Program Manager – Disability Responsiveness

The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) Limited is an independent registered charity that conducts evidence-based interdisciplinary research. ACOLA is the forum whereby Australia’s five Learned Academies – the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, the Australian Academy of the Humanities, the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering – come together to deliver independent evidence informed interdisciplinary advice to support and guide policy decision making.

Position Purpose

ACOLA has been awarded 3-year funding for a Disability Responsiveness Program from the Department of Social Services under the Inclusion and Accessibility Fund Australia’s Disability Strategy, The Program aims to reduce harm towards people with disability through increased inclusion and participation measures. We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead, manage and implement this program.

The project builds on ACOLA’s good practice guide Ensuring Occupations are Responsive to People with Disability – ACOLA. Specifically, the program will develop and support the implementation of Disability Responsive Training Toolkits (Training Toolkits) across three sectors – healthcare, justice and education – with the aim of enhancing the skills of professionals working with people withdisability. To achieve this, ACOLA will engage with people with disability and lived experience of disability, professional associations and subject matter experts across key occupations within the three sectors to co-design, co-develop and pilot the Training Toolkits.

A 3-5 year Roadmap will also be developed to guide how the Toolkits can be embedded across the board to improve and sustain workplace adjustments, including through policy and other processes.

Reporting to the Program and Policy Director and working in close collaboration with member Academies, professional associations, registered training organisations, academia, government, and industry, the Program Manager will drive the development and successful implementation of the Disability Responsive Training Toolkits across the three sectors.

The role requires strong project management skills, excellent stakeholder management and communication, and the ability to manage interdependencies between activities delivering within scope, time and budget.

A well-developed interest in and understanding of disability responsiveness and / or the education and training sector is desirable. People with disability or lived experience with people with disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

This position is available on a fixed term contract up to 3 years, full time, 37.5 hours per week.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to ACOLA’s Director of Policy and Projects, and working closely with the ACOLA CEO and a small team, the Program Manager will:

• Manage and oversee the successful delivery of the Disability Responsiveness project, within scope, including program planning, schedules, reporting requirements to Government, risk management and budget.

• Knowledge and experience in the ADDIE model (Analyse, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate) which aligns with ACOLA’s phased approach to guide the learning and development.

• Work with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) practitioners to develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation to identify and measure the impact of implementing disability responsive Training Toolkits across occupations needing improvement.In close collaboration with professional associations, key subject matter experts, Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) and other stakeholders, conduct disability responsive Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and identify key occupations that ACOLA can partner with to develop and implement disability responsive Training Toolkits that can be incorporated into professional development programs.

• Establish and maintain training provider relationships and contracts arising from the project.

• Establish an appropriate Governance and Project Framework for the three-year program.

• Collect and analyse evidence to develop relevant inputs into workshops, presentations, training toolkits and roadmaps.

• Influentially lead and facilitate expert discussions and consultations, and maintain effective communication, to ensure all parties, in particular people with disabilities, have a voice, are informed and engaged.

• Plan and coordinate relevant internal and external meetings, including roundtables, roadshows and workshops. Monitor and report on program progress, including identifying and addressing any issues and risk related to all phases of the project.

• Drive continuous improvement and optimisation of program processes.

• As a member of the leadership team, the role is also expected to support ACOLA programs and activities as required.

Selection Criteria

Relevant qualifications or equivalent relevant experience in learning and development, education and training or disability responsiveness will be highly regarded.

Extensive program and project management, with demonstrable expertise establishing, managing and successfully delivering multiyear programs that are on time, within scope and to budget.

Strong ability to coordinate interdependencies among projects, monitor activities, and identify and manage risks in a fast-paced environment.

Excellent and diverse stakeholder engagement including the ability to build relationships, influence, and consult with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including across all levels of government, industry, academia, community groups, representative organisations and education bodies.

Strong problem solving and decision-making capabilities and excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to facilitate discussions, present ideas, and encourage contributions from diverse stakeholder to find common ground.

Excellent time management and prioritisation skills, including the ability to produce high quality work under tight deadlines.

Demonstrated leadership and the ability to work both autonomously and in a small team, using initiative, problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to work.

Commitment to workplace diversity, participation, WH&S, and equity principles.

Employee benefits

• Work with a small and highly effective and fun team that values diversity.

• Focus on work-life balance including flexible working arrangements

• Hybrid work from home & office model

• Excellent salary packaging options

• Supportive and inclusive team environment

How to apply

At ACOLA, we recognise that our strength lies in the diverse perspectives of our team. We are dedicated to establishing a workforce that includes individuals with varied backgrounds, experiences, and talents. We value and celebrate these differences and are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.

If this sounds like a great fit for you, please apply including:

• Your Resume; and

• A statement of claim, of no more than 2 pages addressing the selection criteria and your suitability for the role. Please include an overview of your experience in managing programs of work, your project management experience and stakeholder skills.

ACOLA is committed to an accessible application process. For further information about the position, or if you require assistance with the application process or format, please contact Dr Lauren Palmer, Director, Policy and Projects at [email protected].