This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Designated Position, classified under ‘special measures’ of section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010. Only Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply.
Overview
Gellung Warl – meaning ‘tip of the spear’ in Gunaikurnai language – is a First Peoples’ representative and deliberative body, underpinned by Aboriginal Lore, Law and Cultural Authority.
Gellung Warl’s underlying purpose is to promote collective self-government, self-determination and empowerment of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians, including by:
- by representing First Peoples in Victoria and exercising decision making powers in relation to First Peoples in Victoria
- representing First Peoples in Statewide Treaty negotiations with the State, including undertaking ongoing Statewide Treaty negotiations, and supporting Traditional Owner treatymaking
- providing for ongoing truth-telling and healing
- advising the Parliament and the State government in relation to matters that affect First Peoples and holding the State government to account in relation to its commitments to, and the impact of its actions on, First Peoples.
Walk with us and make history!
The Role
The purpose of this role is to lead and coordinate regional operations in support of Gellung Warl’s functions, organisational priorities and community engagement objectives.
The Regional Manager leads a multi-disciplinary regional team and oversees day-to-day operations across one of Gellung Warl’s five operational regions.
Their regional team supports the delivery of Gellung Warl functions at a local level through community and stakeholder engagement, research and policy support, and communications, and by providing administrative and advisory support to First Peoples’ Assembly Members. The Regional Manager and functions within the team will be required to engage with peers in other Gellung Warl regions. Research, advisory and business services roles will also be required to engage with central functions and will operate under a matrix reporting structure.
The role is located within the Community Engagement function under the Head of Community Engagement. It will be the local leadership point within a matrix model.
The role requires the ability to navigate a complex and community-facing environment, ensuring that local operations, staff leadership and regional engagement activities uphold Gellung Warl’s priorities, respect cultural authority and values while maintaining constructive relationships with Traditional Owners, First Peoples and stakeholders.
The role works closely with the Head of Community Engagement and with central specialist functions to ensure local community engagement, communications, policy support, stakeholder engagement and operational coordination are delivered consistently and effectively. The role also supports First Peoples’ Assembly Members, Elders’ Voice and Youth Voice representatives, and ensures that regional activity aligns with Gellung Warl priorities.
Key Duties
- Develop and implement regional engagement approaches that support Treaty objectives, community participation, local relationship-building and Gellung Warl’s broader strategic priorities.
- Build and maintain strong, respectful and productive relationships with First Peoples’ Assembly Members, Traditional Owners, Aboriginal communities, Elders’ Voice and Youth Voice representatives, community organisations and other key stakeholders within the region.
- Oversee and support regional staff, including Gellung Warl Advisors & EAs, Community Engagement & Communications Officers, Community Project Officers, Community Researchers & Policy Partners, and Regional Office Coordinators, to ensure effective local service delivery and coordination.
- Oversee local activities, events, forums, outreach work and engagement processes across the region, ensuring activities are well managed, responsive to community needs and aligned with Gellung Warl priorities.
- Support accurate local reporting loops through the gathering, sharing and responding to community feedback, local insights and operational information to inform regional delivery and broader organisational planning.
- Provide local leadership in operational matters, including workforce coordination, leave approvals, resource planning, event oversight, communications flow and liaison across teams.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, induction and succession planning within the regional team, including identifying and developing talent and supporting continuity in key functions.
- Identify local risks, emerging issues and opportunities, and escalate or address them in a timely and practical way in consultation with the Head of Community Engagement. This reflects the regional Manager’s role as the local leadership point within a matrix r model.
- Contribute to cross-regional consistency, continuous improvement and collaboration by working with other Regional Managers and central leaders to strengthen practice across Gellung Warl.
- Undertake other duties consistent with the role’s classification and purpose as directed.
Key Selection Criteria
Skills, Competencies & Knowledge
- Demonstrated ability to lead regional or place-based operations in a complex, community-facing and culturally responsive environment.
- Demonstrated commitment to Aboriginal self-determination and experience working with First Peoples and/or Aboriginal communities and organisations, preferably in Victoria and with community knowledge of the region being managed.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills and a proven capacity to build and maintain trusted working relationships across communities, representative structures and partner organisations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead staff, manage performance and foster a high-performing, collaborative and culturally safe team environment.
- Strong organisational and operational coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver local activity to time and quality expectations.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across multiple teams and within a matrix reporting model.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly with community, staff and stakeholders and support effective reporting loops.
- Demonstrated capacity to use data, reporting tools and digital systems to support planning, coordination and community engagement activity.
- Sound digital literacy, including competence in Microsoft Office Suite and the practical use of CRM or similar systems.
- Demonstrated ability in navigating the local pollical environment.
- Knowledge of the Victorian Aboriginal community context and the ability to work effectively and with integrity in the context of a Victorian First Peoples’ representative body or similar reform environment.
Experience & Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience overseeing multi-disciplinary or geographically dispersed teams to ensure delivery of local operations, engagement activities and strategic objectives.
- Experience managing a team of staff, including supervision, development, succession planning and performance management.
- Experience in stakeholder engagement, community organising, event coordination, local operations or related community-facing work.
- Experience in project management preferred.
- Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience is desirable.
- As part of our commitment to child safety and in line with the Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic), all roles within Gellung Warl require a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC).
- Current full Victorian Driver Licence.
- Ability to travel and stay overnight across Victoria as required.
Personal Attributes
- Demonstrates sound judgement, maturity and professionalism in community-facing and operational environments.
- Shows empathy and respect in working with colleagues, Traditional Owners, First Peoples and stakeholders.
- Leads with integrity, accountability and calmness, and is able to maintain focus on local and organisational outcomes.
- Is committed to cultural safety, self-determination and the broader reform objectives of Treaty in Victoria.
- Values collaboration, listens well, and contributes positively to team and organisational culture.
Behavioural Responsibilities
- Ethical Values & Compliance with Policies: Upholds the standards of Respect, Accountability, Honesty, Equality, Legal Compliance as found in Gellung Warl’s Standards of Conduct Policy and adheres to all other Gellung Warl policies.
- Team Focus: Recognises and respects the strengths of others within the team, listens and responds to feedback from managers and colleagues, and understands personal impact upon team goals.
- Personal & Professional Development: Actively seeks opportunities for personal and professional growth through ongoing learning and development.
- Leads with Conviction: Considers Gellung Warl’s values when making organisational decisions, and presents a mature, balanced and united leadership approach.
- Employee Performance Management: Conducts regular performance reviews, acknowledges and rewards high-performing staff, implements development plans for employee growth, and manages disciplinary matters in compliance with organisational and legal standards.
Salary & Term
Ongoing role
Salary from $138,631 per annum (full-time equivalent) plus superannuation, based on experience and expertise.
Location
South East based. This role extends its reach across the Regional Victoria with some travels as required.
How to apply
If you are ready to take on a challenging role and make a significant impact, please submit your resume, cover letter, and any other supporting documents to [email protected]
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Note that interviews may commence prior to application close dates as suitable applications come through so job may be filled before close date.
Applications close: 06/04/26