• Position type: Volunteer
• Term: Two years, with the ability to be re-appointed
• Time commitment: approximately 6-12 hours every two months

YLab is evolving, and currently seeking Board members to join our first Board, including Co-Chairs, a Treasurer, young Board Members (26 and under), and First Nations Board Members.

We are seeking Board members who can apply their diverse lived and technical experiences to ensure YLab’s vision is realised within a framework of transparent governance, robust strategic planning, and sound financial oversight.

The role of the YLab Board is to advance our mission and support the organisation in co-designing better systems and services with young people. As part of our first Board, you will be instrumental in developing YLab’s governance structure, Board culture and ongoing business strategy.

What you'll do

Board members are expected to regularly attend online Board meetings, additional Subcommittee meetings if you choose, represent YLab at events, and be available for occasional interactions with the wider organisation.

Your responsibilities as a Board member will include:

Strategic oversight:

• contributing to the development of YLab’s strategic direction
• reviewing and approving YLab’s strategy and strategic initiatives
• developing strategic relationships to build YLab’s profile

Financial oversight:

• reviewing the ongoing management and performance of YLab’s finances
• ensuring YLab is financially sustainable
• ensuring YLab’s finances meet all legal requirements

Risk management:

• contributing to the development and maintenance of a risk management system
• taking appropriate steps to mitigate YLab’s exposure to significant risks

Governance:

• reading, editing, and preparing materials for Board meetings
• organising and approving policies and procedures
• contributing to the performance management of the CEO
• contributing to the development and maintenance of a delegation framework
• reporting to FYA and relevant bodies
• representing YLab within our broader community

Evaluation:

• assessing YLab’s activities against its purpose and values
• assessing the social, environmental and ethical impact of YLab’s activities
• contributing to the review and refinement of YLab’s structure and processes

Culture:

• promoting and supporting the application of YLab’s values
• contributing to a healthy relationship with the wider organisation
• contributing to the transparent and accessible communication of Board information

Who we're looking for

We are seeking Board members with diverse lived experiences, knowledge and skills. Ideally you will have a number of the following:

• You have a strong understanding of how Boards operate. You have experience serving or engaging with Boards and committees, as well as a comprehensive knowledge of their responsibilities and the legal and regulatory framework associated with Board membership.

• You have a strong understanding of the youth and not-for-profit sectors. You’ve been involved in youth-led or youth-focused organisations and initiatives, and can demonstrate a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that surround them.

• You have a strong understanding of key systems and institutions. You have a deep knowledge, lived experience or professional experience within the education, employment and/or health systems, and have a commitment to enacting change within them.

• You have a passion for co-design. You hold a deep understanding of co-design principles and practices, or experience in consulting work that engages lived experiences to create more effective solutions.

• You have strong business acumen. You’ve been involved in designing innovative services, implementing business initiatives and scaling them for impact, as well as managing the associated risks along the way.

• You’re a natural when it comes to networking. You know where to look for business opportunities and how to build trusting relationships. You have a track record of successful business proposals and securing philanthropic support.

• Your financial literacy is through the roof. You know how to navigate balance sheets and cash flow statements, and have an understanding of corporate finance and audit procedures.

• You have people management or HR experience. You are passionate about creating safe, accessible and brave spaces, and have an understanding of the health, safety, and social responsibilities of employing a diverse cohort of young people.

• You’re an effective communicator and collaborator. You know how to facilitate discussions, work towards a common goal as a team, and collaborate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

Our work is guided by a commitment to intersectional justice. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, young people, people of colour, women, disabled people or people with disability, people from LGBTIQA+ communities, and people with lived experience of economic injustice and housing insecurity.

We recognise that the nonprofits sector has systematically excluded these communities. The problems we face are complex, and the more diversity of experiences we can bring to the table, the better our solutions are. Even if you only meet some of the experiences and skills we’re looking for, or feel that you might not entirely be ‘the right fit’, we’d love to hear from you.

About us

YLab exists to design better systems and services with young people. We know that organisations are looking for more meaningful ways to engage young people as legitimate design partners, and young people are eager to contribute their brilliant ideas and insights to the design of systems and services that they interact with on a daily basis.

We engage, train and employ young people from many different backgrounds, cultures, identities and lived experiences in co-design, and connect them with the problems that our partners are trying to solve. We work not only to build the capabilities of young people, but to shift the mindsets of institutions to genuinely value and share power with young people as collaborators.

Since our conception, we have worked with over 220 organisations across Australia to design better systems and services with young people. We have also employed over 150 young people as YLab Associates, who have not only gained entry-level employment and pathways through YLab, but also developed skills in co-design, social impact, systems thinking and consulting.

Our current 2023-25 strategy sees us:

• focusing more deeply on the health, employment and education systems where co-design is a high-impact tool
• committing more deeply to our focus on First Nations justice through a renewed approach to our First Nations practice, and embedding First Nations principles across all of our work
• strengthening our employment model to ensure the young people we hire and train have increased security, development and pathways
• expanding our geographic footprint across Australia, and
• driving more impact through new services that emerge within our work, in addition to our co-design methodology.

YLab was founded by the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) in 2016, and we are currently working towards becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary organisation of FYA from 2024. While we remain core to FYA’s vision and strategy, this organisational change will enable us to establish our own governance structure and ways of working to ensure a stronger, more agile, and more impactful organisation.

About our board

Our Board will include 6–9 Board members, and oversee our governance and strategic direction to ensure we can provide effective services while meeting our legal and financial requirements.

As leaders within our organisation, the Board will embody our co-design methodologies, First Nations principles, and value for collaborating with young people meaningfully. To ensure lived experience is centred at all levels of the organisation, one-third of our Board member positions are reserved for young people under the age of 26, including a Co-Chair position, and a minimum of one Board member must be First Nations.

Other important things

Applicants for this role must be over 18 years of age, have a legal right to work in Australia and not be insolvent or under administration.

Mandatory requirements for this position include a verified Director ID, Working with Children’s Check and Police Check — we’ll help you with this if you are successful.

Board members must comply with YLab’s governing documents in addition to all legal duties described in the ACNC Act, which are:

• to act in good faith and for proper purposes
• to act with reasonable care, skill and diligence
• to ensure organisational solvency
• to ensure compliance with relevant legislation
• to ensure workforce health and safety
• to avoid conflicts of interest
• not to dishonestly use position or information

How to Apply

• 1. Click "Apply Now" on this ad to go to our website, then click ‘apply’ on the available position/s you wish to apply for.
  
• 2. Please include a detailed resume (no more than 3 pages) or a link to your LinkedIn profile
• 3. Please provide brief answers to the two questions listed (no more than 300 words each):
  • Who are you, and what excites you about this role with YLab?
  • How does your experience fit with who we’re looking for?
• 4. Click ‘submit’!

Successful candidates will be called for a Zoom interview and provided with all interview questions in advance.

We understand that applications can be stressful and often inaccessible, and are committed to an inclusive recruitment process. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to create an accessible and safe space with you.

Contact information

Email us at [email protected] using the subject line: Board Members - Co-Chairs / Treasurer / Young / First Nations (Voluntary Positions) enquiry via EthicalJobs for more information, questions, or to book a confidential discussion about the role.