• Key leadership role
• Influence the profession
• Melbourne hybrid based

The Position:

Are you a senior leader with significant management experience, political acumen and credentials in the Social Work profession? Consider this senior strategic opportunity and help shape the future of the profession’s peak body.

This strategically focused and public facing role is responsible for leading the development and delivery of AASW’s regulatory, accreditation and standards functions, ensuring the provision of informed advice to the CEO.  In this role, you will develop key relationships to support important partnerships including representing the AASW at externally facing key industry meetings and events. 

This position will take a lead on other strategic initiatives and projects identified by the CEO including the priority area of preparing the Association for registration as a profession.

About the Association:

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) is the professional representative body of social workers in Australia, with approximately 17,000 members. The AASW sets the benchmarks for professional education and practice in social work and has a strong voice on matters of social justice, human rights and issues that impact upon the quality of life of all Australians.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Alignment of Service-delivery Structures and Systems

• Ensure areas of service delivery accountability operate in alignment with AASW’s strategic objectives including:  
• Strategic alignment of functional structures, processes, and practices to reflect a client-centred approach to service delivery.
• Strategic lead on the review and development of policies and procedures governing the accreditation, ethics management and complaints processes, 
• Strategic process review and improvement, ensuring all functional/service delivery processes are fully documented and reviewed on a cyclical basis 
• Ensure the development and implementation of systems and processes which support information/data capture, analysis and reporting activities across the Professional Services functions. 
• Promoting the adoption, implementation, and adherence to AASW policies and codes of practice as they relate to key areas of accountability. 

Regulating and Promoting AASW’s Ethical and Professional Standards

• Drive the strategic outcomes of the Ethics Complaints Management programme.
• Develop high level relationships with external stakeholders to influence and advance AASW strategic outcomes.
• Case-management of serious and/or escalated cases of alleged breaches of ethical standards. 
• Manage on-going quality improvement and implement changes as agreed with CEO.
• Oversee the review/appeals process in respect to the Bylaws for individual members appealing the outcome of an Ethics Complaint or Declarations decision ensuring it is conducted in accordance with approved procedures/protocols. 
• Periodically oversee the review and implementation the Bylaws and Code of Ethics ensuring the profession’s Code of Ethics reflects contemporary social work practices, guiding theoretical frameworks/principles and community expectations. 
• Provide secretariat and advisory support to the National Ethics Committee. 
• Budget setting and management. 

Accreditation of Universities/Higher Education Providers [HEPs]

• Develop high level relationships with external stakeholders including heads of schools to influence and advance AASW accreditation strategic outcomes.
• At a high level, support the team in the effective delivery of the programme of work relating to the accreditation of social work courses offered.
• Manage on-going quality improvement and implement changes.
• Oversee the implementation of program review in collaboration with the CEO and Senior Accreditation Officer. 
• Oversee the review/appeals process for individual HEPs appealing the outcome of an accreditation panel and/or decision ensuring it is conducted in accordance with approved procedures/protocols. 
• Periodically review and implement the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards. 
• Provide secretariat and advisory support to the Accreditation Council. 
• Budget setting and management. 

General:

• Manage the periodic review and implementation of the Scopes of Practice, the Bylaws, the Code of Ethics and Practice Standards. 
• Provide advisory support to the National Research Committee. 
• Provide advisory support to the Editorial Board. 
• Take a leading role in supporting the AASW in preparation for registration as a profession.  

Key Selection Criteria; Qualifications and Experience:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Social Work 
• Extensive experience working at the senior executive level in social work 
• Experienced people manager and leader with demonstrated capabilities of managing for effective performance outcomes including team capability and capacity building and managing employee engagement  
• Successful track record of supporting a team through change including cultural, structure, system and process changes  
• Confident and competent communicator, including experience of developing and managing extensive stakeholder networks and building productive, collaborative, and value-add relationships  
• Business analytical skills, managing budgets and general business acumen  
• Demonstrated capability of managing competing work demands in a complex environment and achieving required outcomes within tight delivery timelines 
• Practice-based understanding of professional standards within the social work profession  
• Experience of reporting to and advising volunteer Boards/Steering Committees/Expert Panels and servicing meetings  
• Project management experience across all key stages of project delivery  

Desirable Requirements: 

• Good understanding of electronic application and assessing platforms  
• Experience implementation of audits and process improvements  
• Experienced with mapping processes and systems to optimise for efficiency  
• Experienced in developing and implementing policies within the professional standards field  
• Understanding, and practical experience of working with accreditation frameworks and assessment processes  
• Working knowledge of regulating standards 

Please direct any queries to: [email protected], using the subject line: General Manager - Professional Standards & Regulations enquiry via EthicalJobs.

We reserve the right to end the closing date early.

The AASW is committed to equal opportunities in employment and embraces diversity and inclusion in its workforce. We encourage applications from culturally and ethnically diverse communities, particularly those underrepresented in the social work profession including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people with a disability.