Program Director

Face2Face Recruitment; Canberra; Remote; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Face2Face Recruitment partners with a national peak body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists to appoint a Program Director. This senior leadership role will turn strategy and funded commitments into impactful programs and policy, with a particular focus on establishing and leading a national 5+1 Psychology Internship Program.

The role combines strategic direction with hands-on program development and delivery.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in national or multi-partner programs.
• Experience translating strategy into program design and policy guidance.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategy and funding commitments into practical program plans and policy outcomes.
• Establish and lead the 5+1 Psychology Internship Program and its operating model, quality framework, and supervision arrangements.
• Build and maintain relationships with interns, host organisations, universities, regulators, funders and communities.
• Develop policy papers, submissions and briefings informed by evidence and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor regulatory and workforce policy developments and assess implications for communities.

Job description

Our recruitment agency is partnering with a national peak body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander psychologists to appoint a Program Director. This senior leadership role will turn strategy and funded commitments into impactful programs and policy, with a particular focus on establishing and leading a national 5+1 Psychology Internship Program.

The role combines strategic direction with hands-on program development and delivery. You'll join the senior leadership team, report to the CEO and help shape the organisation's program and policy priorities. The position is flexible and remote, with interstate and regional travel required.

About the role

You will lead the design, establishment and ongoing improvement of the internship program, while developing national policy positions on psychology education and training pathways, scope of practice and workforce development. During the establishment phase, you'll personally build practical systems, processes and relationships, with operational responsibilities progressively delegated as the team grows.

Key responsibilities

• Translate organisational strategy, Board priorities and funding commitments into practical program plans, policy outcomes and delivery priorities.
• Establish and lead the 5+1 Psychology Internship Program, including its operating model, quality framework, participant support, placement and supervision arrangements.
• Build and maintain relationships with interns, supervisors, host organisations, universities, regulators, funders and community-controlled organisations.
• Develop policy papers, submissions, consultation responses and briefings informed by evidence, stakeholder engagement and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultural authority.
• Monitor national developments in psychology regulation, accreditation, education, funding and workforce policy, assessing their implications for communities and the profession.
• Manage program budgets, funding agreements, contracts, risks, performance measures, evaluation and reporting to the CEO, Board, funders and partners.
• Embed cultural safety, ethical practice, privacy, safeguarding, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property and appropriate data governance across program and policy work.
• Lead and develop program staff as appointed, providing clear direction, supervision and support while maintaining accountability for outcomes.
• Represent the organisation in national forums and build constructive partnerships across community, health, education, government and professional sectors.

About you

You're a capable senior leader who can move comfortably between strategic planning and hands-on delivery. You bring sound judgement, strong stakeholder skills and the ability to build effective systems in a developing organisation. You are committed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination, leadership and cultural authority, and bring cultural humility, accountability and a commitment to ongoing learning.

You will also bring:

• Senior-level experience leading complex national or multi-partner programs in health, mental health, education, workforce development or a related area.
• A demonstrated ability to deliver work that is culturally safe, responsive and accountable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
• Strong understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, strengths and contemporary issues, including systemic barriers to health, education and workforce participation.
• Experience in strategic policy analysis and producing high-quality advice, submissions and recommendations on complex issues.
• Experience managing budgets, funding agreements, contracts, risk, performance and executive or Board reporting.
• Highly developed people leadership, negotiation, communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or substantial equivalent professional experience.
• Capacity to travel interstate and to regional and remote communities as required.

Knowledge of psychology education, registration, internship and supervision pathways including the 5+1 pathway is desirable, as is experience working with provisional psychologists, supervisors, universities or Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Knowledge of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property and Indigenous data governance is also valued.

The organisation strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Appointment is subject to evidence of the right to work in Australia and relevant probity, police and working-with-children checks where required.