Are you passionate about mental health reform and ensuring people’s voices are heard for systemic change? Do you have experience working in non-government organisations focusing on policy research and advocacy? Do you have the skills and experience to manage and lead a team? We’re looking for you! We are excited to announce that we are seeking a full time Policy Manager.

This role will oversee all MHCN’s Policy work including managing the MHCN’s DAFP Policy and Advocacy Team and the Carer Policy and Advocacy Team including providing work direction, resource support and regular supervision deliver timely policy advice on priority issues relevant to people who experience psychosocial disability and NSW mental health carers.

As the Policy Manager you will be the face of MHCN’s Policy and Advocacy services directly responsible for liaising with government policy makers and funders and non-government organisations and engaging with service providers and client groups to identify key needs, barriers, and solutions. You will also ensure that MHCN’s DAFP and carer policy advocacy is provided efficiently and consistently and that the voice of people with experience of psychosocial disability or episodic mental distress and their family, friends and kin are captured and authentically represented in MHCN’s advocacy.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Demonstrate well-developed communication skills, including the ability to communicate in trauma informed and recovery-oriented ways, and experience managing or engaging with (or both) people with lived experience of serious and persistent mental distress and/or of caring for people with such experience.
• Have substantial experience working in a policy role, preferably within mental health or other peak/systemic advocacy for disadvantaged populations.
• Have substantial experience of managing projects including planning, implementation, reporting, and managing multiple workflows with multiple tasks and targets.
• Experience managing a team of direct reports, including those with lived experience and/or caring for people with such experience, and providing feedback and ongoing support, managing work output and outcomes and reporting to KPIs.

See the Position Description on Page 6 of the Recruitment Kit attached, for the full list of selection criteria.

BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH MHCN

• A full-time fixed-term position to 30 June 2024 with a competitive salary: Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Award Level 6 Pay Point 1, plus Super & Option of Salary Packaging to increase take home pay, and possibility for extension beyond June 2024.
• Additional days-off, above the Award Leave (between Xmas and New Year’s Day).
• Flexible working arrangements such as flexible start/ finish times, generous time-in lieu arrangements and working from home options.
• A workplace wellbeing program including membership of Uprise Wellbeing and EAP services and regular wellbeing events.
• Work for a peak-body organisation with a systemic approach to raising the voice of carers to create change.
• Opportunity to work at Collective Purpose, a modern workspace shared by four likeminded community managed organisations in a city-location.
• Welcoming and inclusive culture encouraging diversity and equal opportunity.

MHCN is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified applicants and strongly encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds including First Nations people, LGBTQIA+ people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, people living with disabilities and people with a lived experience of or caring for someone living with a mental health condition and/or psychosocial disability.

MHCN encourages applicants to request reasonable adjustments to facilitate the recruitment process. MHCN will consider reasonable adjustments requests to facilitate employment of the right candidate. For further information or discussion, please contact Laura Knight at MHCNadmin@mentalhealthcarersnsw.org 

This role requires evidence of the following checks/clearances:

• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014.
• Primary COVID19 vaccination shots 1 & 2.
• Eligibility to work and live in NSW, Australia.
• Education or Skill Qualifications (if requested), that were used as part of their application or a requirement of the role.

Evidence of the above checks must be provided by the successful applicant prior to or within a specified period of the role starting. Employment is conditional upon satisfactory completion of these requirements.

Interested?

Please read the application guidelines in the Recruitment Information Kit and send your completed application via email addressed to Laura Knight, Business and Organisation Support Services Manager at MHCNadmin@mentalhealthcarersnsw.org