Senior Director Homelessness Services

Council Jobs; Canberra; On-site; AUD 155,000 - 189,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Temporary position

Public sector benefits

Job summary

ACT Government in Canberra seeks a Senior Officer Grade A to lead the Homelessness Services team. The role focuses on program delivery, contract management, and stakeholder engagement to meet government commitments and improve services for vulnerable clients.

You will oversee multiple programs, manage significant funds, and work across policy, implementation, and client support to deliver practical solutions in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Sound understanding of government business and government decision making processes.
• Experience in preparing briefs and related correspondence.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Homelessness Services team and contracts.
• Manage portfolio up to about $44 million per annum across 51 programs.
• Coordinate supports for clients with complex needs within the Housing Asset Assistance Program.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders and commissioning processes with homelessness sector.

Skills

Government processes

Program development

Service design

Project management

Evaluation

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation

Tools

SHIP

Job description

Classification: Senior Officer Grade A
Salary: $172,246 plus superannuation
Position No: 03140
Directorate: Health and Community Services
Advertised (Gazettal date): 28 October 2026
Contact Officer: Sarah McLelland on***************@act.gov.au

Details: We are looking for people with demonstrated experience in core government business processes, program development, service design, project management and evaluation. We are also looking for people with influencing, negotiation and engagement capabilities and an ability to develop and use relationships and networks with internal and external stakeholders, including as part of commissioning processes with the homelessness sector.

The Homelessness Services team oversees a complex and demanding body of work which can change rapidly in response to the needs of the Homelessness sector, and team members must be able to effectively manage multiple issues at once. Consequently, it is important that you can identify / prioritise issues and implement practical solutions. This is a key role in managing a diverse team that spans policy, implementation of key Government commitments/new budget measures, program delivery, relationship & contract management, as well as coordinating supports for clients with complex needs within the Housing Asset Assistance Program.

The Homelessness Services (HS) team ensures Housing Assistance is discharging its duties in overseeing contracts up to the value of approximately $44 million per annum with a portfolio consisting of 51 programs delivered by 27 specialist homelessness services. The team has a pivotal role in ensuring people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness in the Canberra community have access to high-quality support services that assist in breaking cycles of disadvantage and homelessness. The team works towards high level national policy objectives contributing to the ongoing development of responses to homelessness in the ACT.

Health and Community Services Directorate (HCSD) is an inclusive employer where all people are respected and valued for their contribution. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, People with Disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, veterans, mature age workers and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer(LGBTIQ) people.

Eligibility/Other requirements:

• Sound understanding of government business and government decision making processes.
• Experience in preparing briefs and related correspondence.

Desirable but not essential experience:

• Experience with and an understanding of the Specialist Homelessness Information Platform (SHIP).
• Experience in the management of government contracts.
• As this role is likely to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and young people, cultural awareness, the capacity to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is highly desirable.

Note: This is a temporary position available immediately until 1 January 2027 with the possibility of extension up to six months. This position is available to ACT Government officers and employees only.

Selection may be based on application only.

Note: Under the ACTPS employment framework you may be placed in another role where required for the efficient administration of the service.

Where an offer of employment is for a fixed-term period, any related temporary contracts within the Territory will be issued in compliance with the requirements and applicable exceptions outlined in the Fair Work Act.

The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal.

Closes: 04 November 2026