Manager Client Services

NSW Department of Communities and Justice; Armidale; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work hours

Training and development

Health & wellbeing programs

Competitive pay

Job summary

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice is seeking a senior leader to guide a Community Service Centre operations in regional NSW. You will provide strategic leadership, manage staff, and represent the Agency in the local community to deliver trusted services for children, young people and families.

You will drive change, monitor performance, and build partnerships across public, private and community sectors while promoting inclusive practices and Aboriginal family engagement.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in social work, social/Behavioural Science, Welfare or related discipline with ongoing professional development
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel
• Commitment to working with children, families and Aboriginal communities

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and management in all areas of the program area and be the senior representative of the Agency in the local community that your program area serves.
• Responsible for the delivery of the Agency’s core functions and services to vulnerable children, young people and their families.
• Responsible for providing leadership and direction as well as ensuring the professionalism and performance of professional and administrative staff within the program area.
• Be proactive in providing leadership to facilitate the implementation of agreed change at the front line in a way that aligns operational activities with the corporate and strategic directions of the Agency.
• Develop effective strategies and show decisiveness in dealing with emotionally charged situations, difficult and controversial issues.
• Build and monitor a workplace culture that values fair and inclusive practices and diversity principles.
• Promote and manage alliances within the organisation and across the public, private and community sectors.
• Initiate and develop partnerships with customers to define and evaluate service performance outcomes.
• Have a strong commitment to leading practice with Aboriginal families and being able to identify and resolve issues specific to the Aboriginal community and their families.
• Work through issues, weigh up alternatives and identify the most effective solutions.
• Identify resource needs and ensure goals are achieved within budget and deadlines
• Develop team/unit plans that take into account team capability, strengths and opportunities for development.
• Address and resolve team and individual performance issues, including unsatisfactory performance in a timely and effective way.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Staff management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Tertiary qualification in social work or related discipline

Job description

Talent Pool Creation

Locations: Tweed Heads, Lismore, Ballina, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Armidale, Tamworth, Glen Innes-Inverell, Moree-Narrabri

Grade 11/12 - $149,739 - $173,174 p.a.

+ superannuation and annual leave loading

Flexible work practices including, flexible working hours, 35-hour week and flex leave

Your role

Provide leadership, direction and support to a team/s of professional and administrative staff within a Community Service Centre (CSC). Manage all aspects of the CSC’s operations and build a collaborative team environment to deliver quality services and achieve positive outcomes for the community’s children, young people and families.

What You’ll Do

• Provide strategic leadership and management in all areas of the program area and be the senior representative of the Agency in the local community that your program area serves.
• Responsible for the delivery of the Agency’s core functions and services to vulnerable children, young people and their families.
• Responsible for providing leadership and direction as well as ensuring the professionalism and performance of professional and administrative staff within the program area.
• Be proactive in providing leadership to facilitate the implementation of agreed change at the front line in a way that aligns operational activities with the corporate and strategic directions of the Agency.
• Develop effective strategies and show decisiveness in dealing with emotionally charged situations, difficult and controversial issues.
• Build and monitor a workplace culture that values fair and inclusive practices and diversity principles.
• Promote and manage alliances within the organisation and across the public, private and community sectors.
• Initiate and develop partnerships with customers to define and evaluate service performance outcomes.
• Have a strong commitment to leading practice with Aboriginal families and being able to identify and resolve issues specific to the Aboriginal community and their families.
• Work through issues, weigh up alternatives and identify the most effective solutions.
• Identify resource needs and ensure goals are achieved within budget and deadlines
• Develop team/unit plans that take into account team capability, strengths and opportunities for development.
• Address and resolve team and individual performance issues, including unsatisfactory performance in a timely and effective way.

To Be Eligible To Apply You Must Have

• Tertiary qualification in a social work, social/Behavioural Science, Welfare or related discipline and/or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience with demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel

Appointments are subject to reference checks and the following pre-employment checks:

• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014
• Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

Download The Role Description

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, we do not require that you meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ)

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Are you ready to join us?

Requirements

• Please provide an example of a complex situation where you were required to make a critical decision with competing priorities, risks, or incomplete information. How did you approach the situation, and how did you assess whether and when to brief executive about the matter?

Applications close - 11:59pm, Sunday, 25 October 2026.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Nathanial Taylor on [e-mail]

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best, please contact Peter Luong on [e-mail]

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit. We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

The Welcome Experience

Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience