Program Manager

Peoplefusion; Newcastle City Council; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

1 week wellbeing leave

Salary packaging (PBI)

Monthly RDO after probation

Premises designed for welcoming, safe,

contemporary environment for clients

Job summary

Jenny’s Place is seeking an experienced Program Manager to provide inspiring leadership and practice oversight across client service programs. Reporting to the CEO, you will lead Team Leaders, guide complex casework, and drive service quality and continuous improvement in a compassionate, child- and woman-centred environment.

The role focuses on developing contemporary practice, risk management, and safeguarding while partnering with government and community services to strengthen outcomes for

Qualifications

• Significant experience in domestic and family violence, homelessness, child and family services, or related community services.
• Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing frontline service delivery teams.
• Strong grounding in trauma-informed, person-centred, strengths-based practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior professional and practice leadership across Jenny’s Place client service programs.
• Lead, coach and mentor Team Leaders to build confident frontline leadership.
• Ensure trauma-informed, risk-aware case management and safeguarding across programs.

Skills

Domestic violence experience

Leadership

Trauma-informed practice

Risk assessment

Stakeholder engagement

Performance management

Education

Social Work / Human Services qualification

Job description

• Leadership role making a meaningful impact in the lives of women and children
• Extra annual leave and wellbeing leave, salary packaging benefits
• Join a committed and passionate team who were awarded City of Newcastle’s 2026 Community Group of the year.

About the company

Jenny’s Place is a leading domestic and family violence organisation supporting women and children. Since 1977, they have delivered crisis and transitional accommodation, outreach support, early intervention and prevention programs, alongside integrated case management to help clients access safe housing and wraparound supports.

With a vision of a community free from violence and homelessness, Jenny’s Place is driven by compassion, empowerment and collaboration, working alongside women and children to rebuild safety, stability and independence.

About the opportunity

Jenny’s Place is seeking an experienced Program Manager to provide inspiring leadership and practice oversight across its client service programs.

Reporting to the CEO and leading a team of Team Leaders, this position plays a key role in strengthening service delivery and embedding consistent, high-quality practice across the organisation. With a strong focus on leadership and capability development, the Program Manager will support Team Leaders to confidently lead their frontline teams while providing guidance across complex casework, risk management and service delivery.

This is a highly practice-focused leadership opportunity for someone with strong professional credibility in social work, case management or a related human services discipline. Working closely with the CEO and broader leadership team, you will help shape contemporary practice, drive continuous improvement and ensure services remain responsive to the changing needs of women and children.

The role offers the opportunity to influence service development across Jenny’s Place and contribute to an organisation that continues to evolve and innovate in its support of women and children experiencing domestic and family violence and homelessness.

Key responsibilities

• Provide senior professional and practice leadership across Jenny’s Place client service programs.
• Lead, coach and mentor Team Leaders, building confident and accountable frontline leadership.
• Strengthen consistent, contemporary case management across programs, promoting trauma-informed, person-centred, strengths-based and culturally responsive practice, while providing guidance and escalation support for complex, high-risk and sensitive client matters, including risk assessment and safety planning.
• Maintain oversight of service quality, caseloads, demand, complexity and client outcomes.
• Lead continuous improvement across service delivery, practice frameworks, policies and procedures.
• Oversee risk, governance, policy and safety requirements relevant to client services.
• Lead the ASES accreditation process in partnership with the CEO and broader team.
• Build strong relationships with government agencies, community organisations, specialist services and sector partners.
• Work collaboratively with the CEO and leadership team to translate organisational priorities into effective frontline service delivery.

The benefits

• 5 weeks annual leave + 1 week wellbeing leave
• Salary packaging (PBI) to increase take-home pay
• Monthly RDO after probation period
• Work from beautiful, purpose-designed new premises that provide a welcoming, safe and contemporary environment for clients and staff.
• The opportunity to make a genuine impact in the local community

About you

You are an experienced community services leader who understands that strong service outcomes begin with strong practice and capable frontline leadership.

You bring significant experience in case management and have led within complex human services environments where sound judgement, emotional maturity and compassion are essential. You are comfortable supporting leaders through challenging situations, providing guidance around complex cases and creating clarity and accountability without losing sight of the people behind the work.

Your leadership style is calm, considered and compassionate, and you genuinely enjoy developing others and strengthening practice.

In addition, you will bring:

• Significant experience within domestic and family violence, homelessness, child and family services, or a related community services environment, with extensive case management experience and a strong understanding of contemporary practice.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, ideally leading Team Leaders, supervisors or managers responsible for frontline service delivery, with a proven ability to coach, mentor and develop others.
• Strong understanding and application of trauma-informed, person-centred and strengths-based practice, including complex case decision-making, risk assessment, safety planning and safeguarding.
• Experience developing and continuously improving practice frameworks, service standards, policies and procedures, supported by strong capability in reflective practice, supervision, performance management and professional development.
• Highly developed communication, stakeholder engagement, advocacy and relationship-building skills, with the emotional maturity and professional judgement to navigate complex and sensitive environments.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in Social Work, Human Services, Social Science, Psychology, Community Services or a related discipline, together with genuine alignment with Jenny’s Place values and commitment to improving outcomes for women and children.
• A current Working with Children Check and National Police Check will be required for this role.

This position is designated for a female under Section 31 of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.

At peoplefusion we dont just accept diversity and inclusion - we celebrate it! We strive to create an environment of equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lifestyle, age, religion or physical ability, and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. If you require any assistance with your application, please don’t hesitate to contact us.