• Location: Working from home (ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, WA), and State/Territory Peak offices
• Salary: SCHADS Level 7

ABOUT THE ROLE

The National Policy Manager will work with the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance (Alliance) team in this fastmoving sector across Australia influencing progressive outcomes for mental health consumers nationwide. Using your well-established policy development and stakeholder relationship skills, this role will require you to build strong relationships and facilitate connection and collaboration both across the Alliance and with a range of national key stakeholders you will be responsible for the development and delivery of the Alliances national advocacy program.

Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the National Policy Manager will

• Develop policy submissions informed by on-going Consumer and sector engagement, focus groups, live issues tracking and contemporary research methods.
• Provide timely advice in relation to National level issues that impact mental health consumers in Australia.
• Represent the Alliance on various committees, reference groups and working parties.
• Manage and collaborate with State and Territory policy officers, mental health consumers, and First Nations, Multicultural and Regional and Remote subject-matter expert committees.
• Lend a helping hand on projects and events throughout the year in addition to regular duties.

CORE SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES FOR THIS POSITION

• Values Driven: The ability to demonstrate kindness, respect, acceptance, empathy, collaboration and integrity.
• Flexibility: The capacity to work and act flexibly in order to meet peer and organisational goals.
• Collaborative: A demonstrated commitment to working collaboratively and constructively with others including consumers, their families/carers, staff, volunteers, Government and sector partners.
• Creative and inquisitive: Capacity to contribute to developing and evaluating innovative approaches with new and fresh ideas and a positive approach.
• Organisation: Demonstrated ability to manage time and prioritise work to quickly respond to emerging issues under limited supervision.
• Initiative: Demonstrated ability to proactively take carriage of specific tasks, programs and projects and to exercise sound judgement in seeking feedback and direction.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES / PERFORMANCE AREAS

A. POLICY AND RESEARCH:

• Produce relevant evidence for, and provide well-articulated policy positions, submissions, presentations and briefings on mental health related topics aligning with the Alliances strategic directions.
• Report on current and emerging issues of importance to our consumer community.
• Collaborate with colleagues (state/territory policy and research officers) and members of Alliance expert panels (First Nations, Multicultural, Regional and Remote) to identify current and emerging issues that impact areas of responsibility and support appropriate knowledge transfer and translation into programs and projects.
• Attend, contribute to and report back from, relevant sector committees, working parties, stakeholder engagements in line with the Systemic Advocacy program of work.
• Prepare and deliver written and verbal presentations as required by the CEO or their delegate.
• Produce relevant evidence, information, policy analysis, models and advice to support submissions, funding applications, planning and reporting.
• Collect quantitative and qualitative data as required by the CEO or their delegate.
• Horizon scan for upcoming policy issues as well as grant and other funding opportunities.

B. SUPERVISION:

• Provide supervision and support to Alliance and State and Territory staff on a regular basis, including performance.
• Support Alliance expert panels (First Nations, Multicultural, Regional and Remote).

C. QUALITY IMPROVEMENT:

• Develop and maintain records for ongoing evaluation, research initiatives and quality improvement activities and programs in the Alliance.
• Participate in professional and performance development programs as required.

D. GENERAL:

• Identify and manage risks to business operations and or program objectives.
• Deliver outputs and outcomes within agreed timeframes and to required standards.
• Conduct all activities in compliance with relevant legislation including Equal Employment Opportunity, Occupational Health and Safety, and all policies, procedures and guidelines as determined by the Alliance from time to time.
• Perform other duties as required by the CEO or their delegate.

E. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:

• This role reports to: Chief Executive Officer

STATEMENT OF DUTIES/PERFORMANCE AREAS

Qualifications:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in a related discipline (community development, social science, public health, public policy etc.) and/or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Lived Experience:

• It is a genuine occupational qualification of this position to have a consumer lived experience of mental health/social and emotional wellbeing issues and and recovery, with firsthand experience navigating the mental health system.

Leadership, advocacy and stakeholder engagement:

• Previous experience working in a designated lived experience/peer role with a demonstrated understanding of the consumer movement.
• High level understanding of the mental health sector.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated ability to develop and contribute to high-quality written materials such as submissions, position papers, briefing notes, reports and correspondence.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective stakeholder relationships including working with consumer representatives.
• Demonstrated supervision, coordination and leadership skills.
• High level planning and organisational skills, especially in relation to meeting deadlines and managing competing priorities.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills in order to develop strategies, ideas and opportunities for resolving issues.

Administrative:

• An ability to travel interstate on short notice if required
• National Police Certificate
• Working with Children Check (or equivalent in your State/Territory)
• Certification of tertiary or other qualifications.

Important: Lived Experience Selection Criteria

As a consumer lived experience-led organisation, all Alliance team and governing body members have their own consumer lived experience of mental health issues. Determining a safe level of disclosure of your consumer lived experience can be tricky, and as such we do not require people to explain their personal history during the application or interview process.

Underrepresented Candidates

Research shows that candidates from underrepresented groups (Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Pacific Islander peoples, people of colour, women, non-binary and gender diverse people, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people with a disability) often do not apply for roles if they do not meet all the criteria – unlike majority candidates meeting significantly fewer requirements. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested, we would love to know how you can amplify our team with your unique experience.

POSITION TYPE AND TERM

Position Type: Maximum term

Position Term: To 31 December 2026 with extension subject to continued Commonwealth Department of Health Peak Grant funding.

Location: Applications accepted from all parts of Australia, with flexible working arrangements and ability to work from home and various State/Territory office locations.

FTE for this position is 0.8 (60.8 hours a fortnight) [A full-time equivalent position (1.0 FTE) at the Alliance is seventy-six (76) hours per fortnight. ]

The Alliance is working towards gaining Health Promotion Charity designation with the ACNC and ATO. If successful, this designation will provide access to the relevant Fringe Benefits Tax exempt salary sacrifice options.

The Alliance supports external peer supervision/reflective practice.

Please submit your application directly via the Ethical Jobs website.

Further enquiries, including a confidential conversation, can be made by contacting Darren Munday, Interim Chief Executive Officer, via [email protected] using the subject line: National Policy and Research Manager, Peer Identified - Remote / Work from Home enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Additional information about the Alliance can be accessed at www.nmhca.org.au