Director, National Sector Strengthening
Position Title: Director, National Sector Strengthening
Portfolio/Team: National Sector Strengthening, Coalition of Peaks Policy and Secretariat
Reports to: Executive Director
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 four
Pre-employment requirements: Working with Vulnerable People Clearance and Police Check
The Director, National Sector Strengthening, is a pivotal leadership role within the Coalition of Peaks Policy and Secretariat, overseeing the development, implementation and evaluation of sector strengthening plans to drive better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in line with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Leading a small, dedicated team, the Director drives cross-sector collaboration, guides a national Community of Practice and provides strategic advice to Peaks Members and governments to increase capacity, sustainability, and coverage of community-controlled organisations.
About you
You are a seasoned leader with a strong commitment to community-led reform and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. You bring expertise in 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 demonstrate the ability to adjust as priorities change.
You are a collaborative leader and team player, who shares their knowledge and expertise with others to build capabilities across the team. You will have a strong background in policy, research and/or advocacy.. Your communication is clear, persuasive, and grounded in integrity—whether you're advising on sector plans, facilitating a Community of Practice, or shaping national strategy.
Key Duties
The main duties include, but are not limited to:
Providing strategic oversight and guidance to Peaks Members in the management of existing sector strengthening plans, including monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on their implementation.
Providing strategic leadership in the development of new sector strengthening plans, in collaboration with Peaks Members, as identified in the Closing the Gap Implementation Plan.
Leading 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.
Overseeing the development of guidance materials for Peaks Members relevant to their sector strengthening plan.
Lead the provision of sector auspicing support to help members develop and grow their resources and capabilities.
Liaising with Australian governments on behalf of the Coalition of Peaks to advance the objectives of our members.
Leading and providing strategic oversight of 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.
Providing strategic leadership in supporting the Lead Convenor, Deputy Lead Convenors and other Coalition of Peaks members to progress the sector strengthening objectives.
Establishing and maintaining ongoing relationships with key partners, stakeholders and Peaks Member Organisations.
Representing the Peaks Secretariat and/or Peaks members at external meetings and forums, effectively advocating and communicating their views, priorities, and strategic interests as required.
Providing leadership and supervision to team members to foster positive team cohesion, management, and motivation.
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.
Key Selection Criteria
Demonstrated experience delivering strategic, evidence-based policy and reform advice at a senior level, with the ability to influence decision-making and lead systemic change in complex policy environments.
Deep cultural competence, including a strong understanding of issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and a commitment to the principles of self-determination, cultural safety, and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Proven leadership and people management skills, including experience building and motivating high-performing teams, providing direction in dynamic settings, and fostering a culturally safe and inclusive workplace.
Extensive experience engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations and leaders, with the ability to develop and maintain respectful, collaborative partnerships that centre First Nations priorities.
Highly developed communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex ideas to a variety of audiences through strategic writing, public speaking, stakeholder liaison, and advocacy.
Strong project and program management capability, including experience overseeing Communities of Practice, supporting plan development and implementation, and delivering outcomes across national initiatives.
A high level of integrity, sound judgment, and professional accountability, with demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively across senior leadership structures and represent organisational priorities in national forums.