about the role

Do you love working in and for regional communities? Looking for a challenge, and like to hit the ground running?

This new role will support the community engagement, granting and administrative delivery of the Future Drought Fund’s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought program, between July 2022 and June 2024. (2-year contract)

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is investing $29.6 million over two years to implement the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought program, which extends and integrates the Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program (led by FRRR) and the Drought Resilience Leaders programs led by Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF).

Supporting remote, rural, and regional communities in 35 regions across Australia to prepare for future drought, the position will work collaboratively with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation to deliver the place-based Community Impact Grants of up to $500,000 per region, a national small grants program, development of a national pool of expertise to support communities in their local drought resilience efforts, and a dedicated impact measurement process with an external provider. Additionally, ARLF will deliver leadership development, mentoring and a national leadership network initiative that completes the suite of initiatives that sit within the broader program.

Reporting to the Senior Program Manager of the Future Drought Fund’s Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought program, the role will be part of a collaborative and agile team that works closely with community based non-profit organisations across Australia to assist in the consultation, planning and delivery of drought preparedness activities.

Notionally working in state-based clusters of Community Impact Grant recipients, the primary remit of the role will be to broker connections, build relationships, facilitate opportunities, and increase awareness with aligned Future Fund Drought Fund investment to extend the reach, maximise investment, and leverage connections for the benefit of local communities.

From time to time you may also be required to collaborate with external contractors employed to assist with the delivery of program outcomes, and other delivery partners of the Future Drought Fund.

To be successful in this role, the following skills and attributes are required

Essential (Key Selection Criteria):

1. Evidence of highly developed interpersonal, communication, collaboration, negotiation, and consultative skills, including proficiency in literacy and numeracy.
2. Experience working with remote, rural, and regional communities in a community development and/or drought
3. Existing knowledge of Future Drought Fund investment and activity, and issues affecting remote, rural, and regional communities; including drought and other climatic impacts.
4. Proven track record working within multi-stakeholder or inter-organisational projects, in time constrained environments.
5. Ability to work autonomously within an agreed approach, in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities demonstrating strong attention to administrative detail, discretion, and confidentiality.
6. Conceptual understanding and practical experience in place-based models of delivery and co-design principles,
7. A natural team player who thrives in collaborative, mission-driven, and outcomes-focussed environments
8. Degree or equivalent in social sciences, humanities, ag-science, community development.
9. Ability to undertake interstate travel where required.

Desirable:

1. Grant program administration, and/or philanthropic sector experience
2. Non-profit sector experience, at a grassroots level in a rural setting
3. Understanding of the Disaster Cycle and principles of resilience

This two year full time position may be based in Bendigo (where FRRR is situated), or anywhere in regional, rural, or remote Australia by negotiation.

Flexible work arrangements exist. FRRR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people with diverse cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities.

Salary $90,000 pa plus superannuation.

A position description is attached.

Interviews will be held week commencing 29th August 2022.

Enquiries can be made to [email protected] using the subject line: Coordinator Community Engagement - Bendigo enquiry via EthicalJobs.