Senior Manager - Workforce Capability & Engagement

Australian Red Cross; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 107,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Salary packaging options

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Australian Red Cross is seeking a Senior Manager – Workforce Capability & Engagement to lead nationwide workforce strategies for emergency services, including volunteer planning, capability development, wellbeing and engagement. The role drives scalable, inclusive workforce models across disaster resilience, response and recovery, with a focus on collaboration and transformation.

Based in Australia with hybrid working options, the role requires senior leadership experience, cross-functional

Qualifications

• Experience leading national portfolios and complex workforce programs.
• Experience building and leading geographically distributed teams.
• Knowledge of volunteer management and wellbeing.
• Ability to research, design and implement scalable workforce strategies.
• Understanding of regulatory, privacy, and safety frameworks.

Skills

Workforce planning

Volunteer management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Change management

Adult learning

Wellbeing

Policy & compliance

Job description

Senior Manager - Workforce Capability & Engagement

Join Australian Red Cross in this high-impact role shaping our emergency workforce readiness to mobilise effectively in response to increasing community needs and emergency demands

• Full time, ongoing role
• Flexible location + hybrid working
• Generous salary packaging available

About Red Cross

Australian Red Cross is part of the world’s largest humanitarian movement. We support and empower people and communities in times of vulnerability. We act for humanity.

About the role

The Senior Manager – Workforce Capability & Engagement is responsible for the nationwide leadership and strategic development of a high-performing, scalable, and inclusive Emergency Services workforce. This includes overseeing the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of workforce strategies that support program delivery across disaster resilience, response, and recovery.

This role has accountability for nationwide volunteer planning, capability development, wellbeing, and engagement. The Senior Manager provides expert leadership in aligning workforce models with disaster risk, organisational goals, and sector best practice. Operating in a complex, multi-jurisdictional environment, the role ensures the workforce is well-prepared, diverse, and ready to mobilise effectively in response to increasing community needs and emergency demands.

Through collaboration with internal teams and external partners, this role plays a key role in shaping Australian Red Cross’s workforce readiness, retention, and reputation as a sector leader in volunteerism and emergency management workforce development.

About you

As a seasoned Manager with substantial experience in workforce, volunteer management, emergency services, or related fields, you will have proven ability to lead national portfolios and deliver on complex workforce programs at scale.

You will bring experience building and leading high-performing, geographically distributed teams and demonstrated success designing and delivering workforce strategies that align with strategic organisational goals.

What you will bring

• Comprehensive technical knowledge of workforce planning, workforce strategy, and capability development, with a focus on volunteer workforces.
• Substantial knowledge and understanding of volunteer management, adult learning, trauma-informed practice, and wellbeing.
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion and accountability.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse complex information, solve problems and deliver strategic workforce initiatives in dynamic environments. Strong leadership and workforce strategy experience in a complex, federated or multi-jurisdictional environment.
• Advanced stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, including experience influencing senior government and external bodies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organisational change and design scalable workforce solutions in complex and evolving environments.
• Demonstrated understanding of workforce-related regulatory, privacy, and safety frameworks.
• Ability to lead significant cross-functional projects with measurable impact on workforce capability and program delivery.

Benefits that act for you, while you act for humanity

Work flexibility: Australian Red Cross operates under a hybrid working model which includes two days on-site and three days from home, providing you more work/life balance

Financial wellbeing: In addition to your salary, you can take advantage of salary packaging that could provide you with a great way to reduce the amount of tax you pay - and get more from your salary. You can salary package up to $15,900 for living expenses (such as rent, groceries, utility bills); up to $2,650 for holiday accommodation and meals when dining out; Novated car leases; superannuation and purchase additional annual leave.

Life, Health & Wellbeing: You can access a paid ‘Me’ day just for you and a wide range of other paid leave options. You can also tap into specialist health and wellbeing advice via our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, Converge International.

Career development: Access to ongoing learning, training, and development.

This role is covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award - Level 6. Salary from $119,093.52 + superannuation + salary packaging options.