Research Service Delivery Program Manager

Voconiq is a mission-based, data-driven scaleup company providing a voice to communities in the companies, industries and institutions that influence their lives. The organisations we work with want to have meaningful relationships with the communities they operate alongside – not just listening, but actively engaging and working with these communities to create mutually beneficial outcomes. 

Voconiq has developed a sophisticated data analytic engine that enables this by translating community survey data into customer (and community) insights. We are creating positive change through science and bring the ‘Social’ to the measurement of ESG performance.

We are currently working in 13 countries on five continents, providing a range of challenging and engaging contexts to navigate in delivering our services. At times, these are contested spaces where our data helps to find constructive ways for companies and communities to move forward. At other times, we work with industries to help create their first set of sustainability goals. In all our work, what we do matters and has impact. 

Our customers are diverse, including large renewable energy companies, mining companies, local government bodies, and agricultural industries. What they have in common is a desire to bring community voices into their decision making. 

What drives us each day is knowing we’re helping communities translate their experiences, concerns and aspirations into a language our customers can understand and then use to maximise their positive impact. And we’re growing fast, with big plans for the next few years.

Just like the communities we serve, we’re a diverse team and on the hunt for people with fresh insight, new ways of working— and the same passion we have—to make an impact on a local and global scale. We have people based in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Sao Paulo, Harare and more. 

In 2023, Voconiq secured its largest global Enterprise customer for our flagship Voconiq Local Voices program. To give you a sense of scale, we will be delivering Voconiq Local Voices for a mining customer in 20+ locations on five continents. For Voconiq, this is a key step on our pathway to scaling our company and the impact we have every day. This global rollout represents a step change for our customer and their industry more broadly.  

Reporting into the Service Delivery Director, this Program Manager role will oversee the success of project and Service Delivery in this truly global deployment of Voconiq’s Engagement Science. You will be responsible for ensuring Voconiq and our delivery partners provide amazing service through the management of a diverse set of activities. You’ll be working with our CEO, Service Delivery Director, customer HQ and site-based teams to ensure surveys for 20+ sites are designed and launched on schedule, data is collected efficiently, insights delivered, briefings coordinated, and customer learning is supported to achieve maximum impact for them and the communities they work alongside. 

Over the last two years, we have worked hard to build the technology and delivery processes to execute on exactly this opportunity. We want your fresh eyes, experience and talent to continue to improve and refine how we work in the execution of this role as our growth continues to accelerate.

In this role you'll wear many hats: data maestro, client whisperer, team choreographer, and global ambassador.
 

An average day in this role might look like:

• Lead diverse, remote teams on complex survey projects for clients across the globe.
• Recruit a community-based organisation central to successful data collection in West Africa.
• Provide the Research Team with the project context it needs to craft a compelling survey instrument. 
• Interpret data insights through the lens of your experience, our training and growing knowledge of customer sites.
• Bridge cultural gaps and navigate time zones with grace and diplomacy.
• Champion collaboration, mentor your team, and troubleshoot the inevitable project obstacles that come up.
• Monitor budgets and advocate for the resources needed to deliver your program.
• Present findings with clarity and confidence to stakeholders at every level.

You’ll need to be more than organised; we need our first Program Manager to set a standard for how this complex role will be executed by the next and every subsequent Voconiq Program Manager. You will oversee and coordinate the activities of other dedicated Project team members and support staff, and you will marshal Voconiq and partner resources right around the globe, demonstrating elite communication skills in the process. Because the project is global, you will need to be available for regular calls scheduled outside of standard work hours. There is also the likelihood of interstate/international travel approximately two or three times a year.

You have the intellect to interpret social research outputs to ensure what is delivered to our largest customer reflects the world-class social science foundation our company was built on. This role is not for the faint of heart – what we do in Voconiq is unique and we deliver in some of the most challenging locations on earth. We do it because it matters – communities can only adapt and thrive through change when they have agency, voice and someone willing to listen. We make that happen. Join us in that mission.  

