The Role

The Principal of Community Development and Advocacy will lead the Community Development Team to embed community development expertise, knowledge, and skills across Council, ensuring the successful delivery of initiatives that strengthen the Cassowary Coast community through innovative and diverse programs, projects, and services. This role will advocate for improved access to health care, housing, social assistance, community safety, accessibility, aged care, and mental health services in alignment with the Corporate & Operational Plan 2025–2030.

The Principal will establish and maintain strong collaborative partnerships with state and federal agencies, service providers, and community organisations, representing Council in intergovernmental negotiations to enhance community services and infrastructure. They will develop and oversee place-based programs and initiatives that improve community wellbeing, liveability, and inclusion, while supporting community-led projects and programs. The role will also strengthen community connection by increasing participation in cultural, creative, and heritage activities and ensuring services are accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

In addition, the Principal will foster local resilience through grants, funding programs, and volunteering initiatives, empowering community groups and individuals to drive positive change.

Our Region

Nestled between one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics rainforest, is the beautiful Cassowary Coast Region. Consisting of coastal and hinterland communities with 30,000 residents across the major townships of Cardwell, Mission Beach, Tully and Innisfail.

With unprecedented interest, new investment and population moving to our region and a climate and landscape the envy of the country, we’re ensuring that the actions we take in managing our business are relevant to ensuring that Cassowary Coast is the ‘next big thing’. Part of that is ensuring that we have the roles that make being the best possible and we want more people like the fantastic team we have to ensure that we continue to make that possible.

About You

You will hold relevant qualifications in Community Services, Advocacy, Community Development, or equivalent experience in a similar role within a medium to large organisation. You bring a proven track record in developing and implementing community programs that address local needs, conducting community assessments, and advocating for the interests of the community at state and federal levels. You have experience in monitoring and evaluating programs to assess impact and ensure continuous improvement. Strong leadership skills enable you to manage resources and people effectively, fostering team growth while delivering successful community initiatives. You possess excellent communication, interpersonal, organisational, and project management skills, with the ability to plan and implement programs aligned with federal, state, and regional strategic directions. You are highly analytical, able to work independently on multiple tasks to meet deadlines, and skilled in business case, corporate, or government report writing. High-level computer literacy, research capabilities, and flexibility to work outside standard hours for community events are essential, along with a current Queensland “C” class driver’s licence.

Application Process

All applications must be submitted via the Cassowary Coast Regional Council website by 7:30pm Monday, 8 September 2025.

On our website, review further position information and submit your application via the Apply button for this role, ensuring you include:

Cover Letter (max 2-3 pages) addressing the selection criteria and the reason you are the ‘best fit’ for this role

Current Resume showcasing relevant skills, experience and qualifications

Current Licences/Qualifications, relevant to this role

Shortlisted applicants may be requested to participate in a one-way interview process with Spark Hire, Police Background, Social Media, Adverse Media Check and Psychometric testing and will be required to complete a drug and alcohol screen.

If you have questions after reading the information on our website, or you are having difficulty viewing the position online, please contact us:

People & Safety P: (07) 4030 2216 or E: [email protected]

Cassowary Coast Regional Council is strengthened by diversity, and we celebrate our inclusive workplace culture that brings great value to our organisation and community as a whole. We promote and apply equality of opportunity throughout our recruitment process and encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

This includes people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people, young people, older people, women, and people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer.