrastructure Unit of RDV has responsibility for delivering over 50% of the Government’s $500 million Regional Infrastructure and Jobs Fund over 4 years. The 14 person unit delivers large scale infrastructure grants to the public, private and not-for-profit sector.

Key Responsibilities - Contract and Program Director

Leading the development and implementation of the $250 million Regional Infrastructure Fund and the $70 million Rural Development Fund, including all supporting guidelines, applications, assessments, evaluation frameworks and regional delivery processes in compliance with the Regional Development Victoria Act 2002 (Vic) for endorsement by Cabinet in a 16 week period.

Managing a team of 5 program and administration managers in the ongoing identification and updating of all program improvements and risk mitigation programs, including resources, administration and monitoring frameworks.

Overseeing and authorizing all unit staff in the development and execution of contracts resulting in a 50% decrease in contracting timeframes. This process includes quality control for movement to the Chief Executive for execution and significantly reduced contract variations by 24%.

Development and implementation of a business unit Monitoring and Administration Framework to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Victorian Auditor Generals Office’s (VAGO) expectations regarding use of public monies.

Leading the Department’s most recent response to the VAGO most recent audit of the previous Government’s $500 million Regional Growth Fund.

Leading the procurement and completion of sub-program evaluations including the Regional Trails Evaluation which assessed investment outcomes against an $80 million investment in trails by RDV.

Managing and training contract management assistants and mentoring of newly appointed graduates.

Key Responsibilities - Manager Major Infrastructure Identifying, preparing and leveraging financial support for a pipeline of new projects in regional Victoria,

including advising on suitability for Federal Government funding through the National Stronger Regions Fund.

Gaining whole-of-government grant approval for projects ranging from $300,000 to $30 million.

Project and contract management of a $60 million project portfolio.

Facilitating the inclusion of universal design, cultural heritage management plans and environmental assessments are appropriately incorporated into project development.

Representation of RDV on project control groups and whole-of-government committees and key industry Interdepartmental Committees such as the Cycling Strategy Committee and the Victorian Trails Coordinating Committee (VTCC).

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Leading the development of the Victorian Trails Strategy 2014 – 2024 through the VTCC.

Developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships across the public, private and industry sectors.

Procuring and managing consultant contracts. High level support to Executives as requested, including strategic advice relating to compliance, budget

management, business planning and program frameworks.

High quality written communications for the Minister, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Directors across government.

Key Achievements – Development and implementation of a paid departmental volunteering leave program Led a team of 6 to investigate, develop and implement a paid volunteering leave scheme within the then Department of Industry, Innovation and Regional Development. The role required:

Development of policy, management framework, commissioning framework, documentation and resources and other associated documentation.

Leading cost analysis for the Department.

Negotiating conditions of volunteer placement and insurance risk with stakeholders including CPSU, staff, management, volunteer agencies and insurers.

Presenting and obtaining approval from the Senior Management Team (12 Deputy Secretaries) to fund and administer the leave program as part of normal human resource processes funded through the central operating budget.

Key Achievements – Development and implementation of business unit frameworks and consistency

improvements Led the development of a standardised contracting template which has:

Empowered project managers to have greater oversight of contract development.

Decreased the number of project variations by 40%.

Decreased the risks associated with the management of public monies, and improved surety for the Executive.

Provide a template which was then adopted in various forms across the Department.

Decreased time spent on drafting contracts for low risk project in the Department’s Legal Unit by almost 80% allowing more time to be allocated to high risk legal issues.

Reduced time to execute contracts by 50% over a 12 month period.

Developed a Monitoring and Administration Framework which improved the consistency of all project management activities and ensured compliance with the recommendations of the previous two VAGO audit recommendations and further decreased variations by an additional 24%.

Standardised all application, assessment and monitoring processes.

Standardised evaluation and post completion reporting frameworks which facilitated the evaluation of 8 funding sub-programs in accordance with VAGO audit recommendations.

FEB 2000 - FEB 2002: Inbound Call-Centre Manager - RACV RACV required a high degree of corporate compliance with employees required to undertake consistent skills development. The call centre was recognised as Australian call centre of the year in 1999 and 2000 and at the time was one of the largest in Australia.

Key Responsibilities Managed the performance and culture of a team of 12 inbound call centre consultants.

Ensure the team and individuals met weekly sales targets. This was achieved or exceeded in all but 5 weeks of the 24 month period. During that time the team also outperformed all other 15 teams for 8 of 24 months.

Review employee performance and provide appropriate training and support as required, recognizing that my team targeted employees requiring flexible working arrangements.

Induction, training and mentoring of new staff.

Developed and implemented a Life Balance Program for the team to deal with stress resulting from increasing sales targets, major systems realignments and a corporate restructure with NRMA.

Management and resolution of client issues and complaints with an authorised delegation of $20,000.

Lead the amalgamation of the RACV and NRMA call centres in a new Melbourne facility which included training and supporting employees from both organisations with new systems, targets and expectations.

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Education and Training

2015: Managing Successful Programs (MSP) – Accredited Practitioner

2014: Prince 2: Project Management – Accredited Practitioner

2009 - 2013: Graduate Diploma of Law - Charles Darwin University

2005 - 2008: Bachelor of Environment and Planning (Policy Major) – Completed with Distinction

RMIT University

Key Competencies and Personal Attributes Excellent leadership skills with a strong focus on inclusion, work-life balance, mentoring, training and

personal development. Pragmatic approach to problem solving with a strong focus on ethical and workable solutions to problems that

are cognisant of the legislative framework in which they operate.

Thrive under pressure and against short timeframes and offer a calming presence in volatile situations.

Capable of developing and maintaining positive and fruitful stakeholder relationships quickly and with enduring success.

Consistent delivery against short timelines.

Diverse skill set which includes program development, service and resource procurement, project management, contract management, policy development, corporate compliance, process and program resource development, program commissioning and evaluation.

Pragmatic incorporation and development of program delivery structures, guidelines, evaluation and contract management processes which improve performance in relation to probity, consistency, delivery and team cohesion.

Strong commitment to developing and supporting great corporate culture.

Referees will be provided on request

Referees provided.