• Opportunity to work at Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE), a national not-for-profit organisation that supports the adoption and impact of place-based approaches across Australia
• Join at an exciting time, as the PLACE team builds its foundational team during its establishment phase, in preparation for its first steps of growth as a new organisation.
• $130,000 - $165,000 (FTE) per annum excluding superannuation.
• Full time (1.0) fixed-term position
• Flexible national location, with hybrid conditions - available in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney or regional Australia.
• The successful candidate will undertake domestic travel regularly as part of this role.

The Director of the Learn and Share Function will lead PLACE’s efforts to gather, share, and translate knowledge into practical tools and resources for place-based practitioners and stakeholders. This includes generating evidence, commissioning research, and establishing a centre of excellence to drive innovation and inform practice.

The role is responsible for embedding PLACE as a trusted leader in building sector-wide capacity, sharing best practices, and driving improvements in community outcomes through robust evidence and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

As a member of PLACE’s executive leadership team, the Director, Learn and Share will play a critical role in shaping the organisation’s direction, fostering collaboration across functions, and contributing to key strategic decisions. During PLACE’s establishment phase, this role will provide leadership and guidance to ensure the organisation’s foundational structures, strategies, and partnerships are effectively established. This includes working closely with the CEO, Board, and other executive leaders to embed PLACE’s values and operational excellence across all areas of the organisation.

Who you are (selection criteria):

• You hold relevant tertiary qualifications in social research, knowledge translation, community development, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• You can demonstrate proven leadership experience in evidence generation, knowledge translation, or capacity building initiatives.
• You have a strong understanding of place-based work and the role of evidence in informing practice and policy.
• You can demonstrate expertise in establishing and managing centres of excellence or similar functions.
• You possess exceptional communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex research into practical tools and resources.
• You have experience in designing and delivering learning opportunities, such as workshops, resources, and online tools.
• You have experience establishing and/or managing research collaborations and partnerships.
• Strong project management skills are a key skill of yours, including the ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• You possess experience working with matters of intellectual property including Indigenous cultural and intellectual property.
• You are comfortable in a start-up environment; you manage multiple competing priorities with a proactive and adaptable approach.
• You align with PLACE’s vision, values, and principles.

Research indicates that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised individuals often wait until they fulfil every requirement. If you believe you have the attributes to do the job but don't match every point on the job ad, we welcome and encourage your application.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the Learn and Share Function, ensuring alignment with PLACE’s vision and strategic goals.
• Build and manage a high-performing team to deliver research, knowledge translation, and capacity building initiatives.
• Commission and oversee research to address key gaps in understanding and practice for place-based approaches.
• Create a centralised knowledge base and learning hub to share best practices, case studies, and guidance for place-based initiatives.
• Leverage mutually beneficial partnerships with thought leaders, researchers, and practitioners to strengthen PLACE’s role as a knowledge leader.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with researchers, funders, practitioners, and policymakers to co-develop and disseminate knowledge products.
• Develop and implement frameworks to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of PLACE’s knowledge and learning initiatives.

A position description is attached.

Who we are:

Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE) is a not-for-profit organisation, committed to collaborative, community-driven approaches to create impactful and lasting change.

It is our vision to enable communities and governments to jointly decide on matters that are most important to our lives. We lead national initiatives to develop workforce strategies, enhance place-based practices and improve data monitoring and evaluation.

At PLACE, we are dedicated to creating lasting change through understanding, action and empowered governance.

What we offer:

• True flexibility and a strong focus on agility in the workplace; we prioritise making flexible work arrangements possible for all employees.
• Access to $15,900 in salary packaging through Fringe Benefits Tax options.
• A team of supportive and passionate people committed to maintaining a positive workplace culture and making an impact.
• 5 weeks of Annual Leave for every 12 months of employment.
• Two days volunteering leave for every 12 months of employment.
• A leadership team that truly wants you to flourish and make your mark on the organisation.
• A workplace that prioritises both diversity and inclusion, allowing everyone to bring their authentic selves to work in an environment that ensures psychological and physical safety.
• Hybrid work environment and flexible working arrangements (the opportunity to work where you live).
• Cultural and Ceremonial leave.
• A Learning and Development budget per employee, prioritising professional development for our employees.

How to apply:

To express your interest, submit an online application through clicking Apply Now and include a professional resume. All applicants must also provide brief responses to the application questions that are included as part of the online application.

Note: we do not accept cover letters as part of our application process.

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, so don’t delay your application.

If you require additional adjustments, or would like to discuss any access needs as a part of the application and recruitment process, then please contact us via email [email protected] using the subject line: Director - Learn and Share - Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment - Flexible Location enquiry via EthicalJobs.

PLACE is an equal opportunity employer and strives to maintain a workplace environment that is fair and free of discrimination, is safe and accessible for all employees, and provides working arrangements that accommodate the diverse needs of our staff. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people from culturally- and linguistically-diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people and people of every ethnicity, faith, ability, culture, language, gender identity, age, and sex.

Employment in this position is conditional upon reception and maintenance of a Working With Children Check.

As part of our employment screening process, we do run police checks. But don’t worry—having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you.