Assistant Director Development & Membership (Affirmative Measures)

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies; Canberra; On-site; AUD 122,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra invites applications for Assistant Director Development & Membership (Affirmative Measures). The role leads fundraising, membership initiatives and donor relations to drive sustainable revenue and strong stakeholder engagement.

It also delivers events that foster connection to AIATSIS’ mission. Candidates will oversee campaigns, content and engagement across channels, build lasting donor and member relationships

Qualifications

• Experience with fundraising principles, donor cultivation and stewardship practices.
• Experience designing and managing membership programs (acquisition, retention, renewal).
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of fundraising programs and campaigns to support organisational priorities and revenue targets.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with donors, sponsors, partners and stakeholders, ensuring effective stewardship and long-term engagement.
• Oversee development of fundraising, membership and communications content across campaigns, proposals, appeals, reports and digital platforms.
• Identify, cultivate and steward prospective and existing donors to grow philanthropic support and donor retention.
• Manage the organisation's membership program, including acquisition, retention, renewal and engagement initiatives.
• Develop and implement strategies to attract, engage and retain members and foster an active membership community.
• Lead planning and delivery of member and donor events to strengthen relationships and support fundraising outcomes.
• Monitor and report on fundraising, membership and engagement performance to inform continuous improvement.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor cultivation

Membership engagement

Stakeholder engagement

Event planning

Job description

Assistant Director Development & Membership (Affirmative Measures)

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies – Canberra ACT

$121,755 - $132,713 a year

Permanent

1d ago , from Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies

APS Executive Level 1 - Salary range: $121,755 - $132,713 pa.

Canberra ACT Ongoing Full-time

About Ngurra & Transformation Group

The Ngurra Transformation Groupbrings together the Ngurra Project, Property and Security,Strategic Partnerships and Commercialisation,Research Ethicsand Information and Communications Technologyfunctions under one umbrella to support AIATSIS through a period of significant transformation.

Ngurrarepresentsa once-in-a-generation opportunity for AIATSIS, not only as a major capital works project, but as a catalyst for whole-of-organisation change. The Group ensures that the physical,operationaland strategic foundations of AIATSIS evolve in readiness for Ngurra’s completion and operation.

About Ngurra Project Team
The Partnerships and Commercialisation team (PaC) sits within the Ngurra Transformation Group. PaC furthers the impact and reach of AIATSIS activities through strategic partnerships and commercialisation of AIATSIS products, creating opportunities for people to encounter, engage with and be transformed by the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia.

About the Role
The Assistant Director Development & Membership leads the strategic delivery of fundraising and membership initiatives to drive sustainable revenue and strengthen stakeholder engagement. This role oversees fundraising campaigns, content development, and relationship management, ensuring a coordinated approach to donor and member acquisition, retention, and growth. The position is responsible for cultivating strong relationships with donors and members through tailored engagement, stewardship, and high-quality experiences. It also delivers impactful events that enhance connection to AIATSIS’ mission.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of fundraising programs and campaigns to support organisational priorities, revenue targets and strategic development objectives.
• develop and maintain strong relationships with donors, sponsors, partners and stakeholders, ensuring effective stewardship and long-term engagement.
• oversee the development of compelling fundraising, membership and communications content across a range of channels, including campaigns, proposals, appeals, reports and digital platforms.
• identify, cultivate and steward prospective and existing donors, implementing strategies to grow philanthropic support and donor retention.
• manage the organisation's membership program, including membership acquisition, retention, renewal and engagement initiatives.
• develop and implement strategies to attract, engage and retain members, fostering a strong and active membership community.
• lead the planning and delivery of member and donor events, ensuring high-quality experiences that strengthen relationships, encourage engagement and support fundraising outcomes.
• monitor and report on fundraising, membership and engagement performance, providing insights and recommendations to inform continuous improvement.
• maintain accurate donor and membership records, ensuring compliance with organisational policies, privacy requirements and fundraising best practice.
• work collaboratively across the Institute to identify development opportunities, coordinate stakeholder engagement activities and support the achievement of strategic objectives.

Our Ideal Candidate
To be successful in the role, you will be a strategic, relationship-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced, outcomes-focused environment and is motivated by building meaningful connections and delivering measurable impact.
You will come with the following skills, experience and attributes:

• highly organised, adaptable and collaborative, with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands-on delivery.
• strong judgement, stakeholder awareness and a proactive mindset, enabling you to navigate competing priorities while continuously seeking opportunities to enhance engagement, grow revenue and strengthen the overall donor and member experience.
• demonstrated experience of fundraising principles, donor cultivation and stewardship practices.
• demonstrated experience of membership program design, acquisition and retention strategies.
• demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and build trust.
• high level knowledge of engagement and communications approaches across digital and traditional channels.
• event planning and delivery, with a focus on high-quality participant experience.
• highly collaborative, with a strong team and stakeholder focus.
• proactive and solutions-oriented, with sound judgement and initiative.
• strong attention to detail combined with a strategic perspective.

Cultural Capability
Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and proven culturally appropriate engagement and communications skills. The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

• understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.
• has an authentic and respectful interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, policy, and implementation matters.
• actively learns from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about their culture and supports others to do so.
• works in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve shared outcomes.

Contact
If you have any questions about the role, you can contact Mitch Day on 02 6246 1*** or at *********@aiatsis.gov.au

• Canberra ACT
• Ongoing
• APS Executive Level 1

APS Executive Level 1 - Salary range: $121,755 - $132,713 pa.

Canberra ACT Ongoing Full-time

About Ngurra & Transformation Group

The Ngurra Transformation Groupbrings together the Ngurra Project, Property and Security,Strategic Partnerships and Commercialisation,Research Ethicsand Information and Communications Technologyfunctions under one umbrella to support AIATSIS through a period of significant transformation.

Ngurrarepresentsa once-in-a-generation opportunity for AIATSIS, not only as a major capital works project, but as a catalyst for whole-of-organisation change. The Group ensures that the physical,operationaland strategic foundations of AIATSIS evolve in readiness for Ngurra’s completion and operation.

About Ngurra Project Team
The Partnerships and Commercialisation team (PaC) sits within the Ngurra Transformation Group. PaC furthers the impact and reach of AIATSIS activities through strategic partnerships and commercialisation of AIATSIS products, creating opportunities for people to encounter, engage with and be transformed by the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia.

About the Role
The Assistant Director Development & Membership leads the strategic delivery of fundraising and membership initiatives to drive sustainable revenue and strengthen stakeholder engagement. This role oversees fundraising campaigns, content development, and relationship management, ensuring a coordinated approach to donor and member acquisition, retention, and growth. The position is responsible for cultivating strong relationships with donors and members through tailored engagement, stewardship, and high-quality experiences. It also delivers impactful events that enhance connection to AIATSIS’ mission.

Key responsibilities of the role include:

• lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of fundraising programs and campaigns to support organisational priorities, revenue targets and strategic development objectives.
• develop and maintain strong relationships with donors, sponsors, partners and stakeholders, ensuring effective stewardship and long-term engagement.
• oversee the development of compelling fundraising, membership and communications content across a range of channels, including campaigns, proposals, appeals, reports and digital platforms.
• identify, cultivate and steward prospective and existing donors, implementing strategies to grow philanthropic support and donor retention.
• manage the organisation's membership program, including membership acquisition, retention, renewal and engagement initiatives.
• develop and implement strategies to attract, engage and retain members, fostering a strong and active membership community.
• lead the planning and delivery of member and donor events, ensuring high-quality experiences that strengthen relationships, encourage engagement and support fundraising outcomes.
• monitor and report on fundraising, membership and engagement performance, providing insights and recommendations to inform continuous improvement.
• maintain accurate donor and membership records, ensuring compliance with organisational policies, privacy requirements and fundraising best practice.
• work collaboratively across the Institute to identify development opportunities, coordinate stakeholder engagement activities and support the achievement of strategic objectives.

Our Ideal Candidate
To be successful in the role, you will be a strategic, relationship-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced, outcomes-focused environment and is motivated by building meaningful connections and delivering measurable impact.
You will come with the following skills, experience and attributes:

• highly organised, adaptable and collaborative, with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands‑on delivery.
• strong judgement, stakeholder awareness and a proactive mindset, enabling you to navigate competing priorities while continuously seeking opportunities to enhance engagement, grow revenue and strengthen the overall donor and member experience.
• demonstrated experience of fundraising principles, donor cultivation and stewardship practices.
• demonstrated experience of membership program design, acquisition and retention strategies.
• demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and build trust.
• excellent written and verbal communication, including content development for diverse audiences.
• high level knowledge of engagement and communications approaches across digital and traditional channels.
• event planning and delivery, with a focus on high-quality participant experience.
• highly collaborative, with a strong team and stakeholder focus.
• proactive and solutions-oriented, with sound judgement and initiative.
• strong attention to detail combined with a strategic perspective.

Cultural Capability
Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and proven culturally appropriate engagement and communications skills. The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

• understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.
• has an authentic and respectful interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, policy, and implementation matters.
• actively learns from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about their culture and supports others to do so.
• works in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to achieve shared outcomes.

Contact
If you have any questions about the role, you can contact Mitch Day on 02 6246 1*** or at *********@aiatsis.gov.au

This is an affirmative Measures opportunity
This position will be filled using the affirmative measure provision, which allows for the targeted recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the Australian Public Service. The vacancy is only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. The filling of this employment opportunity is intended to constitute an affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.