Operations Manager - Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

SDA Options; City of Monash; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Autonomy

Direct access to Owners

Make a difference

Job summary

SDA Options in Melbourne is seeking an Operations Manager to lead our SDA portfolio across 33 dwellings and 20 sites, ensuring high-quality homes, safety, and regulatory compliance under NDIS standards. You will manage the Sales, Maintenance, Compliance and Administration teams, partner with families and SIL providers, and report to the Owners, delivering consistent operating systems and audit readiness.

The successful candidate will bring senior multi-site leadership, a background in

Qualifications

• Senior leadership across multiple sites is required.
• Experience managing facilities/building or disability services.
• Strong knowledge of NDIS regulatory frameworks and audits.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational performance across 33 dwellings and 20 sites.
• Oversee Sales, Maintenance, Compliance and Administration teams.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures and QA frameworks.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with SDA Rules and relevant safety legislation.

Skills

Senior operational leadership

Multi-site portfolio management

Stakeholder communication

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor's degree in Property Management or related field

Tools

myNDIS provider portal

NDIA notifications system

Job description

Operations Manager - Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)

SDA Options is a niche, pioneering provider of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA), established in 2016. Our portfolio spans share houses, individual units and purpose-built design complexes across greater Melbourne, the Barwon region and Bendigo - all built and enrolled to meet NDIS SDA design category requirements for participants with very high support needs.

We're proud to give our participants access to staff who are responsive, compassionate and professional. Our mission is simple: to provide forever homes that enable our participants to achieve their goals and live more independently.

THE ROLE

As Operations Manager, you will lead the performance of SDA Options' portfolio across four critical domains: participant experience, portfolio operations, property standards and regulatory compliance. Your focus will be to sustain safe, high-quality homes, strengthen participant satisfaction and tenancy retention, build consistent operating systems, and keep the organisation audit-ready.

You will be the primary relationship holder for participants and their support networks, drive long-term tenancy retention, and ensure every home remains safe, compliant, maintained to a high standard and fully enrolled under the NDIS SDA Rules 2021 and NDIS Practice Standards. You will lead the Sales, Maintenance, Compliance and Administration components of the business - reporting directly to the Owners.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Leadership

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership across all 33 dwellings and 20 sites
• Lead and develop the Sales, Maintenance Coordinator and Administration teams
• Build and continuously improve policies, procedures and quality assurance frameworks

Property & Maintenance

• Oversee preventative and reactive maintenance across the portfolio, including fire safety, electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and accessibility systems
• Manage maintenance contractors and trades, ensuring quality, timeliness and budget compliance
• Conduct regular property inspections to ensure SDA design category standards are maintained

Participant Experience & Retention

• Act as primary account manager for all current participants, driving satisfaction and long-term tenancy retention
• Oversee end-to-end onboarding for new participants, from pre-move coordination through to settlement
• Resolve complex participant issues in collaboration with SIL providers, allied health professionals and families

Regulatory Compliance & Audit

• Ensure ongoing compliance with the NDIS Act 2013, SDA Rules 2021, NDIS Practice Standards and SDA Design Standard and Workplace Health & Safety Legislation
• Maintain dwelling enrolments and manage NDIA notifications via the myNDIS provider portal
• Lead audit readiness for NDIS Quality & Safeguards Commission certification, and oversee complaint management, incident management and all relevant reporting requirements
• Effectively manage budgets across operations, maintenance and compliance
• Deliver regular operational and compliance reporting to the Directors

ABOUT YOU

• Demonstrated senior operational leadership experience managing a multi-site portfolio within facilities management, property, building and construction, disability services or Specialist Disability Accommodation.
• Strong understanding of the building industry, with experience managing trades and contractors
• A track record in participant or client account management, with strong retention outcomes
• Solid grounding in NDIS regulatory frameworks, audit management and compliance
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams across operations, sales, maintenance and administration
• A bachelor's degree in Property Management, Facilities Management, Business, Building and Construction, Disability Services or a related field, or equivalent substantial professional experience. Postgraduate qualifications in Management, Building, Property or Disability Services will be highly regarded.
• A genuine, values-driven commitment to improving outcomes for people with disability
• You will bring sound judgement, resilience and calm decision-making in a fast-paced service environment, together with highly effective communication, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills. Your approach will be responsive, empathetic, accountable and solutions focused.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• NDIS Worker Screening Clearance
• Employee Working with Children Check
• NDIS Worker Orientation Module completion
• Satisfactory Probity Checks

WHAT'S ON OFFER

• A leadership role with genuine autonomy and direct access to the Owners
• The opportunity to shape the future of a pioneering, purpose-driven SDA provider
• Work that makes a lasting, tangible difference in the lives of people with high support needs