About the role
In this role you will lead the City's Community Grants Program and help deliver meaningful outcomes for the Greater Geelong community. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, you'll oversee the governance, delivery and continuous improvement of Council's community grants, ensuring public funding is allocated transparently, equitably and in line with Council priorities. Working with Councillors, senior leaders, community organisations and applicants, you'll provide strategic advice, lead a high-performing team and drive best practice grants management from program design through to evaluation.

Work type: 12-month fixed term contract.
Classification: SPL, $148,599 + superannuation

• Lead and develop the Community Grants team, fostering a collaborative, customer-focused and accountable culture.
• Manage the end-to-end delivery of the City's Community Grants Program, ensuring funding processes are transparent, timely and aligned with approved policy and guidelines.
• Design, implement and continuously improve grant governance frameworks, policies, processes and reporting.
• Provide strategic advice to the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Leadership Team and senior leaders on grants governance, funding priorities and community partnerships.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with Councillors, community organisations, applicants and strategic partners.
• Prepare high-quality Council reports, Executive briefings, funding recommendations and public communications.
• Monitor, evaluate and report on grant outcomes, using data and community insights to drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure strong governance practices, including conflict of interest management, probity, procedural fairness and accountability throughout the grant's lifecycle.

About you
To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced leader with a passion for delivering positive community outcomes through transparent and effective grants management. You'll bring strong governance expertise, exceptional stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to lead complex programs while building trusted relationships across the organisation and community.

Essential Experience:

• Relevant tertiary qualification with experience in community grants, governance, community development, partnerships, policy implementation or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex programs, funding frameworks or organisation-wide processes.
• Experience designing, administering or improving grants, funding or partnership programs with formal governance and reporting requirements.
• Strong understanding of public sector governance, probity, procedural fairness, conflict of interest management and evidence-based decision making.
• Proven ability to prepare high-quality reports, briefings and communications on complex or sensitive matters.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and influence a broad range of stakeholders.
• Experience leading or supervising teams and fostering a positive, accountable culture.

Preferred candidates will be required to undergo a National Police and Working with Children’s Check as part of the recruitment process (funded by the City).

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.  

We are the City
From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

Applications and Enquiries

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

Enquiries: Jennifer Blunt | Chief Financial Officer jennifer.blunt@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

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.

We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience.  We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared.

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