Who we are:

The MJD Foundation (MJDF) is an organisation that partners with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander families living with Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) and Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7 (SCA7). Our mission is simple but profound: to help families stay stronger for longer.

What makes us different is ‘Our Way’ — a model built on trust, family, respect and teamwork, combining best practice Western knowledge with Aboriginal cultural knowledge. We walk alongside families, supporting them with specialist services while ensuring community voices, cultural practices and family priorities lead the way.

Why this role matters:

This is not just another executive position. As Director of Community Services, you will shape how we deliver life-changing supports across the NT and QLD. You’ll be responsible for building strong teams, leading service innovation, and embedding Our Way in every decision, program and relationship.

You’ll join our Executive Management Team and lead the Community Services and NDIS teams — ensuring services are not only compliant and effective, but deeply connected to the people and culture we serve. This role is about combining strategy and innovation with compassion and cultural integrity.

What you’ll do

Lead a geographically dispersed team across Darwin, Groote, QLD and beyond, ensuring they are empowered, connected and supported.

Drive the co-design and delivery of programs with Aboriginal communities, not just for them.

Strengthen how MJDF navigates and delivers within the NDIS system — building clarity, compliance and cultural responsiveness.

Build strategic relationships across governments, NGOs, and Aboriginal community organisations.

Champion service quality, equity of access, and person- and family-centred practice.

Inspire and mentor a team who balance clinical expertise with cultural knowledge.

What we offer

Salary packaging benefits as a not-for-profit, including up to $15,900 tax-free each FBT year for everyday living expenses, plus an additional $2,650 for meals and entertainment, boosting your take-home pay.

Six (6) weeks annual leave + paid wellbeing day.

Relocation package for the right candidate.

Flexibility in how and where you work.

Retention Bonus.

Opportunity to travel to remote communities.

Professional development and executive coaching.

A workplace that prioritises relationships, culture and impact over bureaucracy.

What we’re looking for

Tertiary qualifications in Health, Disability or Community Services, with 7+ years’ relevant experience; Allied Health or clinical background (neurological, rehabilitation, disability) is highly desirable.

Minimum 5 years’ senior leadership experience, successfully leading a dispersed workforce of 10+ in complex, cross-cultural contexts.

Proven experience co-designing and delivering programs with Aboriginal communities, ensuring culturally safe practice in remote settings.

High-level knowledge of the NDIS, with experience across accommodation, support coordination and community access, including compliance and quality standards.

Strong interpersonal skills enabling respectful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to consult, collaborate and negotiate across families, communities, government, sector partners and funders.

Demonstrated organisational capability — initiative, prioritisation, managing competing deadlines and maintaining focus across diverse operations.

Strong negotiation skills with the ability to manage sensitive issues with diplomacy, confidentiality and integrity.

Extensive experience in organisational systems and processes, including Microsoft Office, financial management, corporate reporting and client management systems.

Deep commitment to person- and family-centred practice, aligned with the MJDF’s Our Way approach of trust, respect, teamwork and cultural safety.

Desirable

Understanding of Spinocerebellar Ataxias.

Clinical experience in neurological and/or rehabilitation settings.

Working knowledge of NT/QLD Government and NGO services and facilities.

Work Health & Safety

All staff have a duty to ensure their own health and safety and that of others in the workplace. The DCS must ensure that services, decisions, and environments uphold the highest safety standards, especially in remote community contexts.

How to apply

To view the full position description, please visit our website at https://mjd.org.au/ and click on the Work for Us tab.

For more information, contact Tiarna Coogan, HR Lead at [email protected] or alternatively, call for a confidential conversation on 0417478277.

Please submit your CV and a statement (max 2 pages) addressing the selection criteria by Wednesday 1st October, 5PM. Applications that don’t address the selection criteria will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted as received and the position may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found.