• Opportunity to work at Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE), a national not-for-profit organisation that supports the adoption and impact of place-based approaches across Australia.
• Join at an exciting time, as the PLACE team builds its foundational team during its establishment phase, in preparation for its first steps of growth as a new organisation.
• We encourage and are open to secondments from individuals working in place-based work (we would require a minimum 6-month commitment). If you are a candidate who is interested in this approach, please notify us in the application form.
• A national hybrid role, with a preference for candidates based in or within commuting distance of Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, or Sydney.
• Full time (1.0) fixed-term position.

The Workforce and Sector Strengthening Lead will contribute to the development of a national workforce strategy to strengthen the capability and capacity of those engaged in place-based work. This role is focused on enhancing and supporting the current workforce and sector systems, with an emphasis on sector readiness, capability building, and strengthening the authorising environment that supports place-based work. It will build the skills of those presently working in place-based initiatives, fostering a culture of continuous learning, collaboration and innovation to meet the current and evolving needs of place-based initiatives.

The Workforce and Sector Strengthening Lead will conduct research and analysis to identify existing sectors, peaks and workforce strategies; the profiles of key place-based initiative skills; and the accessibility and availability of training to meet the skills. The Workforce and Sector Strengthening Lead will work closely with the Employment Pathways Lead and the Director, enable to address workforce strategy from multiple angles, ensuring a coordinated approach to building a strong place-based workforce.

Who you are (selection criteria):

• You bring strong expertise in workforce development and strategy, with relevant qualifications and significant experience shaping national and cross-sector workforce initiatives.
• You have a proven track record of leading and delivering high-impact initiatives that support training, development, and systems strengthening, with a deep understanding of how to align these with broader organisational and sector-wide goals.
• You have successfully built and managed strategic partnerships across government, education providers, community organisations and peak bodies.
• You are adept at convening diverse stakeholders and aligning their efforts around a shared workforce vision.
• You have a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with community-led initiatives and are committed to tailoring solutions that are locally grounded, culturally responsive and fit-for-purpose.
• You bring a systems lens and understand the role that data, evaluation and feedback play in strengthening workforce capability over time, and you use insights to drive continuous improvement, share learnings, and inform strategy refinement.
• You are an excellent communicator, able to translate complex workforce issues into clear, actionable insights for a range of audiences - from local practitioners to policy-makers and sector leaders.
• You are comfortable in a start-up environment; you manage multiple competing priorities with a proactive and adaptable approach.
• You demonstrate a commitment to PLACE’s vision, values and principles, particularly around community leadership and shared decision-making.

We know that confidence gaps and systemic barriers mean that many marginalised people might hesitate to apply unless they meet every single requirement listed. Research indicates that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised individuals often wait until they fulfil every requirement. If you believe you have the attributes to do the job but don't match every point on the job ad, we welcome and encourage your application.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and guidance to staff and project teams.
• Contribute to a national strategy that addresses skill gaps, training needs, and workforce challenges in place-based initiatives.
• Work with local place-based initiatives to ensure training programs are tailored to specific community needs and contexts.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government, funders, educational bodies, and relevant associations to support workforce development goals.
• Support the development and use of mechanisms to track the implementation and impact of the workforce strategy, including stakeholder satisfaction and strategy adoption rates.

Who we are:

Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE) is a not-for-profit organisation, committed to collaborative, community-driven approaches to create impactful and lasting change. By leading a national workforce strategy, we support community needs through place-based solutions.

It is our vision to enable communities and governments to jointly decide on matters that are most important to our lives. We lead national initiatives to develop workforce strategies, enhance place-based practices and improve data monitoring and evaluation.

At PLACE, we are dedicated to creating lasting change through understanding, action and empowered governance.

What we offer:

• True flexibility and a strong focus on agility in the workplace; we prioritise making flexible and hybrid work arrangements possible for all employees.
• Access to Fringe Benefits Tax options, in addition to base salary and superannuation.
• A team of supportive and passionate people committed to maintaining a positive workplace culture and making an impact.
• 5 weeks of Annual Leave for every 12 months of employment.
• Two days volunteering leave for every 12 months of employment.
• A leadership team that truly wants you to flourish and make your mark on the organisation.
• A workplace that prioritises both diversity and inclusion, allowing everyone to bring their authentic selves to work in an environment that ensures psychological and physical safety.
• Cultural and Ceremonial leave.
• A Learning and Development budget per employee, prioritising professional development for our employees.

How to apply:

PLACE is an inclusive employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

To express your interest, please submit an online application through this portal by clicking "Apply now", including your professional resume.

Please note: We do not accept cover letters as part of the application process.

All applicants must instead provide brief written responses to the application questions which form part of the online application.

All personal information provided will be managed in accordance with privacy laws and used solely for the purpose of this recruitment process.

We are committed to providing an equitable, accessible, and inclusive recruitment experience for all applicants. If you require any adjustments or would like to discuss your access needs as part of the application or recruitment process, please contact us via [email protected] using the subject line: Workforce and Sector Strengthening Lead - Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment - Flexible Locations enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt, so don’t delay your application.

PLACE is an equal opportunity employer and strives to maintain a workplace environment that is fair and free of discrimination, is safe and accessible for all employees, and provides working arrangements that accommodate the diverse needs of our staff. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people from culturally- and linguistically-diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people and people of every ethnicity, faith, ability, culture, language, gender identity, age, and sex.

Employment in this position is conditional upon reception and maintenance of a Working With Children Check.

As part of our employment screening process, we do run police checks. But don’t worry—having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you.

A position description is attached.