Chief Operating Officer

Business Unit

Location Redfern, NSW

Reports to Chief Executive Officer

Status Permanent, Full Time (35 hours / week)

Salary SCHADS Level 8

Plus superannuation, not-for-profit salary packaging available

Financial Delegation TBC (total budget to be determined)

Direct Reports Project Leads, Project Officers, AARC team

About AbSec

Role Purpose

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key executive leader responsible for translating AbSec's strategic

direction into operational success. The COO ensures the organisation's infrastructure, systems, and people

are aligned and optimised to deliver on AbSec's mission and objectives. The role is also responsible for driving

alignment across all project activities to organisational strategy, overseeing project leads and fostering

collaboration across teams.

The COO works closely with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board to ensure a high-performing,

values-led organisation that is resilient, culturally strong, and delivers positive outcomes for Aboriginal

children, families, and communities.

Position Requirements

Essential:

• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to Aboriginal self-determination and the rights of

Aboriginal children, families, and communities.

• Executive-level leadership experience managing diverse operational and/or project delivery functions.

• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver organisational objectives.

• Demonstrated ability to lead organisational transformation and manage change collaboratively.

• High-level interpersonal, negotiation, and relationship management skills.

• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and strategic planning capability.

• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.

Desirable:

• Tertiary qualifications in business, public administration, community services, or related disciplines.

• Experience working in an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation.

• Lived experience as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

Function Accountabilities

Strategic Support the CEO to deliver on AbSec's strategic plan and organisational

goals.

• Develop and deliver on AbSec's operational plan.
• Provide leadership and strategic oversight to the project team, ensuring

clear alignment with AbSec's objectives and values.

• Lead cross-functional planning and integrated operations to support

whole-of-organisation effectiveness.

• Identify and raise challenges and opportunities to the Chief Executive

Officer for the organisation to advance against objectives, as a collective

unit representing the sector.

• Identify and source business development opportunities that align to the

strategic direction of the organisation

• Contribute to strategy development, monitoring, and evaluation.

Operational Lead the day-to-day operations of the project team.

• Oversee the planning and successful delivery of projects, including

supervising Project Leads and enabling cross-team coordination.

• Ensure the effective implementation of operational policies, systems, and

processes that support service delivery and compliance.

• Lead internal improvement initiatives to enhance organisational capability

and responsiveness.

Organisation Contribution Work collaboratively with managers and team members to

achieve AbSec's project objectives and strategic goals.

• Consistently acts in accordance with AbSec's values, challenges practices

inconsistent with these values and uses values as a basis managing

relationships and decision-making.

• Contribute to organisational leadership through active participation in the

Executive Team.

• Represent AbSec in external forums, stakeholder engagements, and

working groups, as delegated by the CEO.

• Comply AbSec Policies and Procedures, including WHS, Governance and

Delegations.

• Participate in organisational and professional development activities as

directed.

• Undertake other duties within the scope of this role, as directed.

Key Relationships Chief Executive Officer and Directors.

• Project Leads and relevant Managers.
• All staff to ensure robust input into activities.
• Aboriginal community-controlled agencies, including member agencies.
• Aboriginal communities, children, young people and families to source

input and create awareness of project objectives.

• Government departments and funding bodies.
• Professional service providers and vendors.

Selection Criteria

The occupant of this position will be able to demonstrate the following criteria:

• A demonstrated understanding of the issues facing Aboriginal families in the delivery of quality services to

meet outcomes for children in a sustainable and viable way.

• Understanding of Aboriginal issues and the importance of cultural connections for Aboriginal children,

young people, families and communities.

• Outstanding advocacy skills with a proven record of results.
• Demonstrated ability to work pro-actively and in partnership with Chief Executive Officer and Executive

teams to achieve organisational objectives.

• Demonstrated experience in overseeing financial management of projects with multiple funding sources.
• Demonstrated experience to manage staff and maintain relationships within internal and external

stakeholders.

• Ability to support the continuous improvement of the growing Aboriginal community-controlled sector.

• Understanding of the NSW child protection system and out of home care systems.

• Demonstrated experience in workforce planning, developing best-practice driving projects to a successful

completion.

• High level of computer literacy, sound working knowledge of MS Office software.

The following are desirable:

• Aboriginality is strongly preferred.

Practical Requirements

• The preferred candidate will be engaged on a fixed term contract.
• Work outside of the normal hours of duty and some business travel may be required.
• Employment will be subject to a National Police Clearance and a NSW Working With Children Check.
• This position has been classified under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry

Award 2010. Salary is subject to negotiation, skills, and experience.

• Appointment to this position of a person not currently an employee of AbSec will be subject to a

probationary period of 6 months.

• Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged.