About us

Australian Democracy Network is a young, dynamic campaign organisation dedicated to creating a healthy Australian democracy that puts people and the planet first. We bring people and organisations together to campaign for the changes that make our democracy more fair, open, transparent and accountable.

We believe that a healthy democracy is the key to better outcomes on all the most important challenges we face, from public health to the climate crisis. We need the collective power of broad, diverse civil society alliances working together to win structural reforms that change the whole system.

The role

The Campaigns Director leads ADN’s advocacy and campaigns team, shaping and executing our campaigns to make Australian democracy more fair, open and accountable. You will also, as part of our small leadership team, play an important role in leading the organisation, and acting as a delegate for the ED. While this is a senior leadership role, it also involves hands-on campaign work, including media engagement, political advocacy, stakeholder management, research, and writing. The Campaigns Director oversees the planning, implementation, and impact of ADN’s campaigns, driving coordination, innovation, and excellence across all campaign areas. They work closely with the Executive Director, who leads the organisation, and the General Manager, who oversees operations and fundraising. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and grow ADN through its next phase.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Direction:

• Lead the development and delivery of ADN’s campaigning and advocacy strategy, aligning it with organisational goals and values.
• As part of the leadership team, contribute to organisational strategy and decision making.
• Provide high-level guidance and mentoring to campaign leads to ensure coherence, innovation, and high impact across the portfolio. Ensure strong alignment and communication between campaigns team and ED.
• Monitor the external political, social, and regulatory environment, identifying strategic opportunities and threats for the sector and for ADN’s campaigning focus.

People and Team Management:

• Manage, coach and support campaign leads to deliver on their objectives, foster professional growth, and maintain high team morale.
• Foster a collaborative, learning-focused team culture that values inclusion, creativity, and responsiveness.

Stakeholder Engagement and Representation:

• Build and maintain strong strategic relationships with high-level external stakeholders, including civil society partners, regulators, media, donors, and government.
• Serve as a senior spokesperson on matters related to civil advocacy, democratic rights, democratic integrity and protest protections.
• Actively engage in strategic alliances, ensuring ADN has a strong and influential voice in sector-wide initiatives.

Campaign Integration and Impact:

• Oversee planning and delivery of major campaign initiatives, ensuring alignment across different campaigns and maximising collective power.
• Promote cross-organisational learning, ensuring knowledge and insights from campaigns inform ADN’s broader work, and fundraising initiatives.
• Ensure rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and learning mechanisms are in place for all campaigns to track impact and inform strategy.
• Lead or execute specific campaign activities as required

Risk, Ethics and Compliance:

• Identify and manage reputational, political and operational risks associated with campaigning and advocacy.
• Uphold and model ADN’s values and commitments to safe, ethical, and effective advocacy, ensuring all campaign activities align with legal and regulatory frameworks.

Key Selection Criteria

• Significant experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder advocacy or campaign initiatives at a senior level.
• Proven ability to manage and inspire high-performing teams, including through change and growth.
• Proven understanding of Australian political, legal and civil society contexts.
• Demonstrated campaign skills including:
• • working with media, acting as a campaign spokesperson, and ensuring effective communications plans are in place;
  • experience in political advocacy and understanding of parliamentary tactics;
  • a good head for policy and strong research and writing skills;
  • designing winnable campaign goals and strategy
• Exceptional communication, conflict management, negotiation and relationship-building skills across diverse audiences.
• Experience managing risk and navigating politically sensitive environments.
• Strong planning, strategy, analytical and evaluative skills.

Desirable:

• Background in public interest, civil society, social justice, or related fields.
• Familiarity with the charity sector’s regulatory landscape in Australia.
• Specific experience leading and designing alliance campaigns
• Experience in mobilising and organising approaches to effectively to build power to win political outcomes.
• Fundraising experience

Studies have indicated that individuals belonging to underrepresented groups such as Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Pacific Islander peoples, People of Colour, women, non-binary and gender diverse people, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people living with a disability, tend to refrain from applying for positions if they do not meet all the requirements, unlike the majority of candidates who apply even if they meet significantly fewer criteria. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested. We would love to learn how your distinct experience can enhance our team.

Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we are assessing candidates continuously and may conduct interviews ahead of the closing date. We will close applications once we have selected a suitable candidate.

A position description is attached.