Assistant Director, National Sector Strengthening
Position Title: Assistant Director, National Sector Strengthening
Portfolio/Team: National Sector Strengthening , Coalition of Peaks Policy and Secretariat
Reports to: Director, National Sector Strengthening
Location: The preferred location for this position is primarily office-based at Level 4, East Building, 2 Constitution Avenue, Canberra City ACT 2601. Remote may be considered for the right candidate. Travel to other parts of Australia may be required from time to time.
Positions that report to this role: Up to three
Pre-employment requirements: Working with Vulnerable People Clearance and Police Check
The Assistant Director, National Sector Strengthening plays a vital leadership role in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak organisations to implement sector strengthening plans under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Working closely with the Director and leading a small, high-performing team, the Assistant Director is responsible for driving collaboration, capacity-building, and impact measurement across national initiatives.
This position is central to facilitating Communities of Practice, developing strategic guidance and policy resources, and ensuring consistent support for Coalition of Peaks Members as they develop and deliver their sector plans. The role requires strong stakeholder engagement skills, cultural competence, and the ability to navigate complex policy environments to influence systemic reform. This is an opportunity to work alongside national leaders and contribute directly to structural change that empowers First Nations communities.
About you
You will bring a foundation of effective engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders with a demonstrated understanding of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. You work well in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and have the ability to adjust as priorities change.
You will be able to apply your policy, research or advocacy skills to achieve the objectives of the team. You are collaborative and a team player, who shares their knowledge and expertise with others to build capabilities across the team.
As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisation, the Coalition of Peaks is committed to growing and supporting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce in our sector. We strongly encourage any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for these roles, regardless of your previous experience. The Coalition of Peaks values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, doing and knowing as core skills to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of all positions in our organisation.
Key Duties
The main duties include, but are not limited to:
Supporting Peaks Members in the day-to-day management of existing sector strengthening plans, including monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on their implementation.
Supporting Peaks Members to develop new sector strengthening plans as identified in the Closing the Gap Implementation Plan.
Supporting the Director to lead the sector Community of Practice to share knowledge, tools and facilitate learning towards increased service delivery, coverage and capacity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-controlled organisations.
Developing guidance materials for Peaks Members relevant to their sector strengthening plan.
Providing sector auspicing support to help members develop and grow their resources and capabilities.
Leading sector strengthening projects and initiatives to drive government implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are prioritised in government policies, strategies and frameworks
Collaborating with the Lead Convenor, Deputy Lead Convenors and other Coalition of Peaks members to support the progress of the sector strengthening objectives.
Managing and supervising team members to support the positive cohesion, management, and motivation of the team.
Establishing and maintaining ongoing relationships with key partners, stakeholders and Peaks Member Organisations.
Demonstrating leadership through their own behaviour, and their expectations of others behaviour, to maintain our high standard of service delivery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Complying with all organisational policies and procedures, and work, health and safety requirements.
Performing other duties as requested, consistent with the position.
Key Selection Criteria
Proven ability to deliver high-level policy advice and lead complex projects aligned with government reform, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts.
Deep understanding of First Nations issues and strong commitment to self-determination, cultural safety, and the Closing the Gap framework.
Strong track record of building respectful partnerships across sectors, including community-controlled organisations and government.
Experience managing small teams in dynamic settings, fostering collaboration, accountability, and results.
Skilled in implementing and monitoring initiatives, using evaluation and reporting to drive outcomes and continuous improvement.
Excellent written and verbal skills, with the ability to distil complex ideas into clear, accessible formats for varied audiences.
Sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to navigate complex environments with professionalism, flexibility, and purpose.