The Organisation

Westjustice is a leading community legal centre providing free services to vulnerable and disadvantaged people. From our offices in Werribee and Sunshine and through outreach services, we provide advice on a broad range of issues including employment, discrimination, consumer disputes, tenancy, credit and debt, family disputes, family violence, criminal law and more. We operate a multidisciplinary service, providing holistic legal, financial counselling and social worker support to people in Melbourne’s west which provides a comprehensive wrap-around service for those who need support within our community.

Our vison is for fairness, safety and justice for Melbourne’s West. Our purpose is to deliver targeted services and drive meaningful change.

Be part of the organisation that provides high-impact services and systemic reform of complex, widespread issues for the good of our clients and communities in Melbourne’s West.

Benefits & Culture

• Be a part of an organisation that 98% of our team are proud to work for
• We pay 3% above the SCHADs award
• Salary packaging
• Up to 5 hours study leave per week
• Flexible working conditions
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Passionate, professional and dedicated team
• Gifted additional paid leave over the summer holiday period
• Strong focus on wellbeing
• Ongoing commitment to being a diverse and inclusive organisation
• With 90% of our team recommending WEstjustice as a great place to work we can provide a culture of a values driven, inclusive, feedback-oriented workplace

The Role

Westjustice is seeking a Community Engagement & Development Program Manager, 12-month maternity leave cover. This role will lead Westjustice’s community engagement and development, to ensure that our programs and services are informed by our communities and to ensure that our engagement is meaningful and culturally safe. This includes implementing a community engagement framework and convening community advisory boards.

This role will be part of the Westjustice Management Team, work with the Senior Leadership Team and report to the Director of Policy, Impact & Engagement.

Skills Required

Mandatory:

• Demonstrated experience, as a subject matter expert, on community engagement, representation and development.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate and coordinate consultation workshops and boards (particularly with community and/or lived experience groups).
• Demonstrated report writing experience, and experience in developing frameworks for community engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to work strategically and collaboratively to build strong stakeholder relationships and partnerships across a range of sectors and community groups.
• Strong commitment to social justice, community education and engagement, including a demonstrated understanding of the social context of law and the issues faced by vulnerable and/or disadvantaged communities.
• Highly developed ability to listen to, engage with, and assist people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and work within a rights based and empowerment framework.
• Excellent organisation, communication and administrative skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to Westjustice’s Vision, Purpose, Strategic Plan and Impact Areas.

Desirable:

• Existing relationships and/or lived experience in Melbourne’s West.
• Prior experience in media, communications and social media work.
• Prior experience in writing successful grant applications and / or securing project funding and / or developing and managing budgets.
• Prior experience in a project management role and / or strong project management skills and experience.

Remuneration

Salary range ($118,517.00 - $123,468.00) (commensurate with experience) plus superannuation, 17.5% leave loading and additional generous salary packaging of up to $15,900 for general living expenses, access to Accommodation and Meal Entertainment packaging and employer funded superannuation in accordance with Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).

For enquires, call Sheri Shwe, Community Development and Engagement Program Manager, on 03 9749 7720 for a confidential discussion.

The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children’s Check and a Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application which in each case will be individually assessed for the relevant role. Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.

WEstjustice is committed to building a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people living with a disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, mature age workers and LGBTIQA+-identifying people. People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application which in each case will be individually assessed for the relevant role.

If you require any adjustments throughout the application or recruitment process please contact [email protected] using the subject line: Community Engagement & Development Program Manager enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Please ensure that you let us know, in advance, of any reasonable adjustment you may require during any part of the recruitment process including application and interview by contacting Theresa via [email protected]. Any information disclosed will be held in the strictest of confidence.

A position description is attached.