Team Leader – Youth

The Salvation Army (NT) Prpty Trust atf Social Work; Darwin; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Employee Assistance Program

Salary packaging benefits

Job summary

The Salvation Army Darwin is seeking a proactive Team Leader, Youth to guide a multidisciplinary team across Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. You will lead prevention, early intervention and outreach programs, ensuring youth are seen, supported and empowered to reach their goals.

You will foster trauma-informed, culturally responsive practice, build partnerships with schools and community organisations, and model strong leadership, accountability and staff development.

Qualifications

• Qualified in Youth Work, Social Work, Education or related field.
• Leadership experience in youth services, education or community services.
• Commitment to safe, inclusive environments for young people.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multidisciplinary team delivering youth services across Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.
• Foster coaching, reflective supervision and staff development for high performance.
• Build trusted partnerships with schools, Aboriginal community groups, government agencies and community services.
• Oversee service performance, safeguarding, risk management and reporting.
• Promote trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and young-person-centred practice.
• Drive growth and sustainable expansion of NT Youth Services.

Skills

Team leadership

Youth work

Stakeholder engagement

Trauma-informed practice

Culturally responsive practice

Safeguarding

Communication

Education

Youth Work qualification

Social Work degree

Education degree

Community Development qualification

Job description

Number of Positions Available: 1

ABOUT US

The Salvation Army is a Christian movement and one of Australia's largest and most-loved charities. We believe in doing good that transforms lives and futures for the better. It is this belief which drives us to find new ways and places where we can make a difference. From times of personal crisis to moments of national grief, we are always here — providing support, safety, community, and opportunity.

Darwin, NT Full-Time | 2-Year Maximum Term Contract SCHADS Level 6

Why this role matters

Youth Services exists so that young people are seen, supported and empowered to reach their full potential. With care and courage, we journey alongside young people, creating safe spaces, real opportunities and stronger communities where they can thrive. As Team Leader, Youth, you will turn this purpose into consistent, high-quality practice and meaningful action. You will lead a committed team delivering prevention, early intervention and crisis outreach services and programs across the Northern Territory, ensuring young people are recognised for their aspirations, capabilities and capacity to shape their own futures. Through purposeful leadership and genuinely relational practice, you will help young people feel safe, heard and connected to the people, opportunities and supports that matter to them. This is an opportunity to lead with care and courage, develop others and contribute to positive, lasting change for young people across the Territory.

About the role

Reporting to the Northern Territory State Manager, you will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team working alongside young people across Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs. Our current services include homelessness prevention, early intervention and assertive outreach, with opportunities to expand our work across education, alcohol and other drugs, housing and related areas of youth support. You will help shape this growth, ensuring services are responsive to young people’s goals and to the distinct needs and contexts of communities across the Territory. This is a highly relational role requiring confidence, curiosity, the ability to build trust and foster team wellbeing. You will represent Youth Services and develop productive relationships with schools, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, housing and health services, government agencies and local networks. By bringing people together around shared goals, you will strengthen referral pathways and support more connected responses for young people. You will provide operational leadership, reflective supervision and practice guidance, fostering a team culture built on high expectations; accountability, collaboration and continuous learning. You will support staff to deliver trauma-informed, strengths-based and young-person-centred services, while promoting culturally responsive practice grounded in listening, learning and respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, families, communities and organisations. From developing staff and strengthening practice to expanding partnerships and shaping new services, you will influence the future of youth support across the Northern Territory. We are looking for a leader who believes in young people, invests in relationships and understands that meaningful outcomes are built through trust, consistency and collaboration. This full time, two-year maximum term position is primarily based in Darwin, although applications from Alice Springs and Katherine will also be considered. The role sits within the NT Youth Services team, reports to the Northern Territory State Manager and is remunerated at SCHADS Level 6.

How you will make an impact

• Lead and inspire a high-performing multidisciplinary team committed to excellence and better outcomes with young people
• Foster a culture of high expectations, accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement
• Build staff capability through coaching, reflective supervision, mentoring and professional development
• Support strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and young-person-centred practice
• Help lead the continued expansion of NT Youth Services, ensuring growth is purposeful, sustainable and characterised by excellence
• Shape responsive services across prevention, early intervention, outreach, housing, education, alcohol and other drugs, and related areas of youth support
• Help develop trusted partnerships with schools, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, government agencies and community services across the Territory
• Oversee service performance, quality, safeguarding, risk, reporting and compliance
• Champion the voices, strengths and aspirations of young people in service delivery, partnerships and continuous improvement
• Strengthen coordinated pathways that help young people access the right opportunities and support at the right time

What you will bring

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Youth Work, Social Work, Education, Community Development, Community Services, Psychology, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant qualifications and experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience in youth services, education, community services or a related setting
• A genuine belief in the strengths, aspirations and potential of all young people
• A deep commitment to creating safe, inclusive and empowering environments where young people can participate, flourish and shape their own futures
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of high expectations, accountability and continuous learning
• Experience supporting strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and young-person-centred practice
• A highly relational approach and demonstrated ability to build trust, develop networks and bring people together around shared goals
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills across community, government and service systems
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding, risk management, professional boundaries and duty of care responsibilities
• Strong communication, judgement and decision-making skills, including confidence navigating complex situations
• The ability to contribute to service development and growth while maintaining excellence, consistency and accountability
• Demonstrated ability to listen, learn and work respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, families, communities and organisations.
• A valid Northern Territory Working with Children Clearance, also known as an Ochre Card.
• A current driver licence valid in the Northern Territory
• A current First Aid Certificate, or willingness to obtain one before commencing

What we offer

• NFP salary packaging benefits up to $15,900 tax free and Entertainment Benefit up to $2,650 tax free
• Flexible working arrangements
• Employee Assistance Program
• Financial, retail and lifestyle discounts
• Discounted health and fitness programs
• Up to 8 weeks of purchased leave per year
• Generous parental leave
• Up to 5 days paid leave to support TSA programs
• A supportive, inclusive culture with passionate team members

The Salvation Army is an Equal Opportunity Employer who provides an inclusive work environment and embraces the diverse talent of its people. We value people of all cultures, languages, capacities, sexual orientations, gender identities and/or expressions. We are committed to achieving a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people. The Salvation Army is a child safe organisation and is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. All child facing roles will require the successful completion of a Working with Children Check. Applicants for all roles require a mandatory Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check. We value Integrity, Compassion, Respect, Diversity, and Collaboration

Mission, Vision & Values

The Salvation Army is a Christian movement dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus. We share the love of Jesus by:

• Caring for people
• Creating faith pathways
• Building healthy communities
• Working for justice

When you work with the Salvos, you help make a real difference to the community and the lives of others. Find more information here. Check out how we’re bringing some more good in the world.

Why work with the Salvos?

The Salvation Army offers a range of employment opportunities across the organisation, including those in community programs, aged care, retail, employment services, corporate and other support services. When you choose to work with the Salvos, you choose to believe in doing good that transforms the lives of people and communities facing hardship or crisis. So, if you are passionate about work that has purpose and satisfaction, and are keen on delivering social and sustainable outcomes that change lives, we want to hear from you.

Our employees have access to a range of benefits, plus personal development and career diversity opportunities that deliver real and meaningful benefits. Enjoy flexible working arrangements and a healthy work-life balance, generous salary packaging opportunities, parental leave, purchase leave schemes and much more.

Find out more

The Salvation Army encourages people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that accepts and recognises every person, embraces their strengths and differences, and provide opportunities for all people to achieve their highest potential. Find out more

Check out our career page to find out more about our recruitment process and what its like to work at the Salvos. We are always on the lookout for individuals keen to help us fulfil mission to support those in need. Along with contributing their valuable time to a good cause, volunteers bring much-needed vitality and a fresh perspective through their ideas to the range of roles we have on offer. Whatever the skillset, availability, or areas of interest, we are keen to hear from you. Check out our volunteer opportunities here.