Organisational Overview

The Australian Council of Social Service is a national advocate for people affected by poverty, disadvantage and inequality, and the peak body for community services nationally.

 

Position Overview

The Senior Advisor – Community Services leads and drives ACOSS’ Community Services policy and advocacy work to tackle poverty and disadvantage.

The Senior Advisor – Community Services is a key policy position within ACOSS. Reporting to the Deputy CEO/Director of Policy and Advocacy, the Senior Advisor – Community Services also contributes to the ACOSS policy and advocacy agenda, advises the CEO directly, represents ACOSS from time to time in member, parliamentary and other stakeholder meetings and the media.

The Senior Advisor – Community Services will develop policy, undertake strategic advocacy, strengthen networks and foster collaboration and produce research and publications.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high level strategic policy advice and leadership in the area of community services.
• Play a significant role in setting outcomes in relation to ACOSS’ agreed policy objectives, especially in relation to community services, and devise strategies to achieve them.
• Develop, manage, coordinate and evaluate major policy, advocacy and research projects and initiatives.
• Critically analyse, research and develop social and economic policies, including in timely, clearly-written evidence-based reports, submissions and briefing papers.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders including but not limited to ACOSS member organisations, people experiencing poverty and inequality, governments and government agencies, parliamentary offices, external policy experts and other stakeholders to progress ACOSS’s policy agenda.
• Represent ACOSS in advocacy activities such as meetings with Members of Parliament, inquiries and conferences, as well as through media.
• Contribute to the organisational development of ACOSS.
• Develop an excellent understanding of ACOSS policy areas, and be prepared to work across other policy areas of ACOSS, including but not limited to providing backfill for other team members.
• Supervise staff, volunteers and students as reasonably required.

 

Organisational and Human Relationships

Reports to:	Deputy CEO/Director of Policy and Advocacy
Works closely with:	Policy and Advocacy Team, Communications Team

Selection Criteria

Essential

1. Demonstrated commitment to reducing poverty and inequality, and treating all people with dignity and respect.
2. Relevant qualifications and specialist expertise in key policy areas impacting on people experiencing poverty and inequality, particularly in area of community services.
3. A demonstrated pattern of high productivity and performance in policy and advocacy, including the ability to adapt strategy to a rapidly changing external policy and political environment.
4. Excellent oral, written and digital communication skills.
5. Demonstrated experience and ability in facilitation and collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders from governments and peak organisations to people directly affected and local community organisations.

Desirable

1. Firsthand experience of living on income support or experience of working with people receiving income support.
2. Experience in undertaking surveys, data analysis and creating a compelling narrative of findings.

 

If you would like to leverage your employment policy expertise to work towards an Australia that is free of poverty in all its forms please apply by forwarding your cover letter, responding to the skills and experience required, and your resume in Word format, to [email protected] quoting reference #66762. 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.

Apply here