Program Engagement Officer

Category: Community Services & Development

Full-time

Location: Melbourne

VIC

As a leading national charity dedicated to supporting veterans and their families, Soldier On is committed to not only making a difference in the lives of those we serve but also to provide an exceptional work environment for our staff.

We're seeking a full-time Program Engagement Officer (PEO) based in our Melbourne office. We invite interested candidates to review the role requirements below and apply to become part of our dedicated team.

Soldier On staff work side by side with individuals and families, to strengthen resilience and develop meaningful connections with family members, mates, and the local community through a diverse range of health and wellbeing services, employment opportunities, learning and education programs and participation in community, social and sporting activities.

Benefits of joining our Charity

As a registered Public Benevolent Institution, our employees enjoy significant benefits. These include:

• Salary packaging
• Meal and entertainment benefits
• Birthday leave
• Flexible working environment
• A supportive and collaborative work culture

The Program Engagement Officer (PEO) delivers Soldier On's mission at community level. The role plans, coordinates, and delivers engaging, safe, and inclusive activities that strengthen social connection for veterans and families, while contributing to national online delivery. The PEO builds strong local partnerships, ensures accurate data and compliance, and represents Soldier On professionally in the community and on Defence bases.

Hours: Full-time, 38 hours per week. Part-time employment options considered.

Employment term: Fixed term, initially for one year with possibility to extend

Responsibilities:

This role sits within the Program Engagement team and has the following responsibilities:

• Plan and schedule local social connection and peer activities, preparing proposals and documentation
• Build and publish bookings and ensure accurate and secure participant data
• Deliver approved activities in-person and online, including webinars and virtual peer support, to ensure access across Australia
• Coordinate community day proposals, logistics, communication inputs, and post-event follow up
• Prepare simple post-event summaries with attendance, feedback, risks and learnings
• Maintain productive relationships with stakeholders such as Defence bases, JTAs, ESOs, councils, community providers, and venue partners
• Represent Soldier On at Defence transition seminars, base family days, ESO forums, and community expos that align with the strategy
• Identify local needs and partnership leads, document insights, and escalate when required
• Act as the first point of contact for veterans and family members in the region
• Provide welcoming, trauma-informed engagement that promotes safety, inclusion, and belonging
• Encourage participant feedback and escalate insights that improve program quality and access
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and guidance of volunteers in coordination with internal stakeholders
• Prepare monthly activity data and narrative highlights. Contribute data and stories to quarterly and annual reporting
• Ensure risk assessments, safeguarding, WHS and privacy requirements are met for every activity, and escalate incidents promptly
• Manage local Soldier On Facebook groups responsibly, ensuring content is accurate, safe, and aligned to organisational standards
• Work with Marketing team to supply local information and images that support event promotion and national consistency
• Identify local fundraising with Fundraising and Partnerships that aligns to strategy and does not impact core delivery
• Support local delivery of national campaigns and community or in-kind appeals

The successful applicant will have the following demonstrable skills and experience:

• Experience in community engagement, program coordination, or events in a service environment
• Strong digital capability with booking systems such as TryBooking, shared inboxes, social platforms, and MS Office
• Excellent interpersonal communication with diverse stakeholders, including Defence and ESOs
• Strong organisation, attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities
• Current driver's licence and ability to travel locally and interstate as required
• Ability and willingness to work some evenings and weekends to meet participant access needs and venue availability
• Working with Children Check, National Police Check, and the ability to obtain Defence base access where required
• Current First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, ASIST certification or willingness to obtain one
• Experience in a national not for profit organisation will be considered advantageous
• A broad understanding of the ADF and the experience of veterans will be highly regarded

APPLY NOW

Please submit a Resume and Cover Letter telling us about you, your career so far and why you would be an excellent addition to the Soldier On team using the apply now button.

Veterans and partners of ADF members are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications will close once a candidate has been selected, so please get in touch today Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

NOTE: Soldier On is a child safe organisation. Soldier On recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in all our activities. As part of the selection process candidates are required to undergo a police check, working with vulnerable people check and signing of our Child Safeguarding Policy & Code of Conduct.