Chief Executive Officer – Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS)

• Highly regarded, values-driven disability justice & advocacy organisation
• Advocate for the rights of people with cognitive impairment & disabilities
• Suits candidates with rights based, advocacy, justice or disability experience

The Organisation

Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) is a statewide not-for-profit community legal centre and disability advocacy organisation that works alongside people with a disability in NSW to promote and protect their rights.

IDRS provides free disability advocacy and legal services for people with cognitive impairment and other disabilities through two service streams; the Ability Rights Centre (community legal centre) providing legal advice, advocacy and rights education, and the Justice Advocacy Service (JAS) that that supports people when they are in contact with the criminal justice system.

With a vision of equal rights and justice for people with disabilities, and the aim to make rights real for people living with cognitive and other disabilities, IDRS place the values of justice, respect and persistence at the heart of everything they do.

Benefits & Culture

• Benefit from the 20+ years of strong leadership of the outgoing CEO
• Sydney based with some regional travel, flexible working arrangements
• Attractive NFP tax-effective salary packaging and additional paid leave
• Passionate, diverse and capable team at staff and board level

The Role

Working closely with the board, staff and people with disability to design and drive the strategy of IDRS, you will lead the organisation in its advocacy for justice, equality and legal rights for people with cognitive impairment and disabilities, including influencing policy development and law reform.

You’ll lead the operational and financial management and reporting of the organisation, ensuring compliance and accountability to funding bodies and other stakeholders. You will also:

• Develop and implement the new strategic plan
• Network and collaborate with community, advocacy, legal and government stakeholders
• Drive organisational capability, manage change and promote ethical management
• Manage and shape organisational reputation, public relations and media
• Generate new funding streams, oversee tender submissions and drive financial sustainability

Skills Required

You are an authentic, inspiring and collaborative leader with senior management experience in a values driven, like-minded organisation, ideally within the advocacy and justice sector.

You have successfully developed and implemented strategy and your commercial acumen and operational skills, combined with your strong values-based approach to management, are at the core of your success in delivering organisational growth, influence, governance and financial sustainability.

You bring a connection to disability either through your own experience or your relationship with people with disabilities, together with:

• Understanding of overseeing a multi-programmatic organisation, especially when one of the programs is a community legal centre.
• Understanding of grant-funded service models
• Experience in generating new funding streams, managing tenders and funding submissions, managing contractual negotiations and ensuring compliance.
• Commitment to promoting and leading a highly inclusive culture and developing team members
• Ability to build trusted relationships with a broad range of stakeholders across government, partner organisations, community members and funders
• Political astuteness and advocacy skills to inform policy and law reform from a rights-based perspective

IDRS is an inclusive workplace where persons of diverse backgrounds are welcomed. Persons with lived experience of disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.

If you’re a values-based leader and want to build on the outstanding reputation of this well-known disability advocacy service, please submit a cover letter responding to the skills required above together with you CV.

Alternatively, contact Hayley Martin on 02 8243 0570 to discuss your interest.

Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

NGO Recruitment values equitable recruitment practices and is committed to representing candidates reflective of the diverse organisations and communities we work with. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and identities, and are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs. If you are interested in this position and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply.