Governance and Secretariat Officer

Volunteering Australia; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Volunteering Australia is seeking a Governance and Secretariat Officer to support the VMA Program Team with committee meetings, agendas, minutes, and documentation. Hybrid in Canberra, fixed-term initially 6 months with extension; commence Feb 2027.

You will help maintain records, develop templates, and ensure compliance and reporting while coordinating across a federated structure and with diverse stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Strong secretariat and governance coordination skills (agendas, papers, minutes, tracking actions)
• Excellent relationship management with diverse stakeholders
• Professional writing, administration and organisational skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a small team
• Comfort with modern Microsoft Office environments
• Experience supporting grants programs is advantageous

Responsibilities

• Coordinate committee meetings and papers, prepare agendas and minutes
• Maintain decision and action registers and support workshops/consultations
• Develop processes and reporting templates for program records
• Support compliance and audit requirements
• Ensure decisions are captured and actions followed through across the federated structure

Skills

Governance coordination

Secretariat coordination

Relationship management

Administrative skills

MS Office

Grants programs experience

Job description

Full-time | 6-month fixed-term appointment, with the possibility of extension
SCHADS Award | Social and Community Services Employee Level 5
Location: Canberra, ACT | Hybrid working

Role Commences in Feb 2027

Are you a governance and secretariat guru, skilled at bringing people, decisions and details together?

As Volunteering Australia takes on leadership of the Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) in 2027, a major Federal Government grants program, you’ll support the Program Manager through committee meetings, co-design workshops and negotiations. You’ll help keep coordination, reporting and records accurate, while managing competing priorities across a federated structure.

Your work will help our partners and grantees contribute effectively, turn decisions into action and keep the program coordinated across Australia.

About the Role

As Governance and Secretariat Officer, you will provide high-quality governance, secretariat and coordination support to the VMA Program Team.

You’ll coordinate committee meetings and papers, prepare agendas and minutes, maintain decision and action registers, and support workshops and consultations. You’ll also help maintain strong program records, develop practical processes and reporting templates, and support compliance and audit requirements.

Working closely with the Program Manager and Program Officer, you’ll play a key role in making sure decisions are captured, actions are followed through and the program remains well coordinated.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a highly organised governance and secretariat professional who brings:

Strong secretariat and governance coordination skills, including preparing agendas, papers and minutes and tracking decisions and actions.

Excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders in a collegiate way.

Strong professional writing, administration and organisational skills.

The ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and work effectively as part of a small team.

Confidence working in modern Microsoft Office environments.

Experience supporting grants programs would be an advantage.

Why Join Us?

At Volunteering Australia, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to a nationally significant program and help strengthen volunteering across Australia.

We offer:

Flexible working arrangements and volunteering leave.

The opportunity to contribute to a national organisation supporting volunteering across Australia.

A supportive, values-driven and high-performing team.

To view our Position Description, please use the following link:

The successful applicant will be required to undertake a National Police Check and Working with Children Check.

Ready to Make an Impact?