This role can be undertaken from anywhere within Australia

This is an exciting opportunity for the right person to put their stamp on a new national program and work closely with the State and Territory Peak volunteering organisations and Volunteering Australia.

Background

From 1 July 2021, the Australian Government will distribute around $40.1 million (excluding GST) over five years under a new Volunteer Management Activity (VMA), through the state and territory volunteering peak bodies (VPBs).This includes $33.5 million (ex. GST) over five years for the peak bodies to develop and implement strategies that will:

• Deliver online services to build the capacity of Volunteer Involving organisations (VIOs) within their relevant jurisdictions and;
• Break down barriers to volunteering faced by identified priority groups, including, People with Disabilities, First Nations People, and Newly Arrived Migrants.

Through the 2021-22 Budget, additional one off funding of up to $6.6 million (ex. GST) will support a smooth transition to the redesigned VMA in 2021-22.

The new VMA Vision is: Thriving volunteering that is valued, inclusive, diverse, resourced, recognised and contributes to the common good.

The Mission and public value proposition: Promote and support organisational excellence in volunteer leadership for the prosperity of communities and people in all parts of Australia, by:

• Reducing barriers to volunteering;
• Boosting participation in volunteering;
• Improving the culture of Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) to better include a broader cross-section of society;
• Supporting healthy and thriving communities;
• Ensuring volunteering is understood and recognised;
• Acknowledging the true value of volunteering;
• Building positive volunteering experiences.

The VPBs are entering into an Alliance Agreement, have collaboratively developed the New VMA Framework and established the VMA Council to govern nationally consistent decision making. A VMA Working Group made up of staff from each VPB will progress national projects as directed by the VMA Council and ensure national consistency of online VIO capacity building.

Position

The purpose of this role is to coordinate the implementation of national consistency of the new VMA program and provide professional advice and expertise to support the decision-making of the VMA Council. This is a senior position which requires a proactive approach to:

• The provision of advice and support to the VMA Council including secretariat
• Acting as the Chair of the VMA Working Group to effectively coordinate work delegated by the VMA Council. The VMAC Convenor will be a trusted advisor on governance, policy and procedures, and contract management and will demonstrate adherence to best practice administration and reporting.

Roles and Responsibilities

Act as Convenor of the VMA Council in accordance with the VMA Alliance Agreement and adhere to the principles and direction contained in the New VMA Framework. Act as Chair of the VMA Working Group and oversee its program of work. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Implementation of strategies, projects or plans developed by VMAC
• Maintenance of VMAC registers including register of members
• Development (in collaboration with and as directed by VMAC) and maintenance of the VMAC agendas, work plan and papers
• Statutory compliance with applicable requirements of the funding body, Department of Social Services
• Monitoring and advising VMAC on compliance with the VMAC Alliance Agreement
• Organisation of VMAC workshops and meetings, taking of minutes and other duties
• Secretariat duties: preparation, coordination and quality assurance, and dissemination of proposals and papers submitted for VMAC consideration, research and briefing papers, minutes and action items, and reports to government
• Maintenance of content on the VMAC Teams site
• Provision of advice on Corporate Governance and contract management issues
• Organisation of the annual VMAC calendar of meetings, reports and events, in collaboration with the Chair
• Induction of new VMAC members
• Annual review of VMAC procedures
• Provision of advice to VMAC Chair on procedural requirements and other support and advice as required

• Provision of Corporate governance input to VMAC and the VMA Working Group
• Chairing the VMA Working Group and acting as project manager of the strategies, projects or plans of the Working Group
• Ensuring the VMAWG delivers on the strategies and plans outlined by the VMAC including: project management to ensure all members deliver the required tasks with equal contribution across all VPBs, quality assurance of all work including reviewing and checking before it progresses to the VMAC, ensuring all tasks are delivered on time, to the required standard within budget.
• Development of the VMA National Operational Plan, to be approved and reviewed by VMAC
• Development, monitoring and reporting of the Working Group program of work
• Liaison between VMAC and the VMA Working Group
• Conducting an annual review of the VMA Alliance Agreement and recommending amendments to VMAC

Section Criteria

Qualifications

• A qualification in project management, law, policy, business administration or governance

Competencies

• A passion for volunteering and a commitment to quality
• Experience or knowledge of governance practices
• Project Management expertise, with strong administration, organisational and time management skills
• Strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills
• Professional experience with significant leadership accomplishments in business, government, or the not-for-profit sector
• High level negotiation skills including the ability to be proactive, effectively articulate a business case and communicate tasks and projects
• Highly efficient at IT platforms, especially Microsoft Teams

Additional

• Not-for-profit experience
• Previous experience working with boards or similar (contract management or government procurement experience will be highly regarded)
• Police Check and Working with Children Check will be required
• Willingness to travel interstate and be flexible as work requires occasional out of hours commitment

Conditions

The position will contracted for 12 months and paid at 0.8 FTE of SCHADS Level 7.0 $95,000 pro rata. Laptop will be provided.

The successful contractor will invoice the CEO of the closest office of the State or Territory Volunteering Peak Body, with much of the work conducted remotely and interstate travel required. The Convenor reports to the Chair and performance is reviewed by VMAC.

For further information please contact Jean Giese on 0439 022 398.