Lismore, NSW | Permanent Part-Time – 70 Hours per Fortnight | SCHADS Level 8
Company Car Provided | Enjoy an Additional 2 Weeks of Bonus Leave Over Christmas
Lead people. Strengthen services. Help shape the future of community programs across the Northern Rivers.
Community Gateway is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Senior Manager - Programs & Services Development to join our Leadership Team and provide strategic and operational leadership across a diverse portfolio of community programs.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who can bring together people leadership, service quality, program performance and new program development to strengthen existing services while identifying opportunities for future growth.
With a company car provided and an additional two weeks of bonus leave over the Christmas period, the role offers an attractive package alongside the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across the Northern Rivers.
About Community Gateway
Community Gateway has been supporting communities across Northern NSW since 1976. Guided by our vision, “Many tracks, one road, sustaining community,” we work to reduce disadvantage, strengthen wellbeing and ensure people feel safe, included and connected.
We deliver a broad range of services across Northern NSW, including financial counselling and capability, homelessness support, counselling, family case management, youth programs, neighbourhood centres, sexual health, aged care programs, OOSH and other community-based initiatives.
We are a child-safe organisation committed to inclusion, diversity and cultural safety, and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
About the Role
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working as a member of the Leadership Team, you will lead a portfolio of funded community programs, including counselling, sexual health, case management and other community-based services.
You will be responsible for program performance, people leadership, contractual and regulatory compliance, service quality, continuous improvement and stakeholder partnerships.
A key focus of the position will also be identifying emerging community needs, funding opportunities and partnerships and turning these opportunities into sustainable, high-quality programs and services.
You will directly lead multidisciplinary teams including counsellors, case managers, GPs and other program staff, while working collaboratively with managers, team leaders and the CEO.
What You'll Be Doing
In this role, you will:
Provide leadership, coaching and performance management across multidisciplinary program teams.
Oversee the quality, performance and continuous improvement of funded community programs.
Ensure programs meet contractual obligations, funding targets, regulatory requirements and agreed client outcomes.
Monitor program budgets, resources, service utilisation, caseloads, outputs and outcomes.
Strengthen program governance, safeguarding, risk management and quality assurance systems.
Lead workforce planning, recruitment, induction, development and performance processes within your portfolio.
Build strong partnerships with government, community organisations, specialist services and other stakeholders.
Identify service gaps, emerging community needs and opportunities for new or expanded programs.
Identify and pursue relevant tenders, grants, commissioning opportunities and funding streams.
Contribute to funding submissions, service models, budgets, implementation plans, program logic and evaluation frameworks.
Lead the establishment and mobilisation of approved new programs and services.
Use service data, client outcomes, feedback and evaluation findings to drive continuous improvement.
Provide clear reporting, analysis and recommendations to the CEO.
Contribute to organisation-wide planning, service development and strategic initiatives as a member of the Leadership Team.
About You
You will be an experienced community services leader who is equally comfortable leading people, overseeing complex programs and developing new opportunities.
You will bring:
Degree-level qualifications in human services, social sciences, community services, management, social work or a related field, together with extensive relevant professional experience.
Demonstrated senior management experience leading multiple funded programs within a complex community services environment.
Proven experience managing multidisciplinary teams, including supervision, performance management, coaching, workforce planning and staff development.
Strong knowledge of program governance, safeguarding, risk management, professional boundaries, privacy, record keeping, quality assurance and compliance within human services.
Experience developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating operational plans and funded programs.
Demonstrated experience in new program development, including identifying funding opportunities, designing service models and contributing to funding submissions.
High-level communication, collaboration, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
The ability to analyse service data, identify risks and improvement opportunities and provide clear recommendations to executive leadership.
High digital literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and confidence using client management, reporting and data systems.
Experience in commissioning, tender development, grant writing, program evaluation or establishing new funded services will be highly regarded.
Why Join Community Gateway?
This is an opportunity to take on a broad senior leadership role where you can influence both the quality of services being delivered today and the development of services for the future.
You'll benefit from:
SCHADS Award Level 8
Permanent part-time – 70 hours per fortnight (35 hours per week)
Company car provided
An additional 2 weeks of bonus leave over Christmas
A senior leadership role reporting directly to the CEO
Membership of Community Gateway's Leadership Team
The opportunity to lead and develop a diverse portfolio of community services
Genuine involvement in new program development, funding opportunities and organisational growth
Meaningful work supporting communities across the Northern Rivers
Additional Requirements
The successful applicant will require:
A current NSW Driver Licence
NSW Working with Children Check
National Police Check
Capacity to travel across the NSW Far North Coast and work across Community Gateway sites as required
Ready to Make an Impact?
If you're an experienced leader who can strengthen existing services, develop high-performing teams and turn community needs and funding opportunities into effective new programs, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply now to join Community Gateway and help shape the future of community services across Northern NSW.
For any additional information, please contact Jenni Beetson-Mortimer on 0458 675 338 or [email protected]
Applications close 25 August 2026
We will be reviewing applications and interviewing candidates as they are received. If a suitable candidate is found, this advertisement may close prior to the advertised closing date.
