• Join a values-driven organisation tackling Australia's most important challenges
• Unique opportunity to leverage your skills in a for-purpose environment
• Max-term 12 months, Full time or Part time | Sydney or Melbourne | Flexible Work

Who we are

SVA is Australia’s most innovative social impact organisation.

We use our broad outlook, transformational thinking, and trusted voice to lead the charge against inequality in Australia. We were created over 20 years ago to find innovative solutions to entrenched social problems and speed up the rate of positive change.

We help institutions think differently, we help redesign systems by learning about what works in communities, and work hand-in-hand with our passionate partners to take real action and drive positive social change.

The Social Impact Initiatives team

SVA’s Social Impact Initiatives (SII) conceives of and delivers projects to drive systemic change that will bring us closer to an Australia where all individuals and communities can thrive by reducing inequality. Predominately philanthropically funded, the team uses a diverse set of capabilities to develop solutions to challenging social problems by shifting practices, policies and funding that impact the lives of people experiencing exclusion, poverty, or disadvantage.

The team’s knowledge and expertise span a number of practice areas; currently First Nations, Education, Early years, Employment, Policy and Advocacy, Impact Investing and Commissioning for Outcomes. It delivers these initiatives in line with SVA’s prioritisation framework, pricing methodology, project management, resource allocation and financial discipline/s to maximise the impact of our work and ensure the financial sustainability of SVA.

Activities include convening sector stakeholders, incubating innovative service delivery approaches, advocating for positive change, building the evidence base of what works and developing new ways of financing and contracting services.

The Position

The Director, Education is a highly entrepreneurial role for an experienced leader, with deep knowledge of and passion for impact at scale and responsible for leading SVA’s system change initiatives in the Education space. This includes conceiving, directing and managing a suite of innovative programs delivering on outcomes, budgets, stakeholder relationships, business development and team performance.

The position also guides thought leadership, positioning and developing SVA’s Education work, research and emerging innovation. As part of SVA’s Social Impact Initiatives Leadership Team, the role also contributes to the implementation of SVA’s strategic plan, seeking to increase the impact and financial sustainability of the work and the overall unit.

Furthermore, the role supports the development, improvement and conception of all SII work as a member of the SII leadership team. Finally, the Director Education is responsible for modelling SVA’s values and behaviours and carries additional organisation wide leadership duties.

Your benefits

• Work in an organisation awarded Best CSR Innovation 2023 by the Australia Financial Review (AFR) Boss
• Be part of the SVA team known for living by our values to put people at the centre and be open and ready to learn
• We don’t believe that “one size fits all” so we offer flexibility and a hybrid work model that is specific to your team and recognises that work is only one of our priorities.
• Join an organisation with a focus on your wellbeing and development with an additional week of leave after working with SVA for two continuous years.

Who you are

• You will bring knowledge, passion, and commitment to working in the social sector and on society's most important challenges; as well as sound understanding of Australian education systems and school settings across jurisdictions and sectors.
• You will have entrepreneurial experience in the Education sector, either in shaping and successfully running complex programs of work, and/or track record of large-scale innovation; with ability to scale up and down, responding to rapidly changing environments.
• Furthermore, you will have management experience working in a leadership role including providing strategic advice to executive teams or equivalent leaders on the organisation’s positions on key issues, messaging, and strategies for wielding its influence.
• You will be skilled and familiar with working with diverse actors across the social sector and in Government; and grow SVA’s reputation as a key player influencing Education decisions that strengthen outcomes for Australians experiencing disadvantage.

SVA values diversity and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of colour. We value people of all abilities and diversity of culture, faith, gender identity and sexual orientation. We welcome unique contributions and perspectives of all people to ensure our workforce is representative of the communities we work with and live in.

We recommend that you review the attached position description before applying for the role.

If you have the experience and knowledge we are looking for and are excited to join our team, please submit your CV (max 2 pages) and a statement (max 1 page) addressing the person requirements.

Please note that we will consider and bring candidates to interview as applications are received and therefore encourage you to apply at your earliest opportunity.

A position description is attached.