Voconiq is a flexible-first workplace committed to ensuring our amazing, diverse team of professionals feel included, heard and able to shape the positive trust-based culture we have created over the last five years. We have large team hubs in Brisbane and Melbourne, and team members working out of NSW, WA, Brazil and Zimbabwe. Where you are is less important to us than who you are, with remote working and flexible work arrangements a feature of the Voconiq experience.  

• Defines and aligns program goals with organisational strategy.
• Manages interdependencies between projects within the program.
• Develops comprehensive program plans, establishes clear milestones, and tracks progress against objectives.
• Oversees resource allocation and risk management across the program. Anticipates potential problems, develops contingency plans, and implements solutions to overcome challenges.
• Proactively adjusts plans and strategies to maintain progress and achieve goals.
• Monitors overall program performance and reports to senior management/key stakeholders.
• Develops project budgets and ensures they are met.
• Establishes, influences and empowers cross-functional teams. 
• Builds strong relationships with stakeholders, fostering collaboration, and navigating organisational politics to drive alignment and support.
• (in time) Manages and develops project managers.

• At least 5 years’ experience in either project/program management, social or market research. 
• Proficient in business tools (i.e. MS Office, PM tools) CRM experience would be highly valued). 
• Strong report writing and presentation skills.
• A Global Mindset. 
• Strong project, program management and organisational skills to manage and prioritise multiple projects, resources, and timelines. 
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate program goals, manage expectations, and keep stakeholders informed. The ability to tailor communication style to different audiences and proactively address concerns or issues.
• Risk management expertise to identify and mitigate program-wide risks.
• Program evaluation and performance measurement skills to track overall progress.
• Flexibility in working / meeting times across timezones. 

• Experience using JIRA.
• Experience managing budgets of up to $1m
• Certification in Project Management (e.g. PMP, Prince2 Practitioner, Certified Scrum Master)
• Knowledge of the mining industry.
• Bonus points: Multi-lingual (Spanish, French, Portuguese)

While we all work remotely most of the time, we’re in one of our offices a day or two a week. In Brisbane, our team call the King Street WeWork home – a beautiful, airy coworking space located just four minutes’ walk from Fortitude Valley train station. Our Melbourne team are located at The Commons, Collingwood - a dynamic, warehouse-style coworking space full of small/startup companies. In Sydney, you’ll find us at The Roller, Zetland – a creative hub created in a mid-20th Century warehouse just up the road from Green Square. We get together a couple of times a year as a group for All Hands days or team events and planning. 

We are a people-first company, with flexible work arrangements enabling people to work remotely or from our offices, a strong commitment to diversity along all dimensions, and a team that understands great people work best when they have space to think and grow. We believe that the unique perspectives and contributions of all our team members generate our success. To ensure that our products and culture continue to incorporate everyone's perspectives and experience, we strongly encourage applications from women, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, those living with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

• A flexible first approach to working locations and schedule - where we can, let’s make work work for you.
• Ability to purchase additional annual leave.
• Leverage work trips to expand your horizons and see the unique places we work.
• Work for periods of time from overseas locations under our Working Abroad policy.
• Formal Time off in Lieu (TOIL) policy where additional hours worked, including when travelling, can be taken back at another time to balance workload and recovery needs.
• Option to swap public holidays (if Award free).
• A tech and ergonomics package to help you do your best work whether you’re in the office or working remotely.
• Grow your skills and career with us -  we offer continuing education and upskilling with access to compelling learning and development opportunities as well as our inhouse Learning Platform.
• Social events to help our team to connect and celebrate including our regular Smells Like Team Spirit events, rooftop cocktails at our annual All Hands gathering, and weekly break out cross-team catch ups to stay connected beyond project work.   
• And so much more… 

We encourage you to consider whether these resonate with you during your application journey:

• Growing together: As a team, we support each other to deliver and grow our potential together
• Community first: We deliver value to customers by ensuring the rights, dignity, power and vulnerabilities of community members are protected
• Partners in success: We deliver value to our customers, not just ‘deliverables’
• Thinking big: We make decisions for now, thinking always of the future

To find out more about us, check out voconiq.com. To apply, submit your resume and a cover letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria for the role, via the Seek Apply Now button. 

To learn more please contact Naomi Boughen, Service Delivery Director, on 0438372***.