About the role

As the Housing Officer Team Leader, you will play a pivotal role in leading and managing a team of housing officers who provide critical support services to individuals and families facing housing challenges. Based in Canberra, ACT, this full-time position is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact within the local community.

What you'll be doing

Oversee and coordinate the day-to-day operations of the housing officer team, ensuring efficient and effective service delivery

Provide leadership, guidance, and support to team members, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment

Manage caseloads, monitor progress, and ensure timely resolution of housing-related issues

Manage NCAT caseloads & representation to tribunal hearings

Liaise with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies and community organisations, to advocate for client needs and secure appropriate housing solutions

Develop and implement strategies to enhance the team's service delivery and client outcomes

Contribute to the continuous improvement of policies, procedures, and best practices within the organisation

Participate in team meetings, case conferences, and professional development activities

What we're looking for

Proven experience in Housing related sector, with a demonstrated track record of success in a team leadership position

An awareness of, or the ability to gain knowledge of the regulatory and compliance frameworks that SEARMS works within, particularly the Residential Tenancies Act and NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Thorough understanding of the housing and homelessness sector, including relevant legislation, policies, and best practices

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders

Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a focus on delivering positive outcomes for clients

Highly organised and driven, with the capacity to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Passion for making a difference in the lives of individuals and families facing housing challenges

Relevant tertiary qualifications in a related field (e.g. social work, community development, housing) or equivalent experience

What we offer

Competitive salary and benefits package

Opportunities for professional development and career advancement

Supportive and inclusive work environment

Employee wellness initiatives and programs

About us

SEARMS is a registered National Regulatory System for Community Housing Providers (NRSCH) Aboriginal Community Housing provider (ACHP). We have served Aboriginal communities in regional NSW since 2003.

Our portfolio is complex. We own and manage our own 45 properties as well as 140 properties owned between 10 other Aboriginal organisations (including Local Area Land Councils) and 250+ Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) NSW (state-owned assets) under 16 different service agreements!

The gaining of our accreditation as a Tier 3 provider under NRSCH confirmed our commitment to best practice generally. At that time, SEARMS was one of only 24 ACHP’s nationally and one of only 10 such organisations in NSW. We have also been recognised by the AHO NSW as a ‘growth provider’ – assessed as having the structure and internal capacity for additional management transfers.

In 2024, SEARMS achieved ASES accreditation (Australian Service Excellence Standard). This is another level of achievement for the organisation.

As part of its growth strategy, SEARMS has established a Canberra office to complement its Batemans Bay head office. As such, we are constantly looking for people who are passionate about serving their community. We have a number of positions currently available.

Joining an organisation in the midst of exceptional growth can be challenging! Every day there are challenges, and it requires a solid grounding of skills, resilience and initiative to thrive. If you feel this could be you, we offer an excellent range of benefits including:

· An opportunity to support organisational growth and development while delivering community outcomes.

· Full non-profit status with salary sacrifice available to reduce tax and increase your take home pay!

To thrive in this working environment, you will be culturally sensitive with compassion, empathy and a genuine interest in people. Leadership, resilience and the ability to work under pressure are also essential, as is professionalism, integrity and ethical behaviour.