Senior Advisor – Community Services

The Organisation

The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is the peak organisation for community and social services in Australia and a national voice for the needs of people affected by poverty and inequality. ACOSS develops public policy, analyses government policies, conducts research, and promotes its views through publications, the media and public advocacy. ACOSS has over 300 organisational members, including Australia’s major charities, and not-for-profit community organisations from major cities to regional and remote areas; and it works closely with both senior government officials and corporate partners.

Benefits & Culture

ACOSS is a flexible and rewarding working environment that provides staff with a strong sense of achievement and recognition for the important work it does.

The Role
 
Reporting to the Deputy CEO/Director of Policy and Advocacy, you hold a key role, working with a wide range of diverse stakeholders to lead and drive ACOSS’ community services policy and advocacy work to tackle poverty and disadvantage. You will contribute to the ACOSS policy and advocacy agenda, advise the CEO directly, and represent ACOSS in member, parliamentary and other stakeholder meetings and the media. You will also develop policy, undertake strategic advocacy, strengthen networks, foster collaboration and produce research and publications.

Collaborating with the ACOSS team, your responsibilities will also include:

• Researching and developing social and economic policies, reports and briefing papers.
• Leading strategic advocacy on community services to tackle poverty and inequality.
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Contributing to the organisational development of ACOSS.
• Developing an excellent understanding of ACOSS policy areas.

Skills Required

To excel in this role you will have a high level of community services sector and policy knowledge and analysis. You will also have a demonstrated track record of high productivity and performance in policy and advocacy, including the ability to adapt strategy to a rapidly changing external policy and political environment.

Additionally you will offer:

• Relevant qualifications, for example in social policy, political science or economics.
• Specialist expertise in policy areas impacting people experiencing poverty and inequality.
• A commitment to reducing poverty and inequality and to treating all people respectfully.
• Well-developed stakeholder management and influencing skills and government relations.
• Outstanding written, oral communication and digital skills.
• Project management, data analytics and survey administration experience.
• ACOSS is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strongly encourages people from diverse backgrounds to apply. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of colour and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

If you would like to leverage your community services policy expertise to work towards an Australia that is free of poverty and disadvantage, please apply by submitting your cover letter, responding to the skills and experience required, and your resume in Word format, quoting reference #735170. Due to the high volume of applications currently, please raise any questions you may have in your cover letter and we will respond to relevant applicants.