Director - Social Impact Advisory (Government)

Urbis; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Urbis is seeking a Director - Social Impact Advisory (Government) to shape Australia’s communities by advising senior government leaders, investors and institutions on complex social and economic challenges. This role sits within our Sydney team and focuses on public policy, social impact investment, funding reform and place-based outcomes.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, develop evidence-based strategies, and build trusted executive relationships across government and philanthropy to

Qualifications

• Significant experience (10+ years) in private consulting, government, investment, philanthropy, or professional services environments.
• Proven track record of leading complex advisory engagements with Government departments, agencies or national institutions.
• Deep expertise in a high-growth sector with public sector exposure.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex advisory engagements focused on public policy, funding reform, social impact investment and place-based outcomes.
• Partner with senior government stakeholders to address Australia’s social and economic challenges.
• Develop evidence-based strategies for governments, investors and institutions to achieve measurable impact.
• Build executive-level relationships across government, philanthropy, impact investment and the private sector.
• Identify emerging policy and investment opportunities and convert them into sustainable growth.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across social policy, economics, urban development, sustainability and social advisory.
• Contribute to national thought leadership and public conversations on social impact.
• Mentor and develop consultants while fostering a collaborative, inclusive culture.

Skills

Leadership

Policy expertise

Stakeholder credibility

Business development

Education

Tertiary qualification in Public Policy, Economics, Social Sciences, Sustainability, Finance, Business

Job description

Director - Social Impact Advisory (Government)

Urbis is more than just a consultancy. We are a multidisciplinary urban consultancy, inspiring and creating solutions for our ever-changing world. We empower our brightest minds with opportunities to push boundaries, collaborate and deliver exceptional, creative solutions for our clients and each other.

If you're looking to make transformational impact in our cities and communities, we're keen to meet you.

We pride ourselves on empowering our employees and supporting them to be the best they can be. Here, you will make a tangible difference and create positive impact, while gaining enviable industry experience and broad exposure to the most exciting work.

The opportunity & how you can make an impact.

As a Director in our advisory team, you'll help shape the future of Australia's communities by advising senior government leaders, investors and institutions on some of the nation's most complex social and economic challenges. Urbis has significantly expanded our access to key federal government consulting panels, and we are seeking a well-connected leader to help us capitalise on the opportunity this presents.

Working alongside our Sydney team, you will play a pivotal role at the intersection of public policy, social impact investment, funding reform and place-based outcomes. Working closely with federal and state government clients and national stakeholders, you'll help design strategies that draw on government, private and philanthropic capital to deliver measurable impact and create stronger, more inclusive communities. This is a unique opportunity to influence policy settings, investment decisions and system-level reform while growing a national practice recognised for its thought leadership and commitment to positive change.

As a Director, you will:

• Lead complex advisory engagements focused on public policy, funding reform, social impact investment and place-based outcomes.
• Partner with senior state and federal government stakeholders to address Australia's most pressing social and economic challenges.
• Develop evidence-based strategies that help governments, investors and institutions achieve meaningful and measurable impact.
• Build trusted executive-level relationships across government, big philanthropy, impact investment and the socially conscious private sector.
• Identify emerging policy, funding and investment opportunities and convert them into sustainable business growth.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across social policy, economics, urban development, sustainability and social advisory to deliver integrated solutions.
• Contribute to national thought leadership, shaping public conversations around investing for social impact and community outcomes.
• Mentor and develop high-performing consultants while fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture.

About you

You are a recognised leader in social policy, social impact investment, impact advisory or public sector strategy, with a reputation for influencing decision-makers and delivering outcomes that create lasting value.

You bring a combination of commercial acumen, policy expertise and stakeholder credibility, and are energised by work that delivers positive change for communities across Australia.

We're particularly interested in people who have:

• A tertiary qualification in Public Policy, Economics, Social Sciences, Sustainability, Finance, Business, or a related discipline, or equivalent executive-level experience.
• Significant experience (10 + years) in private consulting, government, investment, philanthropy, or professional services environments, with a demonstrated track record of leading complex advisory engagements with Government departments, agencies or national institutions.
• Deep expertise in a high-growth sector with significant public sector exposure: for example social/supported housing, energy and sustainability, or other areas of social policy.
• A track record of influencing senior decision-makers and navigating complex stakeholder environments.
• Strong commercial capability, including business development, client leadership and practice growth.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams, mentor senior professionals, and collaborate across diverse disciplines to deliver integrated client solutions.

Personal Attributes

• A collaborative mindset, to bring out the best in yourself and others while bringing new thinking to Urbis and our clients
• Passion for purpose-led work, and driving a positive legacy for our communities, clients and yourself
• Authenticity to foster respect, trust and advocacy in all your work interactions
• Confidence and decisiveness to drive high performance for yourself, others and our clients
• Innovation and creativity when solving complex problems
• A digitally curious mindsetthat is keen to explore how technology can contribute to our experience and efficiency
• Offer flexible work arrangementsand leave policies to help with balancing professional and personal commitments big or small to meet where you are in life.
• Celebrate achievements and milestones, recognising important moments that matter!
• Support your growth & development. With courses inAcademyand access to inspiring leaders, every career has a pathway.
• Embrace ourGiveBack Program,Volunteer Days,Cultural Leave Exchange, team-building activities, inclusion groups and social life as a healthy and inspiring workplace.
• Focus on purpose with impact by creating a positive legacy.
• Take some humble pride in our culture. High performing, collaborative and inclusive.

And did we mention the awesome team support and culture that will surround you?

Sound interesting?