Nippers Specialist

Surf Life Saving; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite parking

Salary packaging

Employee assistance program

Time in lieu

Modern facilities

Supportive culture

Job summary

Surf Life Saving NSW seeks an experienced project professional to lead the pilot and evaluation of a refreshed entry-level Nippers program. Based at Belrose, you’ll work with clubs, state representatives and national stakeholders to shape future delivery and pathways.

You will oversee plans, budgets and governance, facilitate groups, coordinate training, and develop evaluation frameworks to inform rollout and safeguarding across the program.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to build effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Demonstrated project management experience with timelines and budgets.
• Experience implementing program change and transition support.
• Experience leading participation, sport or community programs.
• Experience facilitating training or capability-building initiatives.
• Strong written and verbal communication with attention to detail.
• Good planning, research and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead project plans, schedules, budgets and status reporting for participation programs, including the Nipper Review.
• Facilitate working groups, reference groups and workshops to support consultation and decision-making.
• Manage project documentation, approvals, records and version control.
• Coordinate the pilot-club expression of interest process and develop partnership agreements.
• Develop operational resources, change plans and reporting processes to support pilot clubs.
• Coordinate nationally consistent training for Age Managers, coaches and Junior Activities Coordinators.
• Develop quality-assurance processes, participant engagement packs and practical program-delivery resources.
• Provide a central help desk and escalation point, supported by proactive club check-ins.
• Design the pilot evaluation framework and analyse feedback, participation data and delivery outcomes.
• Provide recommendations on pilot performance, readiness for broader rollout and future implementation.
• Support alignment between Nippers, youth development pathways and Surf Sports competition structures.
• Ensure program delivery complies with safeguarding, child-safety and inclusion requirements.

Skills

Stakeholder relations

Project management

Change management

Participation programs

Training facilitation

Communication

Planning & analysis

Organisational time management

Job description

Surf Life Saving NSW is seeking an experienced and engaging project professional to lead the pilot and evaluation of a refreshed entry-level Nippers program.

Every day, our volunteers help make Australian beaches safer places to live, work and play. Their dedication drives our mission to reduce coastal drownings and achieve our vision of zero preventable deaths in Australian waters. Through education, prevention and community engagement, we help keep our beaches safe for everyone.

Based at Belrose and reporting to the NSW Chief Operating Officer, you will work closely with the Surf Life Saving Australia Participation Manager, clubs, state and territory representatives and national stakeholders throughout the project.

This is a rare opportunity to influence the future direction of one of Australia’s most recognised junior participation programs. The insights and outcomes from this pilot will help shape future Nippers delivery and participation pathways across Surf Life Saving.

What you’ll do

• Lead project plans, schedules, budgets and status reporting for participation programs, including the Nipper Review.
• Facilitate working groups, reference groups and workshops to support consultation, co-design and decision-making.
• Manage project documentation, approvals, records and version control.
• Coordinate the pilot-club expression of interest process and develop partnership agreements.
• Develop operational resources, change plans and reporting processes to support pilot clubs.
• Coordinate nationally consistent training for Age Managers, coaches and Junior Activities Coordinators.
• Develop quality-assurance processes, participant engagement packs and practical program-delivery resources.
• Provide a central help desk and escalation point, supported by proactive club check-ins.
• Design the pilot evaluation framework and analyse feedback, participation data and delivery outcomes.
• Provide recommendations on pilot performance, readiness for broader rollout and future implementation.
• Support alignment between Nippers, youth development pathways and Surf Sports competition structures.
• Ensure program delivery complies with safeguarding, child-safety and inclusion requirements.

What you’ll bring

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Proven ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven project management experience, including managing timelines, budgets and competing priorities.
• Experience implementing program change and supporting stakeholders through transition and adoption.
• Experience leading participation, sport, recreation, education or community-based programs
• Experience facilitating training, workshops or capability-building initiatives.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.
• Sound planning, research and analytical skills.
• The ability to use evidence and consultation to inform program and project decisions.
• Strong initiative, organisation and time-management skills.
• Sound judgement and a professional, adaptable approach to emerging issues.
• Demonstrated ability to turn ideas into practical plans aligned with organisational objectives.

All candidates will be required to undertake a Working with Children Check before commencing work with SLSNSW.

Please note that only applicants with the eligibility to work in Australia will be considered for this role. To be successful, you must hold Australian Working Rights or Australian Citizenship

SLSNSW ensures a commitment to safeguarding children and young people.

Qualifications or equivalent experience in participation programs, project management or administration would be highly regarded. Knowledge of Surf Life Saving or aquatic activities and experience working in a volunteer-led organisation would also be advantageous.

What’s in it for you?

• Help shape the future of Nippers participation across Australia.
• Work closely with clubs, volunteers and stakeholders across the Surf Life Saving movement.
• Continued learning and development opportunities.
• Time in lieu for approved additional hours.
• Access to salary packaging, Fitness Passport discounts and an employee assistance program.
• Onsite parking and modern facilities at Belrose.
• A positive, supportive and purpose-driven organisational culture.

Location: Surf Life Saving NSW Headquarters, Belrose

Position: Full-time, Fixed-term contract until June 2028