Head of Impact and Policy

NGO Recruitment; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Job summary

Stepwise Community Services, formed through the integration of Metro Assist and Community Action for Better Living, seeks an executive leader to strengthen impact and strategy. Based in Campsie, you will translate data into actionable knowledge, guiding evidence-based advocacy and service improvement.

The role reports to the CEO within the Executive Leadership Team and offers a 12‑month fixed term with potential extension.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a comparable human services context.
• Strong track record in impact measurement, evaluation or evidence-informed frameworks.
• Proven ability to engage policy makers and advocate using evidence-based narratives.
• Excellent research, analysis and ability to translate data into strategic advice.
• Experience with funding submissions, business cases and growth initiatives.
• Proficiency in using data visualization or BI tools to tell stories with data.
• Commitment to addressing issues affecting culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Contribute skills in impact assessment, research, evidence-based insights and policy analysis to promote service design, innovation and learning.
• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of Stepwise’s Impact and Outcomes Framework.
• Use evidence and data to strengthen sustainability, growth and inform funding submissions and tender proposals.
• Oversee the communications function ensuring alignment with strategy, impact framework and advocacy priorities.
• Build productive relationships with government and sector partners to identify opportunities for collaboration and growth.
• Develop organisational reporting, outcomes measurement and performance frameworks translating data into insight.

Skills

Senior leadership

Impact measurement

Policy engagement

Research & analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Funding submissions

Data visualization

Cultural diversity awareness

Education

Public policy degree

Job description

• Newly created executive leadership role in community services
• Recently integrated organisation | new strategy | exciting future
• Campsie | 12 month contract with probable extension | Part time considered

The Organisation

Stepwise Community Services was formed through the integration of Metro Assist and Community Action for Better Living, bringing together two respected organisations with a combined history of more than four decades of supporting individuals, families and communities across Greater Sydney.

Today, Stepwise delivers a broad range of community services including migrant, refugee, multicultural, family, tenancy, financial counselling, employment, DV, court advocacy and Meals on Wheels. Through these services, Stepwise improves wellbeing, community connections and helps people navigate life's most complex challenges.

With a new identity, leadership structure and three-year strategy Stepwise is focused on creating meaningful and measurable outcomes, strengthening its use of evidence and impact measurement to influence change through selective, evidence-based advocacy.

The newly created position will be central to this work. By strengthening how Stepwise measures, understands and communicates impact, the role will ensure that community voices, service outcomes and evidence inform strategy, advocacy and continuous improvement, ultimately increasing the organisation's ability to create meaningful and lasting change.

Benefits & Culture

• Opportunity to support delivery of a unified strategic direction for a recently integrated community organisation
• Provide strategic advice, evidence-based insights and policy analysis helping the organisation make a real difference in the lives of individuals and families
• Work alongside passionate professionals committed to inclusion, advocacy and social justice
• Opportunity to influence service innovation, strategic growth, communications and continuous improvement
• Hybrid working options available

The Role

Reporting to the chief executive officer, you will be responsible for strengthening the organisation’s impact, influence and effectiveness through evidence generation, measurement, policy engagement, advocacy and strategy development.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will provide strategic insight, technical expertise and evidence-based advice to inform decision-making and to strengthen capacity to meet community needs and to respond to emerging trends, reforms and opportunities. Working from a base in Campsie and collaborating with leaders and key staff, you will translate data, research and practice insights into actionable knowledge.

The role is offered on an initial 12 month fixed term basis with a strong possibility of an extension. Part-time working options are available.

• Contribute skills in impact assessment, research, evidence-based insights and policy analysis to promote service design, innovation and learning
• Lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of Stepwise’s Impact and Outcomes Framework
• Through the use of evidence and data, strengthen organisational sustainability and growth and contribute to funding submissions and tender proposals.
• Oversee the communications function ensuring its priorities align with strategic objectives, impact framework, policy positions and advocacy priorities
• Build productive relationships with government, community organisations and sector partners, identifying opportunities for innovation, collaboration and service growth
• Develop and strengthen organisational reporting, outcomes measurement and performance frameworks that translate data into meaningful organisational insight.

Skills Required

You have experience in a senior leadership, impact, policy, research or evaluation role within a like-minded organisation or related environment. Along with exceptional research & analysis, policy engagement, communication and stakeholder engagement skills, you will have:

• Experience developing, implementing or embedding impact, outcomes measurement, evaluation or evidence-informed frameworks in a complex human services setting
• Ability to analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data, research and sector trends and translate these into strategic advice to benefit the organisation
• Demonstrated understanding of policy engagement, evidence-based advocacy, government consultation, sector submissions, research partnerships and initiatives.
• Skills to support funding submissions, business cases and growth initiatives using evidence-based narratives, impact data and analysis
• Experience using business intelligence, reporting or data visualisation tools
• An understanding of the issues impacting culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• Qualifications in public policy, social sciences, human services, evaluation, governance or a related discipline

If you are excited by this opportunity but don’t meet every requirement listed, we encourage you to apply and share how your experience could contribute.

Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.