Manager Community Development

Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley; Kununurra; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidised housing

6 weeks annual leave

12% employer superannuation with up to

Salary packaging opportunities

Job summary

The Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley seeks an experienced Manager Community Development in Kununurra. You will provide strategic direction and oversee community development, recreation, arts, culture and library services, collaborating with Aboriginal organisations and government agencies to deliver inclusive, sustainable programs.

Responsibilities include developing annual service plans, managing budgets and grants, and building partnerships to improve community wellbeing across the East

Qualifications

• Minimum five years’ experience in a relevant management role.
• Current WA C Class Driver’s Licence.
• National Police Clearance dated within the last six months.
• Experience managing community-focused services and leading multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual service plans and portfolio strategies aligned with Strategic Community Plan and approved budgets.
• Lead delivery of community development, recreation, leisure, youth and library services.
• Oversee community facilities, programs and services, including customer experience and budgeting.
• Identify external funding opportunities and develop business cases and grant partnerships.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary management team and workforce planning.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Organisational skills

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in community development, recreation, social sciences or related discipline

Job description

Applications Close (AWST): 08:00 AM 30/11/2026

Salary up to: $150,000 - $199,999

Occupation: Management

Work Type: Maximum Term - Full Time

Location: Kununurra - Remote WA

As an Equal OpportunityEmployer, the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley values inclusivityand promotes a workplace that actively seeks to welcomecontributions from all people. We encourage people of allabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, diversecultures and backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and allage groups to apply.

TheOrganisation

The Shire of Wyndham EastKimberley (SWEK) believes that providing a safe and healthyworkplace for our employees is extremely important. We arecommitted to employing people who share the SWEK ValuesofSafety,Teamwork,Accountability,Communication,andRespect; these Values are incorporatedinto all aspects of employment at SWEK.

TheEast Kimberley

The East Kimberley is a stunning andsparsely populated area in the northeast corner of WesternAustralia and is known as one of the world's last wildernessfrontiers. As a global tourism attraction, it is also known for itspristine kaleidoscope of colour, outback adventures, world-classfishing, excellent caravan parks, luxury accommodation options,great food, and friendly locals. It is an amazing and very uniquepart of Australia. The East Kimberley is diverse in many ways, witha unique mix of cultures, lifestyles, and abundantopportunities.

TheOpportunity

We are looking for anexperienced and motivated Manager CommunityDevelopment to join our Planning and Community Developmentteam in Kununurra. This leadership role is responsible forproviding strategic direction and operational oversight across theShire’s community development, recreation and leisure, arts andculture, and library services. You will work closely with internalteams, government agencies, Aboriginal organisations and communitystakeholders to deliver accessible, sustainable services andinitiatives that enhance community wellbeing and participationacross the East Kimberley.

Yourresponsibilities will include:

Developing andimplementing annual service plans and portfolio strategiesaligned with the Shire’s Strategic Community Plan,Corporate Business Plan and approved budgets;

Leading the deliveryand continuous improvement of community development,recreation, leisure, youth and library services to meetcommunity needs and achieve positive outcomes;

Overseeing communityfacilities, programs and services, including customerexperience, utilisation, operational performance, budgetingand service standards;

Managing operationalbudgets, financial forecasts, grant programs and fundingagreements, ensuring appropriate financial management,reporting and acquittals;

Identifying externalfunding opportunities and developing business cases, grantapplications and strategic partnerships to supportcommunity priorities;

Leading anddeveloping a multidisciplinary management team througheffective workforce planning, performance management,delegation and professional development;

Building strongpartnerships with Aboriginal organisations, governmentagencies, community groups, sporting organisations andother stakeholders to strengthen community capacity anddeliver collaborative initiatives;

Leading inclusiveand culturally appropriate community engagement, ensuringthe needs of young people, vulnerable groups and diversecommunities are considered in service planning anddelivery;

Monitoring serviceperformance, community participation and emerging needs toidentify opportunities for improvement and provide informedadvice and recommendations to executiveleadership;

Coordinating withinternal teams on facility maintenance, asset renewals andcapital works to support effective service delivery andlong‑term sustainability;

Ensuring compliancewith relevant legislation, governance requirements, Shirepolicies, work health and safety obligations and fundingagreement conditions; and

Identifying andmanaging operational, financial and strategic risks whilepromoting a culture of accountability, collaboration andcontinuous improvement.

To besuccessful in this role, you will have a relevant tertiaryqualification in community development, recreation, social sciencesor a related discipline, along with a minimum of fiveyears’ experience in a relevant management role. You will also holda current WA C Class Driver’s Licence and be able to provide anacceptable National Police Clearance dated within the last sixmonths.

You willbring demonstrated experience in managing community-focusedservices, leading multidisciplinary teams, developing strategic andoperational plans, managing budgets and grants, and buildingeffective partnerships with diverse stakeholders. Strongorganisational, problem-solving and communication skills areessential, as is an understanding of the social, economic andcultural characteristics of the East Kimberley and a commitment toliving and working in a remote community.

More information about theposition and the requirements are in the PositionDescription at the bottom of this page.

Salary andBenefits

Working for SWEK means that in additionto the competitive annualsalary range indicated at the top of this page (inclusive ofallowances and superannuation, dependent on skills and experience),you may also enjoy a range of benefits including:

• Subsidisedhousing
• 6 weeks annualleave
• 12%employer superannuation, with the Shire offering to match up toanadditional 5%in co-contributions when theemployee contributes an equivalent amount
• Salarypackaging opportunities for motor vehicles, rent or mortgageinterest expenses
• 11public holidays with 2 additional 'Local Government Days' peryear
• Flexibleworking arrangements
• Shireprovided corporate uniforms
• Avariety of health and wellbeing programs including freemembership to the Kununurra Leisure Centre and Wyndham Pool,free health assessments, mental health programs and EmployeeAssistance Provider (EAP) services

Please notethat, where applicable, benefits will be applied pro-rata tocasual, part-time and maximum-term roles.

Applicants must belegally entitled to work in Australia and will be required toprovide evidence of this entitlement — acceptable evidenceincludes an Australian or New Zealand passport, birth certificate,or foreign passport with a relevant visa. Applicants will also berequired to provide a National Police Clearance beforetheinterview stage of the recruitmentprocess.