Social Innovator

We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, mature-age people and people with disability, regardless of sex, sexuality or gender identity.

Who we are

The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) is a future-forward-thinking, not-for-profit organisation helping to navigate big social challenges in Australia.

For over a decade, our multidisciplinary team has partnered with organisations, government and communities navigating Australia’s biggest social challenges. We work together to co-design policy, services, capabilities, initiatives and strategies that make a real difference and help to shift the needle in a measurable way.

Our work traverses the systems and policies that all Australians encounter in their lifetime. We believe that the people at the heart of these systems have unique perspectives and answers, and that by harnessing the skills, tools and mindsets of social innovation, we can design better responses to our biggest challenges – