Manager, Communities and Transport Services

Volunteering Gold Coast; Gold Coast City; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Volunteering Gold Coast seeks a dynamic Manager, Communities and Transport Services to lead our community transport, social connection and volunteer programs. Reporting to the CEO, you will drive growth, improve outcomes and ensure safe, accessible services that reduce isolation.

You will develop innovative programs, manage budgets and partnerships, and lead a diverse team of staff and volunteers dedicated to helping people stay connected and participate fully in community life.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience in community services or transport sectors.
• Ability to translate strategy into practical programs and services.
• Experience working with volunteers and diverse community groups.
• Knowledge of risk, budgets, and compliance in the not-for-profit sector.
• Current Australian Driver Licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead community transport, social connection and volunteer engagement services.
• Grow reach, impact and sustainability of programs.
• Develop new services and partnerships in response to community needs.
• Use technology and data to improve customer experience and service quality.
• Manage budgets, contracts and risk with a diverse team of staff and volunteers.
• Build relationships with government, funders and partners to extend impact.

Skills

People leadership

Community services

Transport programs

Volunteer engagement

Strategic planning

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Tertiary qualification in community services or related

Job description

Manager, Communities and Transport Services

Lead programs that foster inclusion and address loneliness across communities

Opportunity to strengthen existing programs and develop new programs

Senior role reporting to CEO

Dynamic NFP role with great community reputation

We are Volunteering Gold Coast:

Volunteering Gold Coast (VGC) strengthens communities by helping people participate, connect and contribute. Our services bring together volunteering, community connection and transport to reduce loneliness and social isolation, build meaningful relationships and help people remain active in the communities in which they live.

About the role:

The Manager, Communities and Transport Services provides strategic and operational leadership across Volunteering Gold Coast's community transport, social connection and volunteer engagement services. Reporting to the CEO, this role is responsible for delivering meaningful social outcomes by reducing isolation, increasing community participation and supporting people to live connected, independent lives. The position will lead the growth and sustainability of VGC's services through innovative program development, expansion of social connection initiatives, increased community impact through volunteering, technology-driven improvements and the exploration of new business and service opportunities that respond to changing community needs.

You will be responsible for

In this role, you will lead Volunteering Gold Coast’s community transport and community services, ensuring they remain safe, reliable and accessible while helping people stay independent, connected and actively involved in their communities.

You will have a strong focus on growing the reach, impact and sustainability of our services. This includes developing community transport, social support and volunteer-led programs, as well as identifying new opportunities through Support at Home and other emerging service models. At the heart of this work is a simple goal: helping people build meaningful connections, reduce social isolation and participate more fully in community life.

You will champion innovation and continuous improvement across the portfolio, using technology, data and evidence to improve the customer experience, strengthen service quality and make the way we work simpler and more effective. You will also grow volunteering across our programs, creating opportunities for people to contribute, build confidence and find a greater sense of purpose and connection.

Working closely with government, community organisations, funders and other partners, you will build relationships that create new opportunities and extend our community impact. You will also take responsibility for service performance, budgets, contracts, compliance and risk, while leading a diverse team of employees and volunteers who care deeply about the communities they serve.

About you

You are an experienced and energetic leader who enjoys turning good ideas into practical outcomes. You understand that community services are not simply about delivering activities - they are about helping people build the skills, confidence, connections and opportunities they need to live well and participate in their community.

You will be passionate about the role volunteering can play in building stronger communities and creating pathways for people to participate and contribute. You will understand how services can support people under 65 to build meaningful connections and, where appropriate, move towards employment, education, training or other personal goals.

You will also understand the importance of helping older people remain active, independent and connected, and the role that accessible community transport and social support can play in making that possible.

Most importantly, you will be comfortable leading change. You will bring curiosity, sound judgement and a willingness to challenge the way things have always been done, using technology, data, co-design and continuous improvement to build services that are ready for the future.

Selection Criteria

Operations Excellence

You will bring a strong outcomes-focused approach to service delivery, with the ability to translate community needs into practical, responsive and sustainable services. Your focus will be on what changes for people as a result of our work - greater participation, stronger social connections, improved wellbeing and a greater sense of belonging - rather than simply how much activity we deliver.

You will use service data, community insights, customer and stakeholder feedback and emerging trends to understand changing needs and identify opportunities for improvement or growth. You will establish meaningful measures of success and use them to demonstrate impact, identify service gaps and guide future investment and program development.

Continuous improvement will be part of how you lead. You will regularly review service performance and customer experience, encourage new ideas and be prepared to change course when there is a better way of achieving an outcome. You will ensure our services remain responsive to changing community expectations, population trends, government priorities and funding environments.

You will foster a culture where people are accountable for results but also encouraged to innovate, learn and improve. Your leadership will help ensure VGC continues to deliver services that are relevant today while building the capability and sustainability needed for tomorrow.

You will be passionate about the contribution volunteering can make to stronger and more connected communities. You will champion volunteering across Volunteering Gold Coast, creating meaningful opportunities for people to contribute their skills and experience, connect with others and actively participate in community life.

You will understand that volunteering can also be an important pathway for personal growth. This includes supporting people under 65 to build confidence, develop social networks and strengthen their sense of belonging, while creating pathways towards employment, education, training and personal development where appropriate.

You will foster an inclusive and welcoming environment where volunteering opportunities are accessible, flexible and responsive to different interests, abilities and circumstances. Working across the organisation, you will strengthen the way we attract, engage, support and retain volunteers, ensuring they feel valued and understand the difference their contribution makes.

Above all, you will be able to bring people with you. You will create clarity around what we are trying to achieve, encourage collaboration and empower employees and volunteers to find better ways of delivering meaningful outcomes for the people and communities we serve.

Skills, Experience and Attributes

You will be an experienced people leader with a track record in community services, transport, aged care, disability, volunteering or another relevant service environment. You will be comfortable leading both employees and volunteers, building capability within teams and creating a culture where people understand their responsibilities and are supported to perform at their best.

You will bring a strong understanding of community participation, social inclusion and person-centred service delivery, together with a genuine interest in creating services that make a measurable difference in people’s lives.

You will have the commercial and strategic capability to identify opportunities for growth, develop new services and partnerships and balance community impact with operational and financial sustainability. You will be comfortable moving between strategy and delivery - seeing the bigger picture while understanding what needs to happen on the ground to make it work.

Strong communication and relationship-building skills will be essential. You will be confident engaging with customers, employees, volunteers, community organisations, government, funders and commercial partners, and capable of representing Volunteering Gold Coast with credibility and purpose.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Relevant tertiary qualification in community services, human services, business, management or a related discipline, and/or substantial equivalent leadership experience.

Current Australian Driver Licence.

Current National Police Check or ability to obtain one.

Working rights in Australia.

Any worker screening, probity or role-specific clearances required for services within the portfolio.