ACJP Operations Manager

Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leave loading 17.5%

5 extra annual leave days

Salary packaging up to $15,900 via Max

Professional development opportunities

Inclusive workplace environment

Job summary

Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead the Aboriginal Community Justice Panel (ACJP) across Victoria. You will provide day-to-day operational leadership, support professional and volunteer sites, and ensure services are delivered in a culturally safe, consistent manner.

This role drives policy implementation, data reporting, financial oversight and continuous improvement of operational systems, enabling sustainable growth during

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing operations across multi-site service environments.
• Strong people leadership capability, including supporting both paid and volunteer workforces.
• Experience developing and implementing operational policies, procedures and systems.
• Ability to lead workforce uplift and training initiatives in community or justice-based settings.
• Understanding culturally safe practice and Aboriginal community-controlled contexts.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership and oversight across ACJP sites statewide.
• Coordinate planning, direction and evaluation of operations statewide.
• Ensure sites adhere to policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Oversee financial reporting, budgeting and compliance.
• Drive service model uplift and professionalisation across locations.

Skills

People leadership

Policy development

Culturally safe practice

Education

Relevant qualifications or experience in operations

Job description

Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service – Preston VIC

3d ago , from Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

About VALS

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and the state’s only specialist legal and support service dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Established in 1973, VALS provides culturally safe legal advice and representation across criminal, family, civil, and human rights law, youth justice, and specialist litigation.

Our broader supports include a 24/7 Custody Notification Service, transitional housing for women exiting custody, family violence programs, one‑to‑one client support, and community legal education.

We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, LGBTISBQ communities, and diverse cultures are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome requests for adjustments throughout recruitment and employment to ensure accessibility and support.

About: Aboriginal Community Justice Panel

The Aboriginal Community Justice Panel (ACJP) is a statewide Aboriginal-led program supporting Aboriginal people navigating the justice system through culturally grounded advocacy, system navigation, and community-led responses.

For more than 30 years, the Aboriginal Community Justice Panel have provided critical support to Aboriginal people in police custody across Victoria. The program operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week across 14 service areas (with the expansion of the volunteer model to 19 service areas) and has historically relied on a largely volunteer workforce to deliver timely cultural, wellbeing support, legal, and practical assistance at points of police contact.

The Operations Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operational leadership, workforce support, and service consistency of ACJP across all sites, including both professionalised and volunteer-based locations.

The role provides operational management, training, capability uplift and direct support to ACJP staff and volunteers statewide. It plays a central role in supporting the development and implementation of professional service models, uplifting existing volunteer sites, and embedding consistent operational practices across the program.

The Operations Manager leads the development, implementation and continuous improvement of operational policies, procedures and systems, ensuring ACJP services are delivered safely, consistently and in alignment with program objectives, cultural practice, and funding requirements.

This role requires strong leadership, operational judgement, and the ability to support diverse service models during a period of organisational transition and growth.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Management

• Provide operational leadership and oversight across all ACJP sites, including professionalised and volunteer-based locations.
• Exercise managerial control over the planning, coordination, direction and evaluation of ACJP operations statewide.
• Ensure all sites operate in accordance with ACJP policies, procedures, and operational guidelines.
• Support the implementation of new professional service models while uplifting existing volunteer-based delivery.
• Provide supervision and operational oversight across multi-site volunteer and professional operations (currently 11 sites).
• Act as the primary point of contact for site coordinators in the event of emergencies or complex operational issues.
• Respond to situations where volunteers at any site are unable to be contacted, ensuring continuity of service.
• Provide guidance, escalation support, and problem resolution for coordinators as required.

Administration, Data & Reporting.

• Ensure accurate and timely collection, maintenance and submission of service data, records and reports in line with program and funder requirements.
• Support consistent data collection and reporting practices across sites to enable evaluation, performance monitoring and decision-making.
• Coordinate operational reporting requirements in collaboration with Data and Policy functions.

Finance Reporting

• Oversee operational financial reporting processes across ACJP sites, including monitoring expenditure, acquittals and budget tracking relevant to service delivery.
• Support accurate and timely financial submissions and reporting in line with funding agreements and internal requirements.
• Identify operational risks or variances and elevate appropriately.
• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of operational systems and processes across all ACJP sites.
• Lead the uplift of existing volunteer-based sites and support the establishment and operation of professionalised service sites.
• Drive consistency in operational practice while recognising different service delivery models across locations.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen efficiency, compliance and service quality and implement agreed improvements.

Policies, Procedures & Operational Practice

• Support the development, implementation and embedding of operational policies, procedures and guidelines across ACJP sites, in collaboration with the CEO and Policy Officer.
• Ensure operational documentation is practical, accessible and consistently applied across professional and volunteer environments.
• Support the rollout of new or revised operational policies and procedures, including guidance and implementation support.

Workforce Training, Uplift & Support

• Provide operational support, guidance and direction to ACJP employees and volunteers across all sites.
• Coordinate and support workforce training, induction and capability uplift initiatives for both professional and volunteer staff.
• Support Site Coordinators and volunteers to adapt to evolving service models and operational expectations during the professionalisation phase.
• Act as an escalation point for complex or after-hours operational matters affecting service continuity.

About You – Essential Requirements

• Demonstrated experience managing operations across multi-site service environments.
• Strong people leadership capability, including supporting both paid and volunteer workforces.
• Experience developing and implementing operational policies, procedures and systems.
• Ability to lead workforce uplift and training initiatives in community or justice-based settings.
• Strong problem-solving, coordination and decision-making skills.
• Understanding culturally safe practice and Aboriginal community-controlled contexts.

Qualifications & Mandatory Checks

• Relevant qualifications and/or equivalent experience in operations, community services, or program management.
• Current Employee Working with Children Check.
• National Criminal History Check.
• Valid Victorian Driver License.
• Proof of right to work in Australia.

What We Offer

• 17.5% Leave Loading
• 5 additional days of annual leave on top of the standard 20 days
• Generous salary packaging up to $15,900 via Maxxia
• Opportunity to work alongside a passionate, culturally committed team
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities
• A supportive, inclusive, and culturally safe workplace environment

VALS actively encourages and supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to apply. This designated position provides a culturally safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where your knowledge and lived experience are highly valued.