About FCVic

Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic) is the peak body and professional association for over 250 financial counsellors throughout Victoria. Financial counsellors provide free information, support and advocacy to Victorians in financial difficulty, and assist over 60,000 people annually.

FCVic plays a key role as an advocate for the work of the sector, and for clients of financial counsellors, to improve outcomes for vulnerable Victorians.

Integral to FCVic’s capacity are the structures it provides for members to work together, through networks and issue-based working groups. These collective structures play an important role in professional development and support of financial counsellors. They are also essential to FCVic’s advocacy role, as these structures provide a collective voice for financial counsellors, and generate policy campaigns and advocacy.

We are seeking a qualified and experienced individual to lead FCVic’s advocacy related work, and elevate member engagement through our structure of networks and working groups.

The Role

The Advocacy Manager has overall responsibility for building and evolving the collective structures amongst FCVic members, and supporting financial counsellors and FCVic in the development of responses to systemic and strategic issues they identify. The role includes the following responsibilities:

• Work with financial counsellors to identify priority issues that merit advocacy by FCVic
• Support the operation of FCVic member networks and working groups (including attending meetings with FCVic members around Victoria, training and supporting members in convenor and secretary roles)
• Draft and prepare submissions on policy issues (including collaboration with partner organisations on relevant issues)

This role reports to the Executive Officer.

Key Selection Criteria

Essential competencies

• Strong analytical, conceptual and critical thinking skills.
• Understanding of government policy making and implementation processes.
• Demonstrated experience with campaigning and policy advocacy.
• Understanding of governance structures in membership organisations and the role of organisational policies and meeting procedure.
• Highly developed writing skills, including experience in preparing policy documents.
• Highly developed interpersonal communications skills with the ability to forge strong relationships with members, and strengthen leadership and motivation to be part of collective networks.
• Ability to prioritise, organise and complete work within established deadlines, and to maintain a consistent level of professionalism.
• Ability to work effectively within a busy team environment, and to work unsupervised.
• Strong outcome focus and genuine desire to assist FCVic members, stakeholders, and team members.

Experience and Qualifications

• 3-5 years’ previous experience in a relevant campaigns and advocacy, communications or organising role or equivalent.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the financial counselling sector.
• Experience working in or with a membership association.
• Experience in consumer advocacy and/or community sector roles

Terms of employment

This is an ongoing, part-time (0.6) position at 22.8 hours per week. As a guide, a pro-rata salary between FTE $88,762 and 92,773 will be offered, plus not-for-profit salary packaging benefits, and superannuation.

FCVic is committed to achieving a diverse workforce and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities.

Interviews with short-listed candidates will be scheduled for the week commencing Monday, 8 May.

A full position description is attached below.