Manager – Youth and Counselling Programs

Uniting; Dubbo; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Wellbeing programs

Learning and development

Flexible working arrangements

Regular supervision

Ex-gratia days

Job summary

Uniting is seeking a Manager of Youth and Counselling Programs to provide strategic and operational leadership across a diverse portfolio of funded youth services and counselling programs in Western NSW. Based at the Alfred Street office in Dubbo, this full-time contract runs until February 2028 and is 35 hours per week.

You will lead teams to deliver high-quality, culturally affirmative services, meet contractual targets, manage budgets, and build partnerships with government, community and

Qualifications

• Experience leading and managing diverse youth services and counselling programs.
• Strong knowledge of budgets, KPIs, and contract targets.
• Experience building partnerships with Aboriginal communities.
• Ability to support teams through complex matters with a focus on safety.
• Understanding of issues affecting young people, homelessness and mental health.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across funded programs.
• Monitor performance against contracts, budgets and KPIs.
• Develop partnerships with government, community and Aboriginal organisations.
• Represent Uniting in interagency forums and sector networks.

Skills

People leadership

Program management

Budget management

Compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Risk management

Community engagement

Aboriginal engagement

Youth homelessness

Mental health awareness

Communication

Negotiation

Conflict resolution

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor qualification or equivalent

Job description

About the Opportunity

This is a full-time contract opportunity until February 2028, working 35 hours per week and based at Uniting’s Alfred Street office in Dubbo, NSW.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced people and program leader to lead a diverse portfolio of Youth Services and Counselling programs across Western NSW.

Working as part of the Western NSW Region’s leadership team, you’ll have the opportunity to influence service delivery, build strong community and sector partnerships and make a meaningful difference to the lives of children, young people and families across the region.

About the role

As the Manager of Youth and Counselling Programs, you’ll provide strategic and operational leadership across a diverse portfolio of funded programs, supporting teams to deliver high-quality, culturally affirmative services and achieve positive outcomes for young people, individuals and families.

You’ll be responsible for the effective delivery and performance of the programs, including meeting contractual targets and KPIs, monitoring expenditure and ensuring services operate within agreed budget parameters. You’ll work closely with internal Uniting stakeholders, and other specialist teams to support effective people management, workforce development and service delivery.

As a member of the Northern & Western NSW Regional leadership team, you’ll represent Uniting across the region, including through interagency forums and sector networks. You’ll develop and strengthen partnerships with government, community and Aboriginal organisations, advocating for the needs of young people and working collaboratively to improve outcomes across the region.

About you

You’re an experienced program leader who brings strong people leadership skills, operational decision making and a genuine commitment to achieving positive outcomes for young people and communities.

• Demonstrated experience leading and managing teams, ideally across diverse programs.
• A relevant Bachelor qualification or equivalent sector experience.
• Strong program management experience, including responsibility for funded programs, contractual targets, KPIs, budgets, compliance and performance.
• Demonstrated experience developing constructive and respectful relationships with Aboriginal people, communities and Aboriginal organisations.
• A strong understanding of the issues affecting young people, including homelessness, disadvantage, family and community circumstances and mental health and wellbeing.
• The ability to support teams through complex matters, manage risk effectively and maintain a strong focus on the safety and wellbeing of staff, children and young people.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams through change, with the resilience and capability to provide clarity, support and direction in a changing funding and service environment.
• Strong understanding of compliance, legislation, government requirements and organisational policies and procedures.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to build trust and influence across diverse stakeholder groups.

Benefits and culture

Working to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice brings its own rewards, but there’s more.

• Welcoming you exactly as you are
• Work you’ll be proud of
• Salary-packaging options to increase your take-home pay
• Wellbeing programs and support
• Learning and development opportunities
• Diverse and inclusive workplace
• Flexible working arrangements
• Regular supervision, support and team meetings
• Up to 5 ex-gratia days (on top of annual leave) at the end of the year

Employment with Uniting is subject to satisfactory background checks, which include National Police Checks, Working with Children Checks and Reference Checks.

Closing date: 11:55pm Sunday 27^th September 2026

Who we are

When you’re part of Uniting NSW.ACT, you’re part of a diverse, purpose-led team of people making a real difference in the world around them. We contribute to the work and mission of the Uniting Church in NSW and the ACT through social justice advocacy, community services and spiritual care. Our purpose is to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice.

Uniting acknowledges the continuing sovereignty and rich cultural diversity of Australia’s First Peoples. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Peoples on whose lands we live and work.

Uniting is a Child Safe Organisation committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of children and young people.