• Employment status: Fixed Term - 30 June 2026
• Reports to: CMHA CEO
• Environment: Remote working arrangements with occasionally travelling to a meeting space for collaboration with other team members and CEO.

Job summary

The Operations & Communications Manager plays a pivotal role in advancing the mission of Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) by overseeing the organisation's operations, communication strategies relating to funded programs. This role ensures the efficient day-to-day operations of CMHA. This multifaceted position requires a highly motivated and strategic individual with exceptional leadership, stakeholder communication, organisational, and governance skills. The Operations & Communications Manager has demonstrated experience regarding communication and operational management; excellent oral engagement and written communication skills; the ability to ‘innovatively think on their feet and outside the box’; multi-task priorities with exceptional planning and organisation skills; optimising processes with a high level of self-motivation and attention to detail, while working independently and contributing to CMHA’s vision and strategy.

About CMHA

CMHA is a coalition of peak community mental health organisations from States and Territories and was established to provide leadership and direction to promote the importance and benefits of community managed mental health sector including coproduction with lived/living experience across Australia.

CMHA provides a unified voice for several hundred community-managed, non-government organisations who work collaboratively with people with lived/living experience of poor mental health family and carers across the nation, including the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance and Mental Health Carers Australia. In addition, CMHA is responsible for the delivery of Commonwealth grants related to psychosocial disability and works closely with above mentioned Lived Experience peaks in delivering these grants.

Key responsibilities

• Operations. Oversee and optimise day-to-day operational processes to enhance efficiency and productivity. Identify and address operational challenges, proposing solutions and process improvements. Ability to produce effective and accurate written communications, develop strategic documentation and frameworks, and oversee the project management software.
• Budget. Strong finance skills are required to regularly review and collaborate with the CEO to ensure project budgets are monitored, delivered within contract requirements and reported against regularly.
• Communication. Implement comprehensive communication strategies to increase awareness, visibility, and understanding of CMHA initiatives among target audiences. This includes newsletters, social media, content creation, website maintenance, EDM’s. Engage with members and community stakeholders.
• Media relations. Cultivate, manage, and maintain positive relationships with media consultant, photographers and video creators and relevant stakeholders to secure media coverage, media and promotion materials, and raise the profile of CMHA. Prepare press releases and media materials to effectively convey key messages and maintain the reputation and integrity of the public face of CMHA projects and CMHA.
• Awards. Write and submit awards applications for funded projects delivered by CMHA.
• Collaboration & partnerships. Establish and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, e.g., Centre of Social Impact, delivery partner organisations and broader stakeholders.
• Risk Management. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, policies, and industry standards in all communications and operational activities. Develop and maintain the Project Risk Register.
• Governance. Ensure policy and procedure development and implementation. Manage the contractual agreements. Work collaborative with the Company Secretary under the direction of the CEO.
• Public events. Planning, communication, and operational management of all facets of CMHA public facing events. Cultivate, manage, and maintain positive relationships with the sub-contractors and any organising committees.
• Monitoring and evaluation. Support the evaluation, analysis, and feedback of key components of the ACDC Project and any major public facing events as part of the continual improvement process.
• Research. Manage and support the research and evaluation partners of the project to ensure that deliverables are met in a timely manner and at sufficient quality. Contribute to and review of the project research and evaluation reports and research papers.
• Grant writing. Identify and research funding opportunities aligned with CMHA’s mission and strategic goals. Work with relevant stakeholders to gather necessary information for grant submissions. Write clear, concise, and persuasive grant proposals tailored to funder priorities.
• Reporting. Contribute to the mandatory reporting requirements and funding agreement milestones, e.g., Project Progress Reports, Activity Workplan.
• Editing and review. Reviewing, proof reading and editing documentation related to CMHA funded projects when requested.
• General. Bring forward thinking and creativity to all activities. Ensure all activities recognise and reflect lived experience, recovery-oriented practice, and trauma-informed care. Abide by the Code of Conduct and comply with all Commonwealth and State legislation.

Essential criteria

• Project management. At least two years’ experience working on one or more funded projects with multiple deliverables and intended outcomes.
• Valuing diverse communities and contributions. Demonstrated understanding and valuing of the contemporary roles of people with lived experience of mental distress, their families and carers, the value and roles of government, the contribution of research and education, and the full range of diverse services and service providers in the community.
• Building relationships. Demonstrated ability to engage and coordinate ongoing relationships using outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
• Operations. Implementation of relevant workplace legislation, demonstrated ability to produce effective and accurate written communication, develop policy and strategic documentation, and quality improvement activities.
• Time management. Ability to work effectively on tight deadlines, independently and as part of a team.
• Advocacy. A passion for mental health advocacy and a commitment to promoting positive mental well-being.
• Communication. Exceptional writing, editing, and proofreading skills. Outstanding oral communication and stakeholder skills.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of contemporary issues in mental health services. Knowledge and understanding may be through either: experience working in a professional role within the mental health or community managed mental health sector, qualifications attained in a relevant field, a personal lived experience of mental distress and recovery, or a combination of the above. Understanding of the importance of coproduction when working with government agencies.
• Marketing and social media. Demonstrated experience with a wide range of technology and ability to adapt to the changing needs of an organisation, stakeholder, and community expectations.

Key Outcomes

The key role outcomes for the position are:

• Outcome 1 – The Communications & Operations Manager will have ensured timely completion of deliverables in line with the project frameworks.
• Outcome 2 – The Communications & Operations Manager will have effectively implemented communication and partnership strategies.
• Outcome 3 – The Communications & Operations Manager will have managed and achieved project plans’ budget and funding agreement milestones of projects.
• Outcome 5 - The Communications & Operations Manager will have developed and participated in the growth and partnership strategies of CMHA.

Interstate travel could be required, however, CMHA is striving towards low carbon emissions through the proactive use of technology and limiting air travel and long-distance car travel.

This is a full-time fixed term position with flexible hours as required. Remuneration is $120,000 - $132,000 + 11.5% superannuation per year and salary sacrifice benefits.

Applications close at 5.00 pm AEST on the closing date.