About the Client

Uniting is one of the largest not-for-profit community service providers in NSW and the ACT, with a 100+ year history of supporting people across aged care, disability, community services, and chaplaincy. With a strong focus on social justice, Uniting is committed to disrupting disadvantage and ensuring First Nations communities are strong, thriving, and self-determining.

About the Role

The Head of First Nations Strategy and Governance plays a critical leadership role in driving Uniting NSW.ACT's commitment to First Nations self-determination, cultural safety, and sustainable change. This position is responsible for leading the execution of the First Nations People and Place (FNPP) Strategy, ensuring its integration across all Uniting Directorates by providing strategic advice, collaboration, and influencing governance frameworks. The role champions the inclusion of First Nations voices in decision-making and empowers Uniting to align with its cultural governance principles to maximise impact.

Key Duties

• Lead the implementation of Uniting's First Nations People and Place Strategy across all directorates.
• Provide strategic advice and advocate for First Nations voices in key decision-making processes.
• Drive cultural governance and embed systemic change organisation-wide.
• Oversee major initiatives like the Ngumbadal Leadership Group and cultural learning programs.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on the impact of First Nations programs and strategy.
• Represent Uniting in external forums, building strong partnerships with First Nations communities and stakeholders.

For a detailed position description, please contact Marisa Conlon - [email protected]

Experience

• 5 or more years of experience in a large complex organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to understand co-design, formulate, test and implement Aboriginal community engagement practices ideally in a complex and diverse organization.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, build and deepen partnerships between a mainstream organisation and Aboriginal communities and/or organisations.
• Work well under pressure and manage own emotional responses when interacting with others in a professional and 'two worlds' environment.
• Demonstrate communication, engagement, networking and negotiation skills working with a diverse array of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Uniting employees and leaders, local Aboriginal communities, Aboriginal SME businesses, and other collaborative partners.
• Skilled at navigating a complex organisation forging relationships and managing through influence rather than direct authority as required.
• Project management skills, organisational and planning skills to meet tight deadlines with the ability to delegate effectively and work autonomously.
• Proven ability to work independently to meet deadlines.
• Exceptional communication skills including ability to present information effectively in both written and verbal formats.
• Ability to regularly travel away from base for several days as required.
• Postgraduate and/or bachelor qualification in a relevant business field or equivalent experience

Important Information

This is an identified position for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginality is a genuine qualification authorised under Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination ACT 1977. Successful applicants will be required to provide appropriate evidence of identity as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

Your application should include a cover letter addressing your suitability against the required experience. To assist you with this, please obtain a copy of the detailed position description from [email protected]

How to Apply

Click APPLY or contact Marisa Conlon, Senior Consultant, Talent Acquisition at [email protected] for further information on the role.

Please submit applications in Word format only by midnight, 25th June 2025.

FIRST PEOPLE Recruitment Solutions is a majority Aboriginal owned agency providing contingent contracts, fixed term contracts and permanent recruitment solutions to Government and Corporate Australia.

Our Head Office is based in Canberra with a national reach to all the states and territories, regional and remote areas of Australia.

FIRST PEOPLE Recruitment Solutions acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures; and to elders past, present and emerging.