• Inaugural position, it's yours to build from scratch
• Work in a rapidly expanding purpose driven NFP focussed on youth wellbeing
• Be part of an amazing team that stops youth vaping and smoking

Head of Partnerships, Education and Engagement.

We are looking for a highly skilled, experienced, and connected communicator and relationship-builder to be our new Head of Partnerships and Engagement. We need you to help drive an incredibly important initiative aimed at tackling the national youth vaping crisis, and to help position OurFutures Institute as a thought leader and change maker when it comes to protecting and promoting youth mental health and wellbeing and changing young people’s relationship with alcohol, drugs, vaping, and tobacco.

This competitively remunerated, full-time, fixed-term (3.5 years) role is for hire in February/March 2025

BACKGROUND

Our Futures Institute is a not for profit organisation providing online, evidence-based drug, alcohol, vaping, tobacco, and mental health education courses to high school students. The programs were developed by researchers at The University of Sydney and utilise social influence and harm minimisation approaches to drive positive behaviour change.

Recent significant funding from the Commonwealth health department will enable all high schools in Australia to access our new vaping prevention program for free. We are looking for a highly skilled, experienced, and connected communicator and relationship-builder to be our new Head of Partnerships and Engagement to help drive this vital initiative.

Did you know 1 in 6 high school students have vaped recently? That 12-year-olds who have vaped are 29 times more likely to go on to try cigarette smoking? Youth vaping is on the rise, and youth cigarette smoking along with it. A new generation of nicotine addicts awaits if we do nothing. We need to stop this alarming trend in its tracks and you could play an absolutely critical role in addressing a major health issue for young people in Australia.

Reporting to the CEO, the Head of Partnerships and Engagement will be based at the Sydney University Knowledge Hub in Camperdown.

The position offers a great opportunity for someone who has excellent business acumen, extensive industry connections, and outstanding partnership-building and leadership skills. You must be highly focused and driven and able to work in a fast-paced environment delivering brilliant results to achieve business and personal success.

The successful roll-out of our Vaping prevention and other programs within schools will have a significant impact on the wellbeing and potential of young people in Australia.

You must be able to:

• Deliver a comprehensive, context-sensitive engagement strategy to ensure that key education stakeholders and partners within the education sector are engaged in our vaping prevention education strategy and program. This will ensure a very large and diverse community of organisations, big and small, urban and rural are appropriately aware of and engaged in the program so that we can work synergistically and thereby enhance program outcomes.
• Build and maintain relationships across a wide array of partners in the education and health sector including: state and federal health and education departments, catholic education dioceses, independent schools associations, school leaders, wellbeing organisations and associations, as well as local, state and national drug and alcohol and prevention based groups and leaders.
• Help position OurFutures Institute as a thought leader and change maker, establishing our brand in the arenas of mental and preventive health education for young people.
• Collaborate with the CEO and board to identify, research, and evaluate potential partners (advisory partners, philanthropic funders, project sponsors and other relevant stakeholders) that align with OurFutures’ strategic objectives, while assessing the benefits and risks associated with each potential partnership.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with strategic partners to ensure the Institute's success. Serve as the primary contact for these partnerships, while monitoring and evaluating their performance to promptly address challenges.
• Contribute to and help drive OurFutures’ medium- to long-term strategy
• Support the CEO with international growth objectives by building an international array of partners and potential sponsors and launch plans in particular countries/regions.
• Be an all-round leader and contribute to team goals.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Industry/Stakeholder Partnerships: Successful track record in building and maintaining a partnership ecosystem, especially in the education/health sectors.
• Partnership development: Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with partners, secure support or funding and sponsorships, and identify new business opportunities and relevant partners, with at least 5 years experience.
• Corporate Partnerships: Successful track record in managing corporate partnerships, with a focus on prospecting, securing, and nurturing relationships.
• Fundraising: Demonstrated ability to identify and pursue new partnership and philanthropic opportunities. Track record in international expansion would also be interesting.
• Strategic Thinking and Results: Commitment to delivering high-quality results through strategic decision-making.
• Communication and Presentation: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence in presenting at both public and corporate events.
• Teamwork and Initiative: Self-motivated and able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Personal Characteristics:

• Strong business acumen and experience in providing leadership at the executive level
• Thoughtful and visionary leader and strategic thinker, ability to stay calm under pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Amazing net-worker
• Self-motivated with an ability to motivate others to drive the organisation
• Desire to explore innovative approaches and new ideas to solving problems
• Agile, drives change quickly and effectively, inspires the team and understands the impact and consequences of change
• Possess integrity, tact and discretion
• Has excellent oral and written communication skills and excellent listening skills
• Is flexible and well informed, continuously expands sector knowledge
• Has the ability to consider and manage risk, and a sense of accountability to take risks and manage the consequences.

Package and work requirements

• For a start date in February/March, 2025.
• Three and a half year fixed term contract (to June 2028) with the possibility of renewal.
• Willingness to travel domestically initially but potentially internationally in the future.
• Willingness to work outside of hours when required - related mostly to our international expansion plans
• Hybrid work environment with 3 days in the office per week - except when travelling of course
• Flexible work hours available - e.g. 9 day fortnight.
• Mid to high 100s base salary + bonus
• 11.5 % superannuation
• FBT exemption

For any questions about the role please contact [email protected] using the subject line: Head of Partnerships and Engagement enquiry via EthicalJobs.