About the role
In this role, you will lead a newly formed department and be responsible for strengthening the City’s social, health and inclusion outcomes through partnerships, strategic planning, capacity building and innovation that identifies current and future needs of communities and responds accordingly. 

Work type: Permanent Full Time

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop a clear, inspiring vision aligned with the Organisation Strategy for the team's future, formulate goals to achieve it, and communicate it effectively to lead the department.
• Play a key role in the development, facilitation and implementation of a place-based community development approach ensuring that this aligns with placemaking principles and that data and insights feed into the municipal planning processes across the organisation.
• Develop and integrate the department’s initiatives and annual business plans in line with the Directorate strategy, balancing value for our community and customers within the financial, social, environmental and resource constraints.
• Implement robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess program and initiative effectiveness.
• Lead a customer first and best practices approach in the department to address challenges in delivering services to City’s customers and community.
• Develop an approach to research and analysis that identifies innovative and cost-effective ways to meet community needs and priorities.
• Lead continuous improvement activities to review services, activities and programs being delivered directly by the City or in partnership with other organisations.

About you
The ideal candidate for this role will be a proven leader with experience and understanding of a Local Government environment. You will excel in engaging with a diverse range of people, be creative and innovative in delivering services to the community, and ensure your practice is guided by evidence and theoretical  principles. You will be highly motivated, with strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and excellent engagement skills.

Essential Experience:

• A tertiary qualification in Community Development, Health Promotion, Youth Development, Social Sciences, Education or related fields and significant professional experience in those fields in a comparable organisation.
• Demonstrated people management skills to support, influence and foster a productive team culture.  
• Experience leading teams through change ensuring strong stakeholder engagement throughout the process.
• Demonstrated skills in business planning and management, budget development, financial and resource management, and complex reporting in accordance with strategic goals and KPIs.
• Strong understanding of community development practices and frameworks.
• Demonstrable skills in research and analysis and service reviews.

If this sounds like the role for you, then click apply now!

Child Safety Responsibilities 
We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy.  

Diversity and Inclusion 
At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.

Create our future together at the City of Greater Geelong
Join the City of Greater Geelong, a community-focused workplace on Wadawurrung Country. We deliver over 130 services to our growing population, striving to make our city a great place to live, work, and study. Our central location for Central Geelong-based employees is the Civic Precinct, Wurriki Nyal, a modern, sustainable, and inclusive workplace, along with our outreach locations.

If you're passionate about inclusivity and community, apply now – we’d love to meet you!

Applications and Enquiries
Click the Position Description link to view more information about this position.

Enquiries: Cath Williams - Acting Manager People Shared Services | cath.williams@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Previous candidates that have applied for this position will not be considered.

Click the Apply button to submit your application or find out more about this opportunity. If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@geelongcity.vic.gov.au  noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch.

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