Social Innovation Lead - full time permanent role  - Sydney CBD as a base with flexi working arrangement.

Interviews will be held w/c 3rd June

Lead the development of Uniting’s social innovation practice and portfolio of social innovation projects aimed at disrupting disadvantage in communities. Your opportunity to seed and build innovations that create social change!

• Key role to support Uniting's 'Social Innovation Hub’.
• Deliver and manage social innovation projects. 
• Support the incubation, development and scaling of Uniting's social innovation portfolio.
• Opportunity to enable Uniting's aspirations for driving systemic change.
• Embed and foster innovation capabilities and mindsets in a large and purpose driven organisation.
• Base Salary + Super and NFP Salary Packaging Benefits (extra $18,550 tax-free) - Take home more pay.

About Uniting

At Uniting we believe in taking real steps to make the world a better place. We work to inspire people, enliven communities, and confront injustice. Our focus is always on the people we serve no matter where they are at in life.

As an organisation we are Imaginative, Respectful, Compassionate, and Bold.

About the role

You will be an integral member of the Social Impact & Advocacy directorate, which is responsible for delivering the third objective of Uniting’s refreshed 10 -year strategy focussed on systemic change: using our voice, our ideas and our evidence to drive change on the issues that matter most to us.

Reporting to the Head of Social Innovation, and as Social Innovation Lead your role will specifically.

• Support the establishment of a new team and function, the Social Innovation Hub, and manage other Social Innovation Specialists
• Support the Head of Social Innovation with the design and implementation of an Innovation Strategy to foster and embed social innovation capabilities and mindsets across Uniting. 
• Lead one to two major social innovation design projects each year Support the development and evolution of Uniting’s portfolio of social innovation initiatives and innovation fund.
• Collaborate closely with our Research and Social Policy, Advocacy and Media teams to ensure that Uniting’s social innovations have the evidence and political buy-in required to see them achieve scale and systems impact beyond the organisation.
• Collaborate with our First Nations Strategy and Outcomes team to develop and ensure culturally responsive innovation practices, capabilities and governance, including building our capability for First Nations co-design.

About you

Our ideal candidate is an experienced social innovator with practice spanning design thinking, co-design and systems thinking. You can build and deliver end to end innovation processes in a complex eco-system with exceptional communication, analytical, and influencing skills.  

You are tenacious, diligent, and resilient with the ability to adopt a creative approach to problem solving in a fast-paced and changing environment. You are a strong facilitator, with an inquisitive and strategic mind, are an exceptional team player with a high level of energy and enthusiasm!

Qualifications

• Postgraduate and/or Bachelor qualification in social work, social impact, social research, public administration, health, or a relevant business field or equivalent experience

Experience

• This is a management role, typically requiring 8 or more years’ experience including two or more years’ experience supervising a small team of specialists.
• At least 5 years’ experience in a social impact or innovation role, ideally in a relevant human services sector.
• Deep knowledge of innovation practice which may include design thinking, co-design and systems thinking methodologies and proven track record in delivering end to end innovation projects in a large and complex ecosystem.
• Skilled at navigating a complex organisation, managing governance processes, and forging relationships, and managing through influence rather than direct authority.
• A deep systems thinker with the ability to see patterns, craft insights, ask bold questions and hold space for complex conversations.
• A passionate First Nations ally with understanding of how to work effectively and respectfully alongside First Nations colleagues and communities.
• An excellent communicator and facilitator with the ability to translate complex concepts into engaging artefacts that tell stories and create buy in.
• Demonstrated capacity to lead others through coaching, problem solving and creating spaces for reflection and learning.
• Passion for social change and creating an organisation of influence for the most disadvantaged.
• Tenacious, diligent, and resilient with the ability to adopt a creative approach to problem solving in a fast-paced and changing environment.

Social Innovation Lead Position Description

Interviews will be held w/c 3rd June

Please note we would appreciate a brief cover letter as to why you have applied for this superb and unique role with Uniting.

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.

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

Uniting is a Child Safe Organisation committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of children and young people. We also celebrate the diversity of ability, age, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, intersex variation, or gender identity and always welcome everyone exactly as they are.