• Culturally safe environment offering connection and community
• Full time ongoing position with attractive benefits
• Salary range: $155,783 - $179,199 plus super and salary packaging

Associate Director – First Nations Services
Victoria Legal Aid is seeking an individual who possesses a deep commitment to enhancing First Nations involvement and service provision within the justice sector. We are looking for someone who is driven to help spearhead strategic initiatives and endeavours that will facilitate a lasting and impactful transformation to our existing framework – ultimately striving to strengthen our ability to effectively deliver legal assistance to our First Nations client base.

You may or may not be a western trained lawyer, but you will be:

• Deeply connected to, and passionate about, First Nations Peoples' self-determination, recognising the unique strengths and identities of First Nations peoples and enabling VLA to respond to their distinctive needs for legal and related assistance.
• A strategic leader with vision and commitment to projects with the ability to effectively allocate resources, overcome hurdles and produce outcomes.
• A strong communicator with adept cultural insight and extensive experience communicating with diverse stakeholder networks.
• Able to creatively problem solve at a high level in developing, implementing and evaluating innovative solutions.
• Able to draw on your strong relationships with First Nations people, government stakeholders, Aboriginal-Controlled organisations, Elders and other community members.

This is a Designated position. This is a special measures role and only Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander people are eligible to apply, as per the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

The role:
Supporting our Director of First Nations Services, you will have the opportunity to help lead project planning for the First Nations Services team and supervise the execution and maintenance of key initiatives with a focus on governance, performance monitoring and reporting. 

You will also play an integral role in providing expertise and insight across the organisation to key stakeholders on matters of First Nations cultural significance, policy initiatives, service delivery, partnership development and conflict resolution. This involves consulting on both new projects and our existing infrastructure to foster a diversity of ideas and assist in embedding a First Nations lens on activity.

This new position is vital to the organisation in meeting strategic deliverables and improving our cultural competency on First Nations matters. 

About Victoria Legal Aid:
We provide legal representation to those who need it most. With over 1000 staff employed in 15 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

Culture and benefits:

• A flexible, supportive and family-friendly workplace
• Hybrid work from home and office across 14 VLA office locations
• Modern CBD office with end of journey facilities and onsite gym
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Leave to participate in cultural, ceremonial and sorry business
• Access to culturally appropriate EAP service
• Our First Nations Staff Network offers community and connection for our First Nations team members. Other employee networks include our Pride network, Disability Employee Network and our Culturally Diverse Employee Network

How to apply:
To be considered for this role, please submit a resume and cover letter outlining your motivations and experience that would make you suited to the position.

If you require adjustment to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.

For further information review the attached position description or contact Ashley Morris, Director - First Nations Services on (03) 9269 0280.

Applications close 11.59pm on Tuesday 20 February 2024.

Other relevant information:
It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.