Are you a self starter, passionate about social impact and community development? The Centre is a neighbourhood house servicing North Melbourne, West Melbourne and Docklands, currently seeking an experienced and multi-skilled community development professional to engage with our diverse community. Our current community development program spans health & wellbeing, community media, seniors activities, creative arts and festivals, with future plans focused on food, social enterprise and international students. If you have expertise in some of these areas, along with a strategic outlook plus the ability to get the most out of others, please consider joining our dedicated team.

about the centre

The Centre is a Neighbourhood House based in Errol St. North Melbourne.

The Centre is a Neighbourhood House and Learn Local organisation that addresses disadvantage and provides support, community development and educational opportunities. Our aim is to enrich community life for the people and organisations of North Melbourne, West Melbourne, and Docklands to achieve equitable, engaged, connected and inclusive communities.

Our programs are built around the principles of Progression, Connection and Expression.

The Centre currently delivers a range of social and wellbeing programs including: after school homework clubs, creative arts, food & social connection programs, Pilates, dance classes, community choir, group trips to the market and historical walks, digital literacy, community festivals, a quarterly community newspaper, community meals, community garden and the Human Library project.

The Centre is currently commissioning a community needs analysis for North & West Melbourne, and there is significant scope to re-design the program in response to the findings of the analysis.

about the role

The Community Development Coordinator is responsible for creating meaningful social impact through developing and delivering The Centre’s community development program. Activities include but are not limited to:

• Understanding the strengths, needs and aspirations of various cohorts in our neighbourhoods, with a focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
• Developing and delivering a suite of community development programs and activities that best respond to the identified strengths, needs and aspirations
• Assessing and refining existing community development programs
• Developing new community development programs that better serve existing cohorts and also reach out to new segments of the community
• Advocating for The Centre and its programs through proactive outreach into the community
• Delivering all community development-related obligations to funders
• Engagement with community groups, networks, government and others
• Seeking funding opportunities and developing relationships with current and prospective funders
• Evaluation and reporting of social impact, both for individual initiatives and program-wide
• Develop and oversee a volunteer program that delivers benefits for both volunteers and the neighbourhood
• Actively promote The Centre and its programs through existing marketing channels including social media, website and electronic mailings
• Assist with organisational policy development
• Contribute to periodic Strategic Plans, and the annual Business Plan and Budget
• Other duties as reasonably required

our ideal candidate

The Centre is seeking a multi-skilled community development professional who is passionate about creating meaningful social impact at a neighbourhood level.

Our ideal candidate will have:

Essential

• A combination of a Diploma or Degree in Community Development, Social Work, Social Impact or other relevant tertiary qualification; or extensive experience in a similar role
• Demonstrated ability to marry community development theory and practice to create meaningful social impact
• Significant experience in developing, planning, budgeting, facilitating, promoting and evaluating community development activities and programs.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly build and maintain effective working relationships, both within the workplace and in diverse communities
• Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, set priorities, monitor work flows, exercise sound judgement and to pivot where necessary
• Demonstrated ability to generate revenue from grants, fundraising, sponsorship and/or through social enterprise initiatives
• Demonstrated experience in successful supervision of staff and volunteers
• Good writer for a variety of audiences and contexts
• Good digital skills including social media

Desirable

• Understanding of Neighbourhood House sector
• Experience working with culturally diverse communities, including international students
• Experience working with older people
• Experience in community events and festivals
• Entrepreneurial spirit and interest in social enterprise

A position description is attached.