Operations Manager - School To Work

Melbourne City Mission (MCM); Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging benefits

Flexible hybrid work arrangements

Career development and learning

Job summary

Melbourne City Mission (MCM) is seeking an Operations Manager, School to Work to lead a large-scale Victorian Government initiative across seven regions. You will provide strategic leadership, oversee delivery, manage contracts and budgets, and drive performance to create equitable work-based learning opportunities for secondary students.

Reporting to the Head of Disability and Employment Services, the role requires building partnerships with schools, employers, government and community

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in a complex, multi-site environment.
• Proven ability to manage programs, contracts and budgets.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across a multi-site program.
• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, employers, government, industry and community stakeholders.
• Lead high-performing teams through coaching, accountability and change management.
• Drive employer engagement and participation initiatives for student opportunities.
• Analyse performance data, manage risk and ensure contractual compliance.
• Use data and insights to inform decision-making and improve service outcomes.

Skills

Leadership experience

Stakeholder engagement

Program management

Budget management

Risk management

Data analysis

Contract management

Job description

Summary

Lead a large-scale Victorian Government initiative creating pathways from education to employment
Competitive remuneration package, salary packaging benefits and flexible hybrid work arrangements
Work across seven regions: Inner East, Southern Melbourne, Brimbank/Melton, Bayside Peninsula, Barwon, Central Highlands and Outer Gippsland

About the Opportunity

The Operations Manager, School to Work is responsible for leading the successful delivery of the Victorian Government's School to Work program across seven regions: Inner East, Southern Melbourne, Brimbank/Melton, Bayside Peninsula, Barwon, Central Highlands and Outer Gippsland. Reporting to the Head of Disability and Employment Services, this role provides strategic leadership, operational oversight and performance management to ensure the program delivers equitable, high-quality and sustainable work-based learning opportunities for secondary school students.

About you

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across a complex, multi-site program delivering measurable outcomes

• Build and maintain influential partnerships with schools, employers, government, industry and community stakeholders

• Lead high-performing teams through coaching, accountability, continuous improvement and change management

• Drive employer engagement and participation initiatives that create sustainable opportunities for students

• Analyse performance data, manage risk and ensure compliance with contractual, quality and safeguarding requirements

• Use data, insights and innovation to inform decision-making and improve service outcomes

Essential:

• Significant leadership experience within employment, education, community services or human services sectors

• Demonstrated experience managing programs, contracts, budgets and operational performance

• Strong stakeholder engagement, partnership development and relationship management skills

Screening Criteria:

• National Police check

• Working with Children check

• Valid Victorian Drivers license

• Right to Work in Australia

Applications for this role will close on 22 November 2026

Benefits of working with MCM include:

• Diverse and inclusive organisation

• Attractive Salary Packaging benefits

• Supportive learning and development environment

• Culture of continuous improvement

About MCM

MCM is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to safety. MCM embraces differences because we know that diversity and inclusion help us to attract, recruit, engage and retain talented people.
We are a leading not-for profit-for-purpose organisation that offer a broad range of services in Disability, Homelessness, Palliative Care and Education.

Our commitment to Safety

MCM is committed to the safety of its clients and employees, taking a zero-tolerance approach to violence within the workplace and abuse, including child abuse and abuse of people with disability. All employees are required to comply with the Child Safe Standards.

Our commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Equity of Access

At MCM we embrace our differences because we know that diversity helps us to innovate and make the biggest impact possible. Our DEI Strategy supports and drives an inclusive workplace culture. We embrace the learning opportunities that come with authentic commitment to equity of access for all. We particularly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.