Manager Client Services

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

Benefits offered by this job

Challenging career

Flexible work environment

Competitive pay

Training & development

Wellbeing programs

Job summary

NSW Department of Communities and Justice is seeking a Manager Client Services to lead a program area delivering services to vulnerable children, young people and families across multiple locations in regional NSW.

You will provide strategic leadership, ensure service quality, and manage professional and administrative staff while aligning operations with agency directives and regional needs.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and act as the senior representative in the local community served by the program area.
• Deliver the Agency’s core functions and services to vulnerable children, young people and families.
• Lead and direct staff performance and professionalism within the program area.
• Guide change implementation on the frontline in line with corporate and strategic directions.
• Develop effective strategies and decisiveness for emotionally charged and controversial issues.
• Foster workplace culture valuing inclusion, fairness and diversity.

Skills

Strategic leadership

People management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Tertiary qualification in social work or related discipline

Job description

Manager Client Services 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

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.

Eligibility / Qualifications

• 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

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

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity.

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.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters. 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.

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. To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website .

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.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

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 The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW’ page.