Salary Offering: $108,000 - $115,000 per annum., depending on experience plus 11.5% Superannuation,leave Loading and Salary Packaging is also available

Office Locations: High Street, Preston

This position may require regional and interstate travel.

Part-time negotiable (minimum 3 days p/w), term until December 31, 2025, with possible extension subject to funding

Additional Benefits:

• 17.5% Leave Loading
• 5 extra days leave on top of 20 days annual leave
• Only required to work 35 hours per week, any extra hours worked will be calculated as your Time In Lieu (TOIL) – which you may use as additional leave hours
• Access to company vehicles for any work-related trips
• Salary packaging of up to $15,900+ per FBT available via Maxxia

Overview

The Senior Project Officer-First Nations Cultural Capability reports to the Head of Research & Evidence Development. There are two discrete projects that this role will manage that are integral to improving the cultural capability of the legal sector, alongside other research and evaluation projects. First, a statewide project to build First Nations cultural capability across the legal profession in Victoria so that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people receive a culturally safe and responsive legal support and representation, contributing to more equitable justice outcomes. This is a large and complicated project led by VALS in partnership with the Law Institute of Victoria and Victorian legal Aid. The project is overseen by a Governance Group comprising representatives of the three partners and supported by a First Nations Cultural Capability Advisory Group.

The second intersecting project is to develop Cultural Capability training specifically for Victorian barristers, which VALS is undertaking in partnership with Djirra. This is a joint partnership project between VALS and Djirra, which is under a separate partnership agreement. The project lead would seek to incorporate this project into the broader First Nations Cultural Capability Project VALS is undertaking to ensure strong alignment.

Across the two projects, the project lead would be part of a team comprising VALS-contracted First Nations yarning facilitators, a VALS adult training design specialist, and Djirra appointed staff including a First Nations training specialist.

Key Performance Indicators, Duties & Responsibility

• Prepare/maintain an up-to-date suite of project management documents for sign off by the project governance groups, including: project briefs, work breakdown structure, Gantt chart, risk management plan, communication and engagement plans and budgets for both projects.
• Monitor each project’s progress and report progress to the associated governance group and to VALS’ Executive.
• Coordinate project advisory group meetings, including preparing agendas and minutes
• Manage the co-design and delivery of a suite of project products, including a First Nations Cultural Capability Framework, a best practice guide, and, in conjunction with the training development specialist, a series of training workshop materials for lawyers.
• As part of 4., co-work with First Nations facilitators to gather lived experience expert input into project products.
• Collaborate with Djirra in the co-design of First Nations cultural capability training materials specifically for Victorian Barristers.
• Prepare materials on the project to support dissemination and discussion, and present at various fora on behalf of VALS.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders and partners of the organisation to advance the project.
• Work in a manner that fosters collaboration and cohesion across VALS’ teams.
• As directed, undertake other duties which are incidental and peripheral to the main tasks, provided that such duties are reasonably within the employee’s skills, competence and training.

Personal accountability

• Comply with all VALS Values, code of conduct, policies and procedures and relevant government legislation and standards where relevant.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the principle of social justice and aim to ensure every individual is treated with dignity and respect regardless of their background, ability, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or religion.
• Ensure appropriate use of resources.
• Actively participate in initiatives to maintain, build upon and promote a positive and collaborative workplace.
• Take reasonable care for your own health & safety, and health and safety of others (to extent required)
• Promptly respond to and report health and safety hazards, incidents and near misses to management.
• Attend mandatory training sessions (i.e. equal employment opportunity, health and safety, cultural safety) and mandatory training specific to position.

Key Selection Criteria

• Experience managing complicated projects in the Not-for-Profit community sector, and preferably in an ACCO context.
• Project management technical skills.
• A bachelor-level degree in a relevant discipline (eg, social sciences, law).
• Specific understanding of Aboriginal/Indigenous approaches to conducting major projects with and on behalf of Community.
• Understanding of the issues confronting Aboriginal people in relation to the delivery of legal services and associated non-legal needs.
• Cultural capability in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Well-developed written and spoken communication skills.
• Demonstrated computer literacy skills and proficiency, including Microsoft Office, and project-management-related software.

Mandatory Requirements

On offer of this position, you must provide:

• A copy of your current Employee Working with Children Check card.
• A copy of your current Victorian Driver’s License
• You will be required to complete a current Criminal History Police Check
• Proof of rights to work in Australia, i.e. a copy of an Australian Passport, Birth Certificate or Immigration VISA documentation.
• Copies of any certificates or degrees relevant to this role