El 1 Assistant Director

Salary Range: $122,949 - $135,013 + Attractive Superannuation

Open Arms is committed to the employment of lived experience peer and community officers as an integral component of the provision of a trauma informed, evidence based mental health service for veterans, current serving and family members. This position has been created to ensure that the lived experience team has appropriate leadership and career pathways. This role will work alongside the clinical teams in delivering an efficacious service and will report to the Director, Open Arms Tasmania.

The Assistant Director - Lived Experience will demonstrate knowledge and experience gained from a relevant Lived Experience background to support and guide development of the Lived Experience workforce. They will assist in embedding Lived Experience perspectives into processes to co-create policy and programs, and promote organisational commitment to services that are values-based and authentically Lived Experience informed, person-directed and aligned with recovery principles.

The position is classified at the Work level standard - Executive Level 1 and would generally be required to undertake work that is very complex or sensitive and operate under broad direction. They exercise a considerable degree of independence and perform a leadership role. Employees at this level exercise sound decision making and judgement to produce high level policy advice. EL 1 employees engage in complex problem solving and issues management and may coordinate and undertake detailed or sensitive projects that impact on strategic, political or operational outcomes for the agency. Employees also responsible for actively managing key stakeholder relationships within and outside the agency and may manage one or more work teams.

**Duties**
- Lead and manage a Lived Experience workforce inclusive of operational supervision and performance management of employees to ensure their ability to meet service delivery requirements.
- Articulate Open Arms vision, strategic and operational goals to staff and translate into practice.
- Build the capacity of staff to undertake their roles efficiently and professionally to meet expected standards of service and quality. Identify and contribute to continuous business improvement and lead change in a constructive and collaborative manner.
- Monitor and drive the implementation of quality assurance relating to client engagement and satisfaction, auditing, and business support and practices.
- Utilise understanding of the wider Lived Experience movement and concepts including Lived Experience-led research and training to promote contemporary, recovery-oriented, person-directed service delivery.
- Promote leadership and championing of Lived Experience at all levels and support and guide the development of the Lived Experience workforce.
- Embed Lived Experience values and concepts into policy and programs by actively contributing in the co-design of Open Arms projects, policies, procedures, and research initiatives.
- Build relationships based upon shared Lived Experience and support the Director to maintain strategic alliances with other business areas of DVA, the Australian Defence Force, Ex-Service organisations, government agencies, and other service providers.

**Eligibility**
- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS).
- All applicants external to DVA offered employment will be required to successfully undergo a pre-engagement screening check, even if they have a security clearance. The screening check is conducted in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework requirements.

**Mandatory Experience and Requirements**
- Currently hold or ability to obtain a Working with Vulnerable People registration **OR**:

- Currently hold or ability to obtain a Working with Children check

In addition to one of the above the following is also required:

- Lived experience of Australian Defence Force (ADF) service, either as an ex-ADF member, or as partner/carer of a current serving or ex-ADF member (spouse, ex-partner or widow/widower).
- Lived experience of mental health issues and recovery, which may include as a carer.
- Willingness to undertake relevant training, professional development and professional supervision, including completion of Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work.

**Notes**

Where a non-ongoing position is offered, the role will be filled for an initial specified term of up to18 months.

A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

DVA is committed to improving the data skills and capability of our workforce to underpin our goal of becoming a leading data-driven organisation.