• Permanent, Full-time
• Sydney CBD
• Hybrid Work Model

Are you a connector, a changemaker, and a champion for collaboration?

Join Uniting in this exciting, newly created role where you’ll be at the forefront of building partnerships that tackle entrenched disadvantage and drive systemic change.

Uniting’s Partnerships Lead role offers a unique opportunity to shape how we collaborate across sectors to deliver meaningful impact. Reporting to the Head of External Relations and Engagement, you will play a pivotal role in embedding our new Partnership Framework and championing our First Nations Partnership Framework launching in 2025. Your work will directly support Uniting’s bold 10-year strategy and help create opportunities for collaboration that make a real difference to people and communities.

Why Uniting?

At Uniting, we don’t just talk about social impact—we live it. As one of Australia’s most inclusive and imaginative not-for-profits, we’re deeply committed to challenging the systems that perpetuate disadvantage and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. In this role, you’ll be empowered to bring your creativity, strategy, and drive to partnerships that truly matter.

What You'll Be Doing

As the Partnerships Lead, you will:

• Champion the Partnership Framework: Take the lead in delivering Uniting’s Partnership Framework, embedding it across the organisation to create stronger, more effective collaborations.
• Drive Partnership Excellence: Implement new tools, processes, and practices, including partnership health checks, enhanced business development workflows, and monitoring systems that help evaluate, celebrate, and grow partnerships.
• Build Strategic Relationships: Forge high-value partnerships with external organisations, philanthropies, and social services leaders to support Uniting’s ambitions for systemic change.
• Lead Change: Be a champion for innovation, working closely with teams across Uniting to improve collaboration and inspire a culture that values and prioritises partnerships.
• Launch Key Initiatives: Work collaboratively with the First Nations Strategy and Outcomes Unit to ensure the successful implementation of the First Nations Partnership Framework in 2025.
• Leverage Technology for Impact: Oversee the roll-out of a new Partnerships and Philanthropy CRM, improving the way partnership activities are tracked, reported, and celebrated.
• Provide Strategic Insights: Deliver meaningful reporting and analysis of partnership activity, preparing updates for Uniting’s Executive and Board to showcase the transformative impact of collaboration.

What You’ll Bring

You’re a passionate and motivated individual who thrives on bringing people and organisations together to create change. You’ll have a strategic mindset, excellent communication skills, and a deep understanding of what it takes to build meaningful partnerships in a complex environment.

Qualifications:

• Postgraduate and/or bachelor's qualification in a relevant business field or equivalent experience.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Proven Partnership Expertise: At least five years of experience developing and managing high-impact partnerships in a large, complex organisation, ideally focused on driving system change.
• Exceptional Communication Skills: A natural storyteller and connector, you can present, promote, and inspire others to embrace organisation-wide initiatives.
• Relationship Building: You know how to engage, negotiate, and build trust with diverse stakeholders, from social services partners to philanthropic leaders.
• Strategic and Analytical Thinking: You’re skilled at co-design, project management, and navigating organisational complexity, with the ability to implement practical, scalable solutions.
• Tech-Savvy and Data-Driven: Experience with CRMs and using data to drive decision-making, reporting, and collaboration.
• Flexible and Committed: Willingness to travel and the ability to work independently to meet deadlines.

Why This Role is for You

• You’ll have the freedom to innovate and lead a critical, high-profile initiative.
• You’ll be part of an organisation that values inclusion, imagination, and impact.
• You’ll work with a passionate and collaborative team dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people and communities.

Take the Lead. Drive Change. Build Partnerships That Matter.

To review the role responsibilities in greater detail please review the comprehensive Position Description  PD - Partnerships Lead.

How to apply: 

Send your CV and a brief cover letter highlighting why this role appeals to you and how your skills and experience match our needs.  Applications will be reviewed upon receipt.

For all questions, please contact Louise Massie via email at [email protected] using the subject line: Partnerships Lead enquiry via EthicalJobs.

What We Offer You

• A rewarding career with a leading human services organisation.
• Up to $18,550 NFP salary packaging available.
• Access to our U rewards program with exclusive discounts.
• Flexible work hours for work-life balance.
• Access to Fitness Passport – Live your best life.
• A supportive and inclusive and collaborative work environment.
• Opportunities for professional growth.
• Purchase of additional leave.

When you’re part of Uniting NSW.ACT, you’re part of a diverse, purpose-led team of people who are really making a difference to the world around them.
 
We contribute to the work and mission of the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT through social justice advocacy, community services and spiritual care. We provide care and support for people through all ages and stages of life, with a focus on people experiencing disadvantage and vulnerability. Our purpose is to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.
 
Uniting leaders and employees work together to create a culture that is safe, inclusive and person-centred. We bring this to life every day through our values: compassionate, respectful, imaginative and bold.
 
Uniting acknowledges the continuing sovereignty and rich cultural diversity of Australia’s First Peoples. We pay our respects to all Elders – past, present, and emerging – and to all First Peoples on whose lands we live and work. 
 
Uniting is a Child Safe Organisation committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of children and young people.

Employment with Uniting is subject to satisfactory background checks which may include a national police check, reference checks, working with children checks, and NDIS checks.