EAST MELBOURNE, Victoria Cathy Freeman Foundation
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
 
About the Cathy Freeman Foundation
The Cathy Freeman Foundation (CFF) was established in 2007 to work with remote Indigenous students, families and communities to improve education outcomes and inspire Indigenous students to achieve their goals and dreams.
The Foundation acknowledges the strength and wisdom that lies within remote Indigenous communities. Our work demands strong and trusting partnerships with community, Elders and school leaders. We partner with communities for the long haul, as we journey through the complexities of the work required to create sustainable social change.
 
The CFF works with 1600 Indigenous children and their families across four remote Indigenous communities in Queensland (Palm Island and Woorabinda) and the Northern Territory (Wurrumiyanga and Galiwin’ku).
 
The CFF implements five key projects across these communities, working with children from Kindergarten through to Year 12. The key outcomes of our projects include increased school attendance, increased Year 12 attainment, building the self-belief and self-esteem of Indigenous students to achieve their dreams and increasing the engagement of families and communities in educational events and activities. The Cathy Freeman Foundation inspires children to realise their own gold medal journey.
 
Values
The team at the Cathy Freeman Foundation share the following values, which generally attract like- minded community, school and funding partners.

• Experience – we take the voice of community seriously and build upon what already works.
• Learning – we share a love of learning amongst our staff and with our school and community partners.
• Loyalty – communities respect that we are there for the long term.
• Integrity – we follow through on our word.
• Initiative – we take the small necessary steps to create positive social change.

 
The role
The purpose of the Program Director role is to strategically oversee the Cathy Freeman Foundation education program in its entirety. This senior-management role is responsible for ensuring that the Cathy Freeman Foundation program, including each individual project aligns with organisational strategy, for implementing a strong program management cycle and for establishing the Cathy Freeman Foundation as a reputable community development organisation delivering best practice programs.
 
This role is responsible for the high-level management of the organisational relationship with each partner community, including developing and maintaining key community relationships and implementing a community engagement strategy adhering to community development principals. Further, the Program Director is responsible for managing all programs staff, both community-based and in the head office. This role also plays a significant role in contract management and reporting across the Cathy Freeman Foundation. The Program Director will report directly to the CEO.
 
Responsibilities
 
Program management and strategic direction

• Lead and implement a robust program management cycle across all CFF Programs
• Develop, implement and lead Programs strategic direction
• Lead program development and facilitate continuous improvement
• Liaise with Finance Director to develop and manage overall Programs budget
• Ensure all CFF Programs align with sector best practice and broad organisational values, strategy and direction
• Liaise and collaborate with CEO and Board of Directors to ensure strategic alignment between CFF Programs and organisation more broadly

 
Programs team management

• Responsibility for development and performance of all Programs team, both direct and indirect reports, both head office and community-based
• Line management of Programs Managers (NT and QLD) and any other staff as appropriate
• Support line management of all other Programs staff by Programs Managers

 
Community Engagement

• Develop, implement and manage community engagement strategy and activities
• High level management of key community stakeholders
• High level management of all CFF community visits and communication

 
Monitoring and Evaluation

• Develop, implement and manage organizational Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework
• Develop, implement and manage all community monitoring data collection tools / processes
• Collate and write Quarterly and Annual Programs reports for internal and Board distribution
• Facilitate, plan and manage external, independent evaluations of programs where appropriate

 
Contract Management & Reporting

• Manage and oversee all government, philanthropic and other contracts relating to Programs Including other contracts or reports required at the discretion of CEO
• Ensure contracts are adhered to, managed, and reported against in a timely manner
• Prepare, collate and write all necessary reports in respect of contracts and other materials as directed by the CEO.

 
Funding, Marketing and Communications

• Support CEO, and other staff as appropriate with philanthropic, corporate and government submissions and reports
• Support CEO in stakeholder management of key government &/or funding contacts
• Facilitate provision of Programs information for all Marketing/ Communications needs

Source: Uniting News