Surf Life Saving exists to save lives, create great Australians and build better communities.

Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) is Australia's peak coastal water safety, drowning prevention and rescue authority.

With 193,009 members, of all age groups and demographics across 315 affiliated Surf Life Saving Clubs (SLSCs), SLSA represents the largest volunteer movement of its kind in Australia.

Since Surf Life Saving was established in 1907, over 670,000 lives have been saved. In 2021/22 our Surf Life Saving active members were involved in 8,916 rescues, 58,342 first aid treatments and more than 1.63 million preventative actions. Surf Life Saving volunteers carried out more than 1.31 million patrol hours.

Surf Life Saving is a unique not-for-profit, community cause that exists through community donations, fundraising, corporate sponsorship and government grants.

This position is integral to our mission, driving forward key initiatives and contributing to the overall success of our team. Your expertise will shape our strategic direction and operational efficiency, directly impacting our innovation, growth, and the maintenance of SLSA's iconic Australian brand. We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Product Manager to join our team and play a key role in the enhancement and evolution of our critical communication and incident management system, Surf Comm, and the frontline digital tool, the SLSA Operations App.

This is a full time, 24 month fixed term contract role. The role will sit within the Coastal Safety Team, which is responsible for delivering coastal safety initiatives and lifesaving operations management for Australia's coastline in conjunction with SLSA's affiliated state bodies.

The role can be based in Sydney, Brisbane and has hybrid options. 

This role will report to Manager, Coastal Safety, and will collaborate with:

• National ICT Manager
• SLSA affiliated state bodies
• SLSA Lifesaving Committees

Key Responsibilities

Product Development and Management:

• Develop and manage a 5-year product roadmap for critical lifesaving applications including SurfCom Management System, the Operations App, Beachsafe, and iRisk.
• Analyse market trends to identify opportunities for product innovation and improvement.
• Work closely with the development team to enhance existing features and develop new functionalities across multiple systems.
• Apply agile methodologies to ensure adaptability, effective collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate the feasibility and value of proposed features, prioritising according to the needs of stakeholders with diverse priorities.
• An employee at this level makes responsible decisions not usually subject to technical review, decides courses of action necessary to expedite the successful accomplishment of assigned projects, and may make recommendations involving large sums or long-range objectives.

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration:

• Engage with state bodies and stakeholders to gather inputs and align product development with real-world needs.
• Foster an environment where the team and stakeholders feel engaged and connected to the mission.
• Strong external stakeholder engagement skills with a track record of building and maintaining relationships.

Administration and Reporting:

• Regularly report on performance metrics and progress towards strategic objectives and key results (OKRs).
• Report weekly on performance metrics and track progress towards strategic objectives and key results (OKRs).

Financial and Resource Management:

• Manage the Coastal Safety Products as part of the initial contract with potential for further work based on business needs.

Who You Are

Our ideal candidate will have:

Qualifications:

• Tertiary qualifications and/or equivalent relevant experience in product management or a related field.
• Membership in relevant professional organisations is advantageous.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Proven experience as a Product Manager with a focus on digital transformation.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and deliver high-quality products.
• Strong external stakeholder engagement skills with a track record of building and maintaining relationships.
• Experience in evaluating the feasibility and value of new features while balancing stakeholder needs.
• Background in working closely with development teams on both BAU and new feature implementations.
• Familiarity with the lifesaving or emergency management sector is a plus.
• Experience working in agile product development environments.

Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent organisational and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, capable of fostering an engaging and inclusive environment.
• Ability to take a whole-of-business perspective and demonstrate a growth mindset.

SLSA Benefits and Culture

• SLSA is committed to ensuring all employees have a work life balance within their role.
• Hybrid working model with opportunities to work from home and from our Surf Life Saving Australia offices.
• Flexible work arrangements and a healthy work-life balance.
• A supportive and inclusive work environment where your contributions are valued.
• Competitive salary and opportunities for career development and advancement.
• Chance to make a meaningful impact.
• As Surf Life Saving is a not-for-profit organisation, you will have access to salary packaging.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're ready to join a dynamic team and contribute to SLSA, we want to hear from you! Apply now and be part of our mission to save lives and keep our beaches safe.

Eligibility

Please note that only applicants with the eligibility to work in Australia will be considered for this role. To be successful, you must hold Australian Working Rights or Australian Citizenship.

Surf Life Saving is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a fair and inclusive workplace. SLSA values diversity and encourages all qualified individuals to apply for any of our recruitment opportunities.

SLSA ensures a commitment to safeguarding children and young people. All candidates will be required to undertake a working with children check before commencing work with SLSA.

SLSA provides workplace adjustments for people with a disability.

SLSA reserve the right not to proceed with any appointment.

A position description is attached.