Director Services Development: Our Place

The organisation

Our Place works with schools to expand the opportunities open to children and families in highly disadvantaged communities.

Funded mainly via philanthropy, Our Place ostensibly works together with school communities to facilitate a stronger ‘wrap around’ of support services to ensure children and families have the best start possible. They bring together the services and resources children and families need to thrive – integrating high quality early learning, effective schooling, health and community services, and adult education, training and employment support in ways that meet the needs and help fulfil the aspirations of the community.

One of the organisation’s aims is to reshape the service system; their approach informed by data and evidence, with social impact achieved through a quality, evidence-based approach.

The role

This is a leadership role that sits within the Our Place Services group and reports to the Executive Director Services. The role also works with the Our Place Leadership team to further explore and develop key systems change approaches required to support the sustainable implementation of the Our place approach.

Working with the Executive Director, Services this role also engages collaboratively with Our Place leadership and key members of government at local, state and federal levels to identify and strengthen opportunities for further policy development in areas that underpin the Our Place approach.
The role is also responsible for direct oversight and support for the Northern Bay, Carlton, Westall and Robinvale sites.

Experience, knowledge and skills

Success in this role involves:

• Genuine concern and passion for improving the well-being and opportunities available to families and communities.
• Strong familiarity in systems redevelopment and implementation with broad experience across diverse areas including early childhood and education sector, health sector, social investment, philanthropic and/or social change
• Exceptional ability to take the concepts of systems redevelopment and empower the Services team to understand how these apply in implementation
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills; this includes a collaborative approach to working with a range of teams and groups, and a demonstrated ability to engage confidently with the machinery of government at local, state and federal levels
• Exceptional communication skills – verbal and written, with the ability to tailor a message to suit the audience and convey complex issues with clarity, brevity and confidence
• Well-developed project management skills, able to prioritise competing interests and deliver outcomes in a fluid and changing environment
• Apply strategic thinking to align solutions to organisational priorities to support the delivery of long-term objectives
• Well-developed people leadership skills, with demonstrated capacity to engage and empower staff and consultants to deliver outcomes on time and budget
• Degree qualifications in public policy, education, early childhood or other relevant tertiary qualifications.

To apply

People for Purpose have been appointed to assist with the search for this role.

A copy of the Position Description and the Our Place 2021 Roadmap can be found on the People for Purpose website – www.peopleforpurpose.com.au – under Executive Search.

More information on Our Place can be found on their website – https://ourplace.org.au/

To apply, you MUST submit a CV and covering letter outlining why you are interested in joining Our Place, and how your skills and experience align to this opportunity.

If – once you’ve reviewed the above information – you have any questions, please email hello@peopleforpurpose.com.au

Applications close midnight Friday 13 August.