• Location: Hybrid from Melbourne CBD office
• 0.6-0.8 FTE | Permanent
• Salary: SCHADS Level 7.1 plus 4.5% (i.e. $131,636 full-time) + 12% super + salary packaging + 5 weeks leave + bonus leave between Christmas and New Year's Day

Lead powerful advocacy for justice with young people

Are you ready to drive meaningful systemic change and law reform with young people?

We’re looking for an experienced advocacy, policy or campaigning leader passionate about working with young people to challenge injustice, influence decision-makers and create fairer laws and systems that work for young people.

You'll lead advocacy on issues that matter to young people facing legal challenges in Victoria, such as housing, poverty, criminalisation, First Nations justice, and access to justice.

About Youthlaw’s Advocacy & Comms Program

At Youthlaw, one of our core values is fearless advocacy. This means standing alongside young people to advocate for a fairer future they demand – from safe housing and a liveable income, self-determination and Treaty for First Peoples, decarceration, and young people having a genuine say in decisions that affect their lives.

You'll lead Youthlaw's Advocacy & Comms program, working closely with our specialist youth lawyers and social workers to create systemic change for the young people we support.

You will:

• Lead Youthlaw's Advocacy & Comms program and team
• Develop and implement advocacy strategies
• Build pathways for young people to share their stories and advocate for systemic change
• Coordinate campaigns, submissions, reports and engagement with government
• Supervise and support our Media & Comms Lead and Senior Policy Lawyer
• Build relationships with decision-makers, partners and supporters
• Support Youthlaw to tell our story of impact, and
• Contribute to Youthlaw's strategic leadership and organisational growth.

What we're looking for

You're an experienced leader who combines strategic thinking with a commitment to social justice.

You have experience in policy, advocacy, campaigning or a related field, and are excited about using those skills to create change for young people in Victoria.

You will bring:

• Experience leading advocacy, policy, campaigning or related work
• Experience managing people, teams, projects and organisational priorities
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• A commitment to social justice and Youthlaw's values
• Understanding of barriers to justice young people face and systems that impact their lives
• The ability to build trusted relationships with decision-makers and key partners

Bonus points for:

• Experience in CLCs, with young people, and the community sector
• Lived experience of issues affecting the young people we support
• Experience measuring and communicating advocacy impact

Why join Youthlaw?

Youthlaw is Victoria's statewide specialist community legal centre for young people under 25. Every day, we work alongside young people experiencing homelessness, family violence, discrimination, over-policing, poverty and other barriers to justice. Through legal services, social work, community legal education and advocacy, we work to ensure young people are heard, supported and empowered.

At Youthlaw, we don’t just talk about our values - we live them. You’ll be part of a wonderful team that puts young people first, challenges injustice, and works collaboratively to create real-world change. We also offer:

• Supportive, inclusive and flexible workplace culture
• Salary packaging to boost your take-home pay
• Above Award wages + 12% superannuation
• 5 weeks annual leave + paid shutdown leave between Christmas & New Year
• Hybrid work model (no office day quotas or return to office mandates)

We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of colour, people with disability, people from LGBTIQA+ communities, and those with lived experience of the issues our clients face. Your voice and experience are valued at Youthlaw.

Next Steps

To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.

Interview process

We will contact the top 3 candidates for interview. We plan to conduct interviews from early August 2026. We’ll send you the interview questions in advance, so you have time to prepare.

Need adjustments to make the process more accessible for you? Reach out – we’re here to help.

If you would like further information, please email [email protected] with using the subject line: Manager - Policy & Advocacy enquiry via EthicalJobs

View the Position Description for more information.