• Provide free services to the Melbourne Western suburbs community with regard to mortgage stress and related issues.
• Create and lead the legal practice and services in the Victorian state-wide expansion of the Mortgage Wellbeing Service to provide access to justice and assist people experiencing mortgage stress.
• Apply expertise to deliver a best practice and high impact program involving integrated multidisciplinary practice models with an overarching emphasis on law reform, systemic impact and systems improvement.
• Build and manage a dynamic workforce and work closely with the WEstjustice CEO and Senior Management Team.

The Organisation

WEstjustice is a leading community legal centre providing free services to vulnerable and disadvantaged people. From our offices in Footscray, Werribee and Sunshine and through our outreach services we provide advice, representation and education on a broad range of issues including employment, discrimination, consumer disputes, tenancy, credit and debt, family disputes, family violence, criminal law, infringements, children’s law and more.

WEstjustice believes in a just and fair society where the law and its processes do not discriminate against people experiencing vulnerability. We provide free legal education, undertake law reform activities and work in partnership with their local communities to deliver projects that improve access to justice.

Our purpose is to service the legal needs in the West in a way that addresses the systemic nature of disadvantage.

Benefits & Culture

• Competitive salary with salary packaging
• Up to 5 hours study leave per week
• Flexible working conditions
• Passionate, professional and dedicated team
• Focus on career development
• Werribee-based location
• Part time or full time option

The Role

This is an exciting time to be joining WEstjustice and leading this dynamic program. Working with the Director of Strategy - Mortgage Wellbeing Service, you will be responsible for leading the expansion of our Mortgage Wellbeing Service from its western suburbs catchment into a Victorian state-wide legal centre. You will oversee the legal and financial counselling practices and facilitate best practice to create opportunities to be at the forefront of new and improved ways in which we can work with clients to improve service delivery models and advocate for real and effective change.

The Mortgage Wellbeing Service Team is based at our Werribee office. You will manage a well-regarded team of legal practitioners and financial counsellors, as well as social work partnerships, to provide legal, financial and health services to a range of clients experiencing mortgage stress.

In addition to direct service delivery, you will lead the team’s reform agenda to promote systemic change and improve accessibility, laws and processes for people experiencing mortgage stress. You will also manage relationships with a range of stakeholders that includes partners, governments and potential funders.

Working closely with the CEO you will collaborate and contribute to the wider organisational strategy to ensure best practice, accountability and impact.

We are therefore looking for a person who is ready to help WEstjustice reform, change and, at times, disrupt the current systems to create better life outcomes for our communities in the West and greater Victoria.

Skills Required

You will be qualified in law and have experience as a senior member of a legal team, leading and managing staff with the ability to hold a Principal Practising Certificate. Fundraising, budget management ability to think “outside the square” is advantageous. Your background may come from a private law firm, a legal aid commission or community legal services.

You will also have:

• Extensive experience in general legal practice across a range of areas of law including banking, insurance, debt, consumer, economic abuse, and infringements.
• Relevant experience working with people experiencing financial hardship.
• Demonstrated experience (minimum of 3 years) in a leadership role, and substantial experience in a policy development or influencing role including:
  • Experience in leading a team or impact area, including management and supervision of program managers, senior and junior staff.
  • Expertise in handling and resolving challenging situations or issues.
  • Capability to make reasoned, strategic decisions in a collaborative manner, including about competing priorities in a busy workplace.
  • Ability to work autonomously with limited direction from the CEO.
• Ability to set and deliver work outcomes.
• High level of organisational awareness and understanding of political processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and confidently to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and to build strong partnerships.
• Strong commitment to social justice and community engagement, including a demonstrated understanding of the social context of law and the issues faced by communities experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage.
• Highly developed ability to engage with, communicate with and assist clients experiencing vulnerability and/or disadvantage.
• Ability to coordinate and supervise the work of volunteers and students.
• Sound time management skills and ability to deal with competing priorities under pressure.
• Demonstrated experience in specialist writing, editing and communication skills.
• Excellent organisation and communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, WEstjustice’s Vision, Purpose, Strategy and Impact Areas.

A copy of the position description is available below.

Please call An Huynh on 03 9749 7720 for a confidential discussion.

Remuneration

Salary range - $108,000 – $114,000 per annum (depending on experience), plus employer funded superannuation in accordance with Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth). In addition, generous salary packaging is available (including access to Accommodation and Meal Entertainment packaging).

The successful applicant will require a current Working with Children’s Check and a Police Check or be prepared to apply for both.

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 LGBTIQ-identifying people.