Evaluation and Learning Lead

About the role

• Opportunity to work at Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE), a national not-for-profit organisation that supports the adoption and impact of place-based approaches across Australia.

• Join at an exciting time, as the PLACE team builds its foundational team during its establishment phase, in preparation for its first steps of growth as a new organisation.

• $110,000 – $130,000 (FTE) per annum excluding superannuation.

• Full time (1.0) fixed-term position

• Flexible national location, with hybrid conditions – available in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney or regional Australia.

• The successful candidate will undertake domestic travel regularly as part of this role.

Role summary

The Evaluation and Learning Lead plays a critical role in ensuring PLACE continuously communicates its impact clearly and strengthens its ability to drive systems change. This role is responsible for embedding reflective practice across the organisation, translating insights into strategy, and supporting evidence-informed decision-making.

This role leads the development of organisational learning processes, facilitates reflection and evaluation activities and manages key reporting functions. The work of the Evaluation and Learning Lead will help PLACE amplify the voices of local communities, build sector capability and demonstrate the value of place-based and people-centred approaches.

Who you are (selection criteria)

• You have a strong proficiency in developing data visualisations, with experience developing dashboards and automated reports that communicate impact clearly to diverse audiences.
• You are passionate about using data and evidence to advance social change, and believe that evaluation should empower communities and strengthen the work of those closest to it.
• You bring experience in reporting, organisational learning, or similar roles where you've worked both technical and stakeholder-centric responsibilities.
• You are a confident facilitator who can lead reflective learning sessions, translate data into meaningful insights and support evidence-informed decision-making.
• You are experienced in writing high-quality reports for funders, government partners and community stakeholders.
• You have the ability to translate data and information into accessible insights for a diverse set of stakeholders; balancing strategic storytelling with transparency.
• You have worked with external evaluators, and understand how to coordinate data collection, support process design and manage relationships effectively.
• You are comfortable in a start-up environment; you manage multiple competing priorities with a proactive and adaptable approach.
• You demonstrate a commitment to PLACE's vision, values and principles, particularly around community leadership and shared decision-making.

Research indicates that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised individuals often wait until they fulfil every requirement. If you believe you have the attributes to do the job but don't match every point on the job ad, we welcome and encourage your application.

Key responsibilities

• Design and facilitate reflection sessions, learning circles, and reviews that transform experiences and feedback into actionable insights for PLACE teams.
• Lead organisational learning processes to explore critical questions about our effectiveness and identify where we should focus efforts for maximum impact.
• Create Power BI dashboards and automated reports that bring PLACE's impact to life, showing how our work connects communities with government, builds sector capability, and removes barriers to local change.
• Coordinate data collection activities across the organisation and create simple tools that make it easy for colleagues to participate in evaluation processes.
• Build and nurture positive relationships with PLACE's diverse network of stakeholders, including community members, partners, funders, creatives and suppliers.

Please see the Evaluation & Learning Lead position description for more.

What we offer

• True flexibility and a strong focus on agility in the workplace; we prioritise making flexible work arrangements possible for all employees.
• Access to Fringe Benefits Tax options, in addition to base salary and superannuation.
• A team of supportive and passionate people committed to maintaining a positive workplace culture and making an impact.
• 5 weeks of Annual Leave for every 12 months of employment.
• Two days volunteering leave for every 12 months of employment.
• A leadership team that truly wants you to flourish and make your mark on the organisation.
• A workplace that prioritises both diversity and inclusion, allowing everyone to bring their authentic selves to work in an environment that ensures psychological and physical safety.
• Hybrid work environment and flexible working arrangements (the opportunity to work where you live).
• Cultural and Ceremonial leave.
• A Learning and Development budget per employee, prioritising professional development for our employees.

Additional adjustments

We are committed to providing an inclusive experience to all candidates. If you have a disability, condition, illness or access requirements, please let us know how we can best support you throughout your recruitment experience.

We recognise that each individual's needs are different. Some examples of adjustments we can provide include (but are not limited to):

• Alternative formats or ways to submit your application (verbal or video)
• Flexible communication methods
• Additional time to complete tasks, assessments or pre-interview work
• Support from a support person or advocate during interviews
• Modifications to the interview structure, environment or timing

If you require additional adjustments, or would like to discuss any access needs as a part of the application and recruitment process, please contact us via email

Our candidate experience

We aim to be transparent and kind to all of our candidates. We value your time, and as such want to share how we do things so you know what to expect with no nasty surprises. For more information on our end-to-end candidate experience, please visit the SHE HR Consulting website.

Why You'll love working here

Position Description : PLACE Position Description (Evaluation & Learning Lead) (V2)

To express your interest, submit an online application through our application portal and include a professional resume. All applicants must also provide brief responses to the application questions that are included as part of the online application.

Note: we do not accept cover letters as part of our application process.

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and we may close our job advertisement without notice, so don't delay your application.

PLACE is an equal opportunity employer and strives to maintain a workplace environment that is fair and free of discrimination, is safe and accessible for all employees, and provides working arrangements that accommodate the diverse needs of our staff. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people from culturally- and linguistically-diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people and people of every ethnicity, faith, ability, culture, language, gender identity, age, and sex.

Employment in this position is conditional upon reception and maintenance of a Working With Children Check.

As part of our employment screening process, we do run police checks. But don't worry—having a criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify you.

Please quote in application: Evaluation and Learning Lead via Pro Bono Australia.

Profession: #Advocacy, #Policy_and_Research

Sector: #Community_Development