Director, Partnerships and Projects

• Reports to: CEO
• Direct reports: 3x YLab Managers
• Location: Melbourne office with flexible WFH arrangements, virtual work arrangements will be considered
• Status: Permanent Part-time or Full-time (0.8-1.0 FTE)
• Salary range: $128,370 – $139,345 pro-rata (+11.5% superannuation)
• Award classification: Above Award (SCHADS Level 7 Pay Point 3)

Role summary

YLab is currently seeking a Director within our senior leadership team to oversee our business development activities, client work and strategic priorities with autonomy and confidence.

You will have extensive experience in a consulting or agency environment, independently putting together proposals, leading complex projects, balancing timelines and budgets, assuring project quality and measuring social impact.

You will be confident working in a social enterprise environment that is driven to innovate and test new models to deepen social impact through collaboration with young people, stakeholders and funders. You will also be a dedicated coach and have extensive experience working with young people with diverse lived experiences, focused on providing growth opportunities for your direct reports and the young people that you work with.

You will have experience leading business development and business outcomes with a proven track record of meeting financial and business development targets.

You are innovative and interested in solving complex problems through co-design and collaboration. You will also be a highly strategic thinker, always considering how you can optimise our ways of working to drive additional impact.

What you’ll do

Business development:

• Lead major areas of business development to generate income in line with YLab’s values and strategic goals with limited direction
• Identify and drive potential project opportunities with prospective clients through research, events and meetings to meet annual targets
• Lead the development of project proposals, establishing appropriate scopes, budgets and teams that align with client outcomes and YLab’s strategic goals
• Contribute to the development of pitches, new ideas and impact models for philanthropic partners, including leading the completion of impact reports and acquittals for funders
• Foster ongoing relationships with existing clients and connections

Project delivery:

• Independently lead project teams to deliver scopes of work, achieving the desired impacts on time and within budget
• Use best-practice consulting and co-design methodologies to deliver high-quality and high-impact work that consistently exceeds expectations
• Coach teams of YLab Managers and Associates to design and deliver projects in a way that draws on their relevant lived experiences, capabilities and knowledge
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders throughout the entire project lifecycle to ensure their immediate needs, as well as those of the organisation, are met
• Identify, engage and manage contractors and delivery partners to ensure YLab projects draw on external expertise and knowledge as required
• Create and codify best practice processes, workshops, and knowledge to contribute to the ongoing development of YLab’s products and services

Thought leadership and social impact expertise:

• Develop thought leadership content to be distributed via YLab’s channels
• Lead the development of YLab’s annual impact report
• Lead the design, testing and launch of new YLab products and services in line with YLab’s strategy
• Facilitate webinars, workshops and trainings with our clients and broader community to demonstrate YLab’s expertise as required
• Contribute to YLab’s marketing, communications and event activities as required

Leadership and management:

• Lead strategic initiatives surrounding team culture, team performance, youth engagement, product development, insights generation, impact measurement and other areas relating to YLab’s strategic goals
• Contribute to the design and implementation of YLab’s business strategy
• Develop new YLab products and services in line with YLab’s strategic priorities
• Provide expert advice and guidance to optimise YLab’s proposals, projects and ways of working, coordinating and leading organisational projects where required
• Guide and coach direct reports to enhance their skills and apply their expertise for the benefit of projects, their teams, and the YLab strategy.

Who we’re looking for

We are seeking a Director with many, if not all, of the these experiences and skills:

• You’re a whiz at business development activities and have at least 5 years experience conducting research, networking, writing proposals and designing value propositions for potential clients.
• You know how to manage complex projects and have at least 5 years experience designing, delivering and evaluating them. When things come up (which they often do) you can manage ambiguity and tackle problem-solving in your stride.
• You’re a natural leader. You have at least 3 years of experience coaching and building capabilities within dynamic, intergenerational teams.
• Your business acumen is through the roof. You know how a consultancy business operates, and have a deep interest in innovative business models and social enterprises.
• You’re confident in co-design methodologies. You can bring diverse stakeholders together to build trust and collectively solve problems in a creative and outcome-focused manner.
• You have a strong understanding of key systems and institutions. You have a deep knowledge, lived experience or professional experience within the education, employment and/or health systems, and are passionate about enacting change within them.
• You’re a clear communicator. You can convey complex concepts in an easy-to-understand manner, and tailor your messaging to a wide range of stakeholders, whether it’s online, in-person, or in writing.
• You’re a strong facilitator and can deliver workshops and trainings. You have a number of tools and tricks up your sleeve to engage an audience, and synthesise your work in a fun, accessible and engaging way.
• You have experience working with young people with diverse lived experiences. This includes having cultural intelligence and the understanding of how to create safe, accessible and brave spaces for individuals and communities that work with us.

Our work is guided by a commitment to intersectional justice. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, young people, people of colour, women, disabled people or people with disability, people from LGBTIQA+ communities, and people with lived experience of economic injustice and housing insecurity.

We recognise that charities and nonprofits have systematically excluded these communities. The problems we face are complex and the more diversity of experiences we can bring to the table, the better our solutions are. Even if you only meet some of what we’re looking for, or feel that you might not entirely be ‘the right fit’, we’d love to hear from you.

About us

YLab exists to design better systems and services with young people. We are a not-for-profit co-design, strategy and creative services consultancy that employs and trains young people to centre their lived experiences and deliver design projects with our clients.

We work not only to build the capabilities of young people, but to also shift the mindsets and build the capacity of institutions to value young people as equal partners in decision-making.

Since our conception, we have worked on over 250 projects with clients like the Australian Electoral Commission, Office for Youth and VicHealth, and have directly employed and trained over 180 young people.

Our work mainly focuses on the health, employment and education systems with an intersectional focus, and this is where we see co-design being a high impact tool to shift systems and services.

What we offer

• A dynamic, flexible workplace. We are a values-led organisation that combines the best of in-person connection and virtual efficiency.
• Generous leave conditions and flexible work. YLab is committed to a flexible workplace, and offers opportunities for part-time work, 18-weeks paid parental leave, paid cultural and ceremonial leave, gender affirmation leave, and paid leave for your birthday.
• Commitment to health, wellbeing and growth. We provide a dedicated wellbeing and professional development allowance to spend however you like, to help you grow and feel supported inside and outside of work.

Other important things

• A Working with Children Check is a mandatory requirement for this role, we’ll help you with this if you are successful.
• We require all staff to commit to following our safeguarding procedures, and the successful applicant will commit to attend training to expand their understanding of safeguarding.
• Applicants for this role must have a valid, legal right to work in Australia.

How to Apply

1. Click ‘Apply Now’ and then the relevant position.
2. Please include a detailed resume (no more than 3 pages) or a link to your LinkedIn profile.
3. Please provide brief answers to the three questions listed (no more than 300 words each):
   • What excites you about this role?
   • What unique skills or experiences would you bring to this role?
   • What role has co-design played in shaping your personal practice?
4. Click ‘submit’!

Successful candidates will be called for a Zoom interview and be provided with all interview questions in advance.

We understand that applications can be stressful and often inaccessible, and we’re committed to an inclusive recruitment process. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to create an accessible and safe space with you.

Contact information

Email us at [email protected] using the subject line: Director, Partnerships and Projects enquiry via EthicalJobs for more information, questions, or to book a confidential discussion about the role.