Manager, Policy & Advocacy

Who We Are
SVA is Australia’s most innovative social impact organisation.

We use our broad outlook, transformational thinking, and trusted voice to lead the charge against inequality in Australia. We were created over 20 years ago to find innovative solutions to entrenched social problems and speed up the rate of positive change.

We help institutions think differently, we help redesign systems by learning about what works in communities, and work hand-in-hand with our passionate partners to take real action and drive positive social change.
  
The Policy and Advocacy Team
The Policy & Advocacy (P&A) team supports SVA to achieve its mission by improving SVA’s practical knowledge about reducing disadvantage. P&A plays a pivotal role in understanding the external evidence of what works and codifying the learning from SVA’s work with partners across all areas of social policy including people excluded from education, employment, and housing, as well addressing issues affecting children experiencing vulnerabilities, people with disability and First Nations peoples.

Our Policy and Advocacy work drives SVA’s systems change agenda by taking SVA’s perspectives and using them to influence government policy and sector practice to become more effective and reduce disadvantage. The Manager, Policy and Advocacy sits within the Policy and Advocacy team and reports to the Director, Policy and Advocacy.
  
The Position
This Manager, Policy & Advocacy oversees SVA’s policy and advocacy activity in selected policy areas, as part of the team’s collective effort to coordinate SVA’s overall government engagement and advocacy activity. Current policy priorities include impact investing, charity sector sustainability, and employment.

The position also contributes to the development of policy positions and implementation of advocacy strategies to drive change in Australia’s policy landscape linked to SVA’s overarching campaign and advocacy agenda.

This involves:

• Contributing to the development of SVA’s P&A strategy and business plan to address social issues;
• Developing and implementing campaign and advocacy strategies to support SVA’s P&A agenda in selected policy areas;
• Preparing policy briefs, presentations and other communications to support SVA’s engagement with government and other relevant stakeholders;
• Providing strategic policy advice to internal SVA stakeholders to improve the effectiveness and influence of SVA’s work;
• Providing input from a policy perspective on current research and evidence as part of the planning of new innovations and concepts that SVA could develop or work with partners to develop;
• Building relationships with sector leaders and policy makers to build coalitions and ensure SVA has an understanding of Government priorities;
• Representing SVA at social sector forums; and
• Keeping across developments in the social policy landscape

  
Special Requirements

• Some interstate travel may be required as part of this role.

  
Your Benefits

• Work in an organisation awarded Best CSR Innovation 2023 by the Australia Financial Review (AFR) Boss
• Be part of the SVA team known for living by our values to put people at the centre and be open and ready to learn
• We don’t believe that “one size fits all” so we offer flexibility and a hybrid work model that is specific to your team and recognises that work is only one of our priorities.
• Join an organisation with a focus on your wellbeing and development with an additional week of leave after working with SVA for two continuous years.

Who You Are
You will bring a sophisticated understanding of the levers employed by Government in developing and implementing social and economic policy.

You will have demonstrated experience conducting policy analysis and contributing to research and evidence which allows you to develop and implement policy, advocacy and research strategies that support SVA’s advocacy agenda.

You will be skilled and familiar with working with diverse actors across the social sector and in Government. Applying these skills, you will develop and refine SVA’s understanding of current social and economic policy issues and of Government priorities, and grow SVA’s reputation as a key player influencing policy decisions that strengthen outcomes for Australians experiencing disadvantage.

Last but not certainly not least, you will have demonstrated passion and commitment to working in the social sector and on society’s most important challenges, with experience in one or more of the following domains a considerable asset: charity sector sustainability, impact investing, and/or employment.
  
SVA values diversity and encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of colour. We value people of all abilities and diversity of culture, faith, gender identity and sexual orientation. We welcome unique contributions and perspectives of all people to ensure our workforce is representative of the communities we work with and live in.
   
The position description is available on the SVA website.
https://www.socialventures.com.au/careers/position-descriptions/
We recommend that you review the position description before applying for the role.
  
If you have the experience and knowledge we are looking for and are excited to join our team, please submit your CV (max 2 pages) and a statement (max 1 page) addressing the person requirements by midnight AEDT Sunday 10 March 2024.
  
Please note that we will consider and bring candidates to interview as applications are received and therefore encourage you to apply at your earliest opportunity.