Manager Justice Advocacy

Posted: 22/11/2024

Closing Date: 02/12/2024

Job Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Melbourne

Job Category: Community Services and Development

**About the Organisation**:
**Jesuit Social Services is a social change organisation working to build a just society where all people can live to their full potential.** We reflect on the critical factors shaping our contemporary world; the social, political and economic contexts, and we adapt our practice to work with those most in need.**:
Since 1977, Jesuit Social Services has provided services to some of the most disadvantaged in our community.

We place a high priority on advocacy and are a leader in policy development and research.

**About the program**:
**Central Office**:
Jesuit Social Services engages with people from diverse backgrounds experiencing complex problems, including those associated with mental illness, substance misuse, family breakdown, offending behaviour, homelessness, unemployment, poverty and social exclusion.

Jesuit Social Services operates a range of programs for disadvantaged young people, families and communities from various operational sites.

**Justice Initiative**

The Justice Initiative will consolidate Jesuit Social Services’ practice, research and advocacy activity into an effective, streamlined body where practice, research and advocacy mutually inform one another.

It will have both a local and national perspective and will maintain and build international relationships through Jesuit and other networks.

Within a broad approach to criminal justice policy there will be a significant focus on youth justice policy incorporating existing Jesuit Social Services initiatives such as Worth Second Chance and advocacy around raising the age of criminal responsibility in partnership with other sector stakeholders.

The primary objective of the Justice Initiative is to have an impact on criminal justice policy both locally and nationally.

**Strategic Communications and Engagement**

The Strategic Communications and Engagement team comprises communications, media, events and fundraising functions that work to raise awareness of the challenges faced by our participants and bring about the changes needed to improve outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

Together with the Policy and Advocacy team and program areas, the Strategic Communications and Engagement team integrates participant voice, policy, strategic communications and advocacy to increase Jesuit Social Services’ voice, engagement, influence, independence and impact.

The Manager Justice Advocacy, while reporting to the Executive Director Justice, will work closely with the Strategic Communications and Engagement Team through attendance at team meetings and collaboration with communication and marketing colleagues to design and deliver campaigns and communications; and engage with media, stakeholders, sector groups, allies and partners.

**About the role**:
The Manager Justice Advocacy will help develop, deliver and evaluate justice advocacy campaigns, informed by research, participant experience and practice wisdom, to influence public opinion and policies related to criminal justice with an emphasis on youth justice.

The Manager Justice Advocacy will also work collaboratively across Jesuit Social Services, including with policy, communications and programs staff to develop, deliver and evaluate justice advocacy campaigns and associated materials.

Competitive remuneration, plus salary packaging benefit, is offered together with ongoing professional and career development as well as opportunities for personal growth.

**Desired Skills and Experience**:
**About you**:

- Tertiary qualification/s and/or extensive experience in strategic communications and campaigns to achieve advocacy, policy and communication objectives.
- Demonstrated experience in successfully developing, delivering and evaluating the impact of significant and evidence-informed multi-channel advocacy and communication campaigns.
- Demonstrated experience engaging and collaborating effectively with stakeholders, decision-makers, and diverse audiences including First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse communities, to achieve advocacy, policy and communication objectives.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to develop a range of high quality, effective and influential communication and engagement materials for communities, stakeholders, sector partners and allies, decision-makers and media. This includes media releases, opinion pieces, social media content, letters to decision-makers, news articles, presentations and speeches.
- Ability to understand, monitor and utilize new and emerging social media technologies in order to identify, mitigate and effectively respond to issues, and leverage opportunities to shift public awareness, opinions, discussions and policies

**How to apply**:

- Upload your resume and cover letter incorpora