Volunteer Management Activity Program Manager

Volunteering Australia; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Volunteering leave

Professional development opportunities

Senior leadership opportunity

Job summary

Volunteering Australia is seeking a Senior Manager to lead the new Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) program, funded nationally. You will design and deliver a major grants program, coordinating across government and NGO partners within a federated structure.

You will shape policy alignment, governance, and a national work program, while leading a small team to achieve concrete outcomes for volunteer sectors.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience managing major government grant programs from design through delivery.
• Strong leadership, convening and co-design skills to build consensus.
• Exceptional relationship management and communication across complex stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for design, establishment and delivery of the program.
• Build consensus for a national direction and establish a strategic work program.
• Lead a small team and contribute directly to program delivery.

Skills

Grant program management

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Policy and governance

Strategic planning

Job description

Volunteer Management Activity Program Manager

Full-time | 12-month fixed-term appointment, with the possibility of extension
Senior management position | Remuneration commensurate with skills and experience
Location: Canberra, ACT | Hybrid working, with two days per week in the office

Role commences in Feb 2027

Are you a standout, highly experienced grants and program manager, ready to lead a nationally significant program supporting volunteering across Australia?

In 2027, Volunteering Australia will assume national leadership of the Volunteer Management Activity (VMA), a major grants program, on behalf of the Federal Government. As VMA Program Manager, you will have a unique opportunity to lead the design and delivery of this important national program in its next phase.

Working at the intersection of policy and program delivery, you will bring partners together around a shared direction and establish a nationally consistent approach within Volunteering Australia's federated structure.

This is a significant opportunity to shape the next iteration of a national program and strengthen support for volunteers, volunteer managers and volunteer-involving organisations across Australia.

About the Role

The VMA Program Manager will provide strategic and operational leadership for the design, establishment and delivery of the new Volunteer Management Activity program.

You will build consensus for a consistent national direction, strengthen program coordination and governance, and establish a strategic work program that delivers concrete outcomes for the volunteering ecosystem. You'll build and lead a small team, contributing directly to delivery.

Success in this role will require extensive experience managing major government or similar grant programs, and the ability to work effectively across complex stakeholder environments in a collegiate and productive way.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for an experienced program leader who brings:

Extensive experience managing major government grant programs, from design through to delivery from either within or for Government (eg for an NGO).

Strong leadership, convening and co-design skills, with the ability to build consensus and bring diverse stakeholders together.

Exceptional relationship management and communication skills, including navigating complex and challenging stakeholder environments.

Strong knowledge of grants, contracts and funding agreement management.

Sound political judgement, an understanding of the Australian Government policy environment and the ability to work closely with VA experts to ensure alignment and consistency with the overall national agenda.

Strong project management skills, such as defining deliverables, milestones, planning, scoping, risk and budget management, scheduling and reporting.

Strong critical thinking, prioritisation and professional writing skills, with the ability to lead a small team while contributing directly to delivery.

Why Join Us?

At Volunteering Australia, you will have the opportunity to contribute to work with genuine national impact.

We offer:

• Flexible working arrangements and volunteering leave.
• Professional development opportunities.
• A supportive, values-driven and high performing team.
• The opportunity to contribute to a national organisational supporting volunteering across Australia
• A senior leadership opportunity to help shape an important new national program.

To view our Position Description, please use the following link: