Senior Manager – First Nations Australia Program

Job description

• Role type: Band 2, permanent full time, with generous salary packaging available to all Australian-based staff.
• Location: Naarm / Melbourne or remotely within Australia.

ROLE PURPOSE

EWB has trusted relationships with communities built on the success of engineering solutions that enable self-determination.

ROLE SUMMARY

With engaged, trusted relationships central to our engineering programs, this role works with First Nations peoples to realise plans for self-determination, in regional and remote locations, recognising the importance of access to Country in positive cultural, spiritual, health and livelihood outcomes.

EWB have been working with First Nations communities for over ten years, improving water, power and infrastructure through engineering. In recent years, we have increasingly focused on the critical challenge of access to safe, continuous drinking water in remote locations.

Our program is delivered with the support of volunteers, pro bono partners and in partnership with other organisations.

ABOUT THE FIRST NATIONS PROGRAM

EWB Australia recognises and acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as the first engineers and scientists of this nation, caring for Country sustainably for over 65,000 years.

Our Engineering on Country program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to pursue their aspirations to live and thrive on Country, facilitated by equitable access to engineering, technology and infrastructure. EWB takes a community-centred approach to bridge self-identified gaps in access to community health, wellbeing and opportunity.

Since 2009, EWB has worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia on a range of community-identified projects. These have mostly taken place through long-term partnerships developed directly with communities and through pro bono support from our corporate partners.

We work with communities to design and provide access to appropriate and sustainable community infrastructure, which can include water & sanitation facilities, energy systems, housing, and other technology and services where it improves people’s quality of life and ability to pursue education, employment or income generating opportunities. We also work with communities to help design solutions that enable cultural connection, and the ability for people to live on Country and care for Country.

Our Pathways Outreach program engages volunteers who are trained to deliver Introduction to engineering modules in primary schools, high schools and community centres in cities and in regional areas across Australia, through our chapter network and our industry partners. These programs aim to inspire youth to pursue a career in engineering and STEM, with a particular focus on engaging and increasing the participation of First Nations young people and others who are less represented in the engineering sector, such as women and girls.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

1. Hold the vision and provide leadership for the First Nations program, with a focus on developing the Water program as foundational to the EoC Program.
2. Develop long-term engineering programs with partners that complement their strategic plans, based on two-way knowledge sharing and community capacity development and ownership.
3. Build the funding and strategic networks for EWB Eng on Country program, focusing on water as the foundation for other community development work, to ensure ongoing sustainability and growth of the program, ensuring that we meet or exceed funding targets year on year.
4. Provide high-level leadership for the Pathways Outreach program, managing a specialist team.
5. Facilitate cooperation and coordination with emergency operations, should they arise in Australia.
6. Oversee the delivery of annual plans and management of budget aligned with the EWB 4-year roadmap and 2030 Strategy.
7. Build EWB’s capability, body of knowledge, resources, networks and ability to undertake effective Water and Sanitation projects for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
8. Ensure impact-led planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning across EoC projects, aligned with the EWB Impact Framework and using community identified indicators of success.

SELECTION CRITERIA

This position is weighted to the employment of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants. The filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), ands 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) and s8(4) of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic).

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

You will have a qualification in engineering or related technical discipline and/or social sciences; project management, community development and/or another relevant field.

DEMONSTRATED SUCCESS IN AND/OR PROVEN KNOWLEDGE IN:

• engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations, preferably with extensive networks and community connections.
• management of complex projects, with complementary technical skills in participatory project design, strategic planning and program delivery
• leading and developing a healthy, passionate team culture built on results.
• building a strong pipeline of funding and against delivering growth targets.
• managing program and project budgets aligned to a strategic annual plan.
• experience brokering and managing partnerships across community, corporate and industry sectors, balancing dynamics and facilitating effective outcomes. Partnership and stakeholder management across engineering / technical and related sectors, government, businesses and the community.
• community development and facilitation, with a deep understanding of cultural, environmental and social aspects of engineering projects that lead to ongoing ownership and to positive outcomes.
• integrating a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework that reflects community-identified indicators of success. Celebrating and sharing stories of success and learning.

THIS ROLE WILL REQUIRE YOU TO:

• support the delivery of EWB’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
• communicate, both written and verbally, in a way that engages diverse audiences and builds trust. Able to adjust styles to suit various audiences, including community members, staff, corporate and industry partners, and volunteers.be confident working in a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment;
• contribute learning, ideas, feedback, and knowledge across the EWB’s team and a network of partners;
• proactively engage with a wide range of stakeholders and appropriately identify and respond to opportunities and challenges presented;
• find inspiration in the potential of the EWB’s vision, strategy, values and our programs;
• consistently seek opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of EWB’s processes.