Operations Officer

Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia; Canberra; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia is seeking an Operations Officer to support day-to-day national office operations, provide procurement and administration assistance, and coordinate events. The role reports to the General Manager and collaborates with Governance, Compliance, and Communications teams to ensure smooth operations across the organisation.

The ideal candidate is organised, reliable and proactive, with experience in office management, procurement and event logistics.

Qualifications

• Experience in an operations or administration role.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Experience coordinating events or logistics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the national office, including systems, supplies, equipment and facilities.
• Coordinate general administrative tasks across the organisation (mail, printing, filing, records).
• Manage relationships with building management, IT providers and other suppliers.
• Support onboarding of new staff, including coordinating equipment, access and induction logistics.
• Maintain asset and equipment registers.
• Coordinate procurement processes: obtain quotes, process purchase orders and manage supplier relations.
• Support the General Manager with contract administration and supplier correspondence.
• Manage the merchandise program (ordering, inventory, distribution).
• Assist with funding proposals and grant applications as directed.
• Plan and deliver organisational events (national conference, sector events, internal staff events).
• Coordinate travel and accommodation bookings for staff.
• Support exhibiting at external events (logistics, materials prep).
• Undertake other duties as required.

Skills

Operations management

Procurement

Vendor management

Events coordination

Office administration

Budgeting

Tools

MS Office

ERP system

Vendor portals

Job description

The Operations Officer supports the effective day-to-day operation of Gayaa Dhuwi's national office, providing practical operational, administrative and procurement support across the organisation. The role works under the General Manager and contributes to a wide range of operational functions including office management, procurement, events logistics, merchandise management, and general administration.

This is a hands-on operational role that requires someone who is organised, reliable and proactive. The Operations Officer keeps things running smoothly in the background by managing suppliers, coordinating logistics, maintaining office systems and handling the administrative functions that the rest of the team depends on. They will understand that effective operations is what makes everything else possible within the organisation.

The role works closely with the General Manager and Governance and Compliance Manager, and supports the Communications Manager and broader team with operational and logistical requirements as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Gayaa Dhuwi office, including maintaining office systems, supplies, equipment and facilities.
• Coordinate general administrative tasks across the organisation, including mail, printing, filing and records management.
• Manage relationships with building management, IT providers and other operational suppliers.
• Support onboarding of new staff, including coordinating equipment, access and induction logistics.
• Maintain up-to-date asset and equipment registers.
• Coordinate procurement processes across the organisation, obtaining quotes, processing purchase orders and managing supplier relationships in accordance with organisational policies.
• Support the General Manager with contract administration and supplier correspondence.
• Manage the organisation’s merchandise program, including ordering, inventory management and distribution.
• Assist with the preparation of funding proposals and grant applications as directed.
• Support the planning and delivery of organisational events, including the national conference, sector events and internal staff events, providing operational and logistical coordination.
• Coordinate travel and accommodation bookings for staff as required.
• Support exhibiting at external events, including logistics, materials preparation and coordination.
• Undertake other duties as required.

Selection Criteria

1. Demonstrated ability to work respectfully within an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership organisation, including understanding of cultural protocols, self-determination and the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership.
2. Demonstrated experience in an operations or administration role, including office management, procurement, supplier coordination and general administrative support.
3. Demonstrated organisational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks, maintain accurate records, and meet deadlines consistently.
4. Demonstrated experience supporting events or logistics coordination, including the ability to anticipate requirements and resolve issues proactively.
5. Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to handle supplier correspondence, purchase processes and general organisational administration accurately and professionally.

Gayaa Dhuwi is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention. As a members based, community-controlled organisation, we are governed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts and peak bodies.

Our vision is the highest attainable standard of social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Our role is to lead and advocate for systemic change that places the voices, strengths, and needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples at the centre of national policies and reforms.

We work in a fast-paced national policy and reform environment where priorities can shift quickly in response to government processes, parliamentary inquiries, sector developments, member priorities, emerging evidence, and national reform opportunities. As a result, our team needs to be made up of individuals who can understand complex policy and service systems, work respectfully within an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and organisations, and produce high-quality work across social and emotional wellbeing, mental health, and suicide prevention.

Gayaa Dhuwi's work is long-term with progress often requiring sustained advocacy, careful relationships, strong evidence and the ability to keep work moving over time. People who thrive at Gayaa Dhuwi are steady, thoughtful, organised, respectful, clear in their communication and able to maintain perspective while working on issues that matter deeply to our peoples and communities.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply for this opportunity under section 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.
• Applicants must be an Australian citizen or have permanent residency status pending the granting of Australian citizenship. All successful applicants for the position will be asked to complete pre-engagement checks including national police check and a working with vulnerable people check.