Lead the peak body advocating for the human rights of people with lived experience who use mental health services in NSW.

As the CEO of BEING – Mental Health Consumers Ltd (BEING), you will guide our small but impactful organisation as we advocate for systemic change and highlight the need for consumer-centred mental health services in NSW.

If you are a compassionate senior advocate with personal lived experience of mental health challenges, a great relationship builder, have strong governance and management experience, and a good understanding of human rights frameworks this may be the role you’ve been waiting for.

What’s on offer:

• Permanent role (1.0FTE)
• $140K + super
• Generous leave allowance
• Fantastic Sydney office near Wynyard
• Work from home flexibility
• Opportunity for interstate travel to collaborate with other lived experience leaders
• Small, friendly team

As the CEO, you will have the opportunity to regularly advocate for the human rights of mental health consumers in NSW to the Minister, senior officials in NSW Health, the NSW Mental Health Commission, and many others.

You will also represent consumers’ interests in coalitions such as the NSW mental health alliance comprising other NSW mental health peak bodies and clinical colleges and represent NSW consumers’ interests at a national level through the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance peak body.

Most importantly you will be in direct contact with many people who, like yourself, have lived experience of mental health challenges and be motivated by their stories of trauma and recovery to speak truth to power.

Key responsibilities include:

• Representation, promotion and advocacy of the interests of mental health consumers and BEING in all relevant forums
• Oversight of policy development and implementation: both internal organisational policy, and BEING position statements and policy
• Build strong relationships with governments, NGOs, and other strategic partners in the interests of improving the mental health system in NSW from the perspective of mental health consumers
• Client and stakeholder management including representing BEING for all activities
• Management of the organisation, in line with the vision, mission and Strategic Plan endorsed by BEING
• Direct supervision of three senior staff
• Financial management according to relevant laws, legislation and regulations
• Management of all grant and funding contracts and agreements

Who we’re looking for

BEING is looking for a generalist who is competent in managing a social justice organisation across all areas, including:

• Demonstrated experience in systemic advocacy
• Exceptional interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills with a wide variety of people
• Leadership and staff supervision experience
• Capacity to manage government funding contracts of around $1million in value
• Ability to manage a P&L
• Capacity to work effectively with a Board of Directors
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of social justice
• Experience in community services, government or the NFP sector.

Personal lived Experience of mental health challenges is a genuine occupational requirement for this role. BEING has a 100% lived experience workforce. Additionally, a connection to the mental health lived experience movement would be highly regarded.

BEING welcomes applications from experienced CEOs as well as senior executives ready to step into a CEO role. Our preference is for candidates who have worked in and understand the dynamics of small organisations.

BEING also recognises that candidates from underrepresented groups (Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Pacific Islander peoples, people of colour, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with a disability) often do not apply for roles if they do not meet all the criteria – unlike majority candidates meeting 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 experiences.

Read the Position Description attached below for further information about the role and the essential selection criteria.

About BEING

BEING is the independent, NSW peak organisation speaking with and for people with living experience of mental health issues, emotional distress and suicidal crises. Our primary focus is to ensure the voices of people with mental health issues are heard by decision makers, service providers, and the community, and to lead and influence systemic change in services and systems.

Further enquiries can be directed to Priscilla Brice, outgoing CEO, by email in the first instance: [email protected] using the subject line: Chief Executive Officer enquiry via EthicalJobs.