• Hours​: Up to 30.4 hours per week, between the hours of 8:45am to 4:45pm
• ​Start ASAP, for up to six months
• Location​​: 13a Wingate Avenue, Ascot Vale

This role will ideally be ongoing, but we are currently limited by current funding availability. If long-term funding were secured, this role will become an ongoing role. 

The Position

Wingate Avenue Community Centre is looking for an experienced Operations Lead to support the delivery of Centre services. You will work as part of a small, passionate team that delivers services, programs and activities to the local community.

Wingate Ave CC provides multiple, place-based services at the centre, including occasional childcare, accredited and non-accredited courses, employment support services, community programs and activities, as well as other co-located services. The Operation Lead is a key role in the organisation as it provides high quality operation support across all services and programs.

The Operation Lead will join the team in delivering a genuinely values-based approach to working collaboratively with community members, with a priority for people experiencing disadvantage and vulnerabilities.

The role requires a dynamic individual with strong leadership skills, excellent organisation skills, and strong interpersonal skills, as well as a willingness to work across services, and with a range of staff and community members, to support the effective operations of the community centre. 

Delivery of centre services will be guided by the centre’s core values of compassion, inclusiveness, diversity and quality. 

 The Workplace

Wingate Avenue Community Centre (WingCC) was established in 1985 and is a busy, vibrant neighbourhood house, based in the heart of the Ascot Vale public housing estate. The centre is a not-for-profit, incorporated association, governed by a Committee of Management that provides the governance structure and strategic direction for the centre’s management. The General Manager leads a team of 30 staff that deliver services and programs that meet community need.

Role and Responsibilities

• Staff and maintain reception during open hours. This will include managing a mixture of volunteers, social work students, and paid receptionists, as well as working on reception when other staffing options aren’t available.
• Attend to general enquiries by phone, email and in-person, and direct enquiries to the appropriate staff member or service area.
• Coordinate and lead centre administration support. This will include distributing mail and other communication material, purchasing stationery and kitchen supplies as needed, supporting the preparation of Centre publications (such as Wingate News), providing keys for tutors and other official centre visitors, and ordering Container Deposit Scheme supplies as needed.
• Coordinate and lead point of sale (til) on a daily basis. This will include managing the daily float, supporting the Container Deposit Scheme counter to operate, and reconciling the til daily.
• Coordinate information material at the Centre. This will include updating posters and printed material on display in the foyer and public spaces.

• Coordinate and manage urgent maintenance using Homes Victoria’s maintenance department and the Centre’s limited maintenance budget.
• Plan, coordinate and manage regular maintenance using Homes Victoria’s maintenance department, partner support, and the Centre’s limited maintenance budget.
• Oversee contract cleaners to maintain a high standard of cleanliness in the Centre.
• Coordinate and manage hall hires of Centre facilities (which is mainly in the Community Shed) to support community access to affordable facilities for their special occasions, as well as raise revenue for the Centre.
• Coordinate and maintain key register for safety and security.
• Coordinating the archiving of relevant files, in accordance with contractual and regulatory requirements.

• Coordinate and manage the information and communication technology, including phones, audio visual equipment, and computers, using our ICT contractors.
• Review, plan and coordinate cyber security continuous improvements.
• Review, plan and coordinate a potential SharePoint migration; time permitting.

• Participate in the OH+S Working Group as a leader in the organisation to maintain a strong health and safety cultural at the organisation.
• Participate in quarterly emergency evacuation and duress practice and maintain records of each.

• Participate in the Marketing Working Group to support the promotion of Centre services, programs and activities. This will include planning and scheduling the production of our local newsletter Wingate News.

• Support the commencement of grants as they are won and awarded, using a project management approach.
• Support other staff to deliver grant outcomes, where support is needed. 

• Schedule permitting, support the maintenance of policies and procedures.

• Adhere to the centre’s policies and procedures.
• Foster positive staff relationships and promote a supportive working environment.
• Contribute to staff meetings and information sharing sessions.
• Participate in regular professional development activities to maintain current knowledge and skills in vocational training and learning.

Qualification and Skills Requirement

• At least five years’ experience working in not for profits.
• Demonstrable experience working in a dynamic environment, with changing priorities.
• Desirable: Experience or qualifications in community development, social services, or related fields.
• Strong Communication Skills: The Operation Lead must have excellent communication skills.
  • These include:
    • The ability to actively listen and absorb what others are saying, in order to respond appropriately.
    • Awareness of non-verbal communication, such as body language, eye contact, hand gestures, tone of voice, and colour of the message you are trying to convey.
    • The ability to convey your message clearly and directly to students and colleagues, in a way that can be understood by the other party.
    • Ability to be flexible and have an open-mind when talking with others, in order to understand the other’s point of view.

Excellent Instructional Skills: The Operation Lead will be required to explain concepts and activities to people will low English literacy and numeracy skills in a manner they can understand.

Strong Interpersonal Skills: The Operation Lead will work closely with community members and colleagues and must be able to work well with others and develop good relationships to ensure the best quality services are provided.

Click "Apply now" to submit your application. 

A position description is attached.