• Position: Operations Manager Community Disability Alliance Hunter (DisCo)
• Location: Newcastle
• Award: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (Level 6)
• Full-time position, Two-year contract
• Direct Reports: Training Co-ordinator – this can vary depending on projects
• REPORTS TO: Operations Manager reports directly to Chief Executive Officer

ABOUT CDAH

Community Disability Alliance Hunter (CDAH) is a peer support organisation, run for and by people with disability and their families.

At our core is peer support. We are forging new directions and are guided by our vision of an inclusive and just society where people with disability have genuine voice, choice and control. CDAH actively promotes and facilitates peer support to help people get the support they need to live the life they choose.

CDAH works toward its vision by providing information, mentoring, peer support, training, and development to increase the knowledge, skills, and capacity of people with disability and their families by providing a collective voice and building the community's capacity to welcome all people. CDAH believes that people who have shared experiences can offer invaluable support to others who are about to embark on a similar journey.

CDAH's work is driven by its Board which is made up of people with disability and family members.

CDAH is a unique organisation that can speak for people with disability in the Hunter with authenticity and conviction. CDAH is often sought out by health, and education departments, the disability services sector and by private industry to gain insight of lived experience of disability in shaping policy and processes.

About the DisCo project:

Once established, the DisCo will become a peer work cooperative run by people with disability, PWD as Change Practitioners, performing the critical work aimed at establishing the whole of organisational systemic cultural change, needed to support inclusive work places. DisCo provides PWD opportunities to work as lived experience consultants, change agents, leaders and facilitators. Our collective aim is to lead, as a strong voice for people with disability in the broader community and to lead in the co-development for real inclusion of people with disability, in all areas of society.

Community Disability Alliance Hunter (CDAH) will act as a pipeline for membership of the DisCo. Critically, members of the DisCo will participate in CDAHs internal training units on peer work, mentoring and facilitation and will be actively involved in CDAH activities. They will also adhere to CDAHs core values and code of conduct.

CDAH Values:

• Peer Lead
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Paying it forward
• Humility
• Accountability to ourselves and others

WORK HEALTH AND SAFETY

All staff are to ensure they adhere to all relevant CDAH policies and procedures, also;

• Participate in employee consultation processes around health and safety policy and relevant specific work practices
• Undertake WHS instructions and training
• Report any concerns immediately
• Report any hazards promptly for do action
• Report all injuries as soon as possible
• Carry out all work with diligence and due care for personal safety and safety of others

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Operations Manager (DisCo) is a senior management role within CDAH and will liaise closely with Operations Manager (CDAH General).

CDAH has received two years seed funding to develop a peer led disability cooperative.

The role of the Operations Manager (DisCo) will oversee the development and operational activities at all levels associated with setting up this model for a period of two years:

The Operations Manager (DisCo) will;

• support collaboration, inclusion and cooperation within CDAH.
• lead the development of common rules for DisCo as a registered cooperative in NSW (Disability Cooperative Limited) as approved by the CEO and actively facilitate inclusion of relevant staff/CDAH members /stakeholders in the process.
• support Training Coordinator in the development of suitable resources for internal/external delivery.
• support CEO in developing business model for development of DisCo.
• work with Operations Manager (CDAH General) to assist project coordinators to problem solve and develop quality work plans in support of DisCo and CDAH outcomes.

• monitor the quality of the work to ensure that DisCo work continues to meet CDAH’s policy, values and vision.
• build and maintain strong relationships with peers, peer groups, project coordinators, project workers and CDAH members.
• quality assure and facilitate the reporting requirements by project coordinators within identified time frames.
• participate in, contribute to and at times lead staff meetings and administration as required.
• support embedding of the power of peer work and the value and principles of peer support across all activities at CDAH
• develop effective communication, tools, and methods to support the diverse communication needs of people in CDAH.
• support and lead strong positive relationships with external stakeholders
• ensure through all aspects of work that people with disability have voice, choice and control

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Demonstrated extensive skills in relevant project management and/or business start-ups.
• Excellent leadership skills, social skills, and experience in supporting the rights of PWD in the workplace.
• Demonstrated understanding of grant-based finances, reporting requirements, workflow and staffing.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in relevant stakeholder engagement
• Demonstrated skills in employee management including performance management and professional development.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in managing a number and diverse range of projects.
• Commitment to the human rights of people with disability and the principles of participation, inclusion and citizenship.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Experience in setting up and/or working with cooperatives will be highly regarded

Applicants with lived experience of disability are strongly encouraged and supported to apply for this position

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• The appointment is contingent on a satisfactory Working with Children Check and Police Record Check.
• Six months probationary period and ongoing performance reviews.

A position description is attached.