Manager, National Justice Policy Partnership, NATSILS

• Advance justice and Closing the Gap outcomes for First Nations communities
• Lead the National Justice Policy Partnership team with purpose.
• $138,539 - $146,232 + super + salary packaging & leave loading

Full-Time | Fixed-Term, Two Years | Melbourne, VIC

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services. We advocate for justice, equality, and the rights of our peoples, supporting culturally safe legal services and driving national reforms to close the gap in justice outcomes.

Your Impact

As a senior leader of NATSILS, you will drive the delivery of high-quality policy, advocacy, and secretariat support, shaping national justice initiatives and advancing Closing the Gap priorities. You will lead and mentor a high-performing team while fostering strategic partnerships with government, ACCOs, and peak bodies. You will work closely with the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department as the JPP Co-Chair to progress joint planning, reporting, and JPP priorities. Each day, you will:

• Lead and mentor the National Justice Policy Partnership (JPP) team to deliver expert policy advice, submissions, reports, and briefings.
• Oversee preparation and delivery of policy reports, briefings, speaking notes, and discussion papers.
• Advise NATSILS leadership on the JPP Strategic Framework, Implementation Roadmap, and priority initiatives.
• Foster two-way communication between NATSILS and ATSILS to support the JPP strategic framework.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government, justice agencies, ACCOs, and peak bodies.
• Manage team performance, resourcing, and compliance with ALS/NATSILS policies, values, and WHS standards.

Your Story & Strengths

You are a dynamic and experienced senior leader with a deep understanding of the cultural, social, and historical contexts shaping the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. You combine strategic expertise with a strong commitment to justice, community impact, and collaborative leadership. Key strengths include:

• Minimum 3 years post-qualification criminal law experience and strong justice sector expertise.
• Proven experience leading strategic policy and advocacy initiatives.
• Knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice issues, Closing the Gap, and governance structures.
• Demonstrated ability to manage teams, deliver high-quality outputs on time and within budget.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with government, ACCOs, and peak bodies.
• Excellent research, analytical, and communication skills, with respect for Aboriginal cultural and social needs.
• Desirable: Identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, with experience in ATSILS or community-controlled organisations, and knowledge of contemporary criminal law and justice policy issues.

Our Journey Together

At NATSILS, you'll find a career that truly matters, one where your work has purpose and impact every day. We are proud to offer a supportive and rewarding environment with a range of generous benefits, including:

• Not-for-profit salary packaging to reduce your tax burden, which means you get to keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket
• Annual leave loading of 17.5%, ensuring that you are rewarded for your time off and can enjoy a well-deserved break.
• Career and professional development opportunities

At NATILS, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of safe recruitment practices. Therefore, it is essential that candidates either possess or have the capacity to obtain a current and valid Working with Children (VIC) check for this role.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates. If you identify as a person with a disability and need any adjustments or support with your application including throughout the recruitment process, please let us know by reaching out to our Talent Team at

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as we are moving quickly with this recruitment process.