Senior Community Programs Manager

Randstad - Inhouse Services; Darwin; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Salary packaging up to $15,900

5 weeks annual leave

17.5% leave loading

Job summary

Randstad has partnered with ALPA to recruit a decisive, resilient Senior Community Programs Manager to lead operational oversight across 7 remote sites in Northern Australia. You will bridge ground operations and executive leadership, guiding RAES delivery with autonomy and a strong commercial mindset, while staying connected to community life.

This role requires Aboriginal corporation and federal stakeholder exposure, budget accountability, and the ability to travel to remote communities.

Qualifications

• Unrestricted manual driver's licence.
• NT Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card).
• First Aid Certification.
• Ability to travel to remote communities via 4WD or light aircraft.
• Willingness to undergo background checks for remote Indigenous work.

Responsibilities

• Oversee seven remote sites delivering RAES.
• Lead federal government stakeholder engagement and contract delivery.
• Direct onboarding and staff performance across site teams.
• Manage site budgets and justify expenses.
• Engage with Traditional Owners, Elders and funding bodies.
• Adapt operations to remote environmental challenges and drive improvement.

Skills

RAES/CDP operations

Budget management

People leadership

Remote site management

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

• Lead with Impact, Steer on Country: Command 7 Sites, Earn Great Pay, and Make Your Journey Count!
• Salary/Benefits: Competitive Base + 12% Super + $15,900 Salary Packaging + 5 Weeks Annual Leave

Randstad has partnered with ALPA (Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation), one of Australia's largest Aboriginal-owned benevolent corporations. We are seeking to recruit a decisive, resilient, and forward-thinking Senior Community Programs Manager ready to bring their skills to some of the most beautiful and remote parts of Northern Australia.
Are you a seasoned operational leader with deep roots in remote Aboriginal Community Services and CDP/RAES delivery? This isn't just a job; it's an opportunity to influence the social and economic development of remote Communities.

About your next role

In this senior leadership position, you will take high-level operational oversight across 7 remote sites, managing direct reports and steering end-to-end performance. You will serve as the bridge between ground operations and executive leadership, balancing strategic stakeholder engagement with a grounded, hands-on understanding of community life.
You are a leader who operates with high autonomy, commercial/financial acumen, an agile mindset, and a genuine sense of humour to tackle the realities of remote operations. You are adept at overseeing employment services programs and managing on-ground teams across multiple remote locations.

• Multi-Site Operational Oversight: Exercise complete operational authority across 7 remote community sites delivering the Remote Australia Employment Service (RAES).
• Strategic & Contract Management: Lead federal government stakeholder engagement, oversee contract deliverables, and align community operations with corporate strategic goals.
• End-to-End People & Performance Management: Direct onboarding, staff performance management, leadership coaching, and high-level pastoral relationships across remote site teams.
• Financial Accountability: Manage budget allocations, review site-level financials, and justify operational expenses with an ownership mindset.
• Stakeholder & Community Engagement: Build strong rapport with local Traditional Owners, Elders, community leaders, and external funding bodies.
• Operational Agility & Risk Leadership: Adapt quickly to remote environmental challenges, question status-quo processes, and drive continuous improvement.

What you will need to bring

You are a strategic leader with strong cultural competency and an innate ability to inspire teams in remote, geographically dispersed locations.

• Ground Knowledge in RAES / CDP: Deep experience in CDP or RAES operational leadership (Operations Manager, Site Coordinator, or Senior Community Services Manager).
• Aboriginal Corporation & Federal Stakeholder Exposure: Demonstrated contract management skills and proven capability working within First Nations organizations or remote contexts.
• Financial Acumen: Strong background in budget allocation, expense justification, and managing project/site financials.
• Autonomous Decision-Making: Proven operational competence to make bold, effective decisions independently while holding overall site accountability.
• Core Character Attributes: High agility, flexibility, openness to change, clear communication skills, and a healthy sense of humour.

Mandatory Requirements

• Unrestricted Manual Driver's Licence
• NT Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card)
• First Aid Certification
• Ability to travel to remote Communities via 4WD or small light aircraft
• Willingness to undergo necessary background checks and clearances required for working in remote Indigenous communities

What you will get in return

• Access PBI Salary Packaging (up to $15,900) with 12% Superannuation plus monthly telephone allowance
• 5 weeks annual leave + 17.5% leave loading
• The chance to make a meaningful difference in remote First Nations communities
• Relocation assistance from anywhere in Australia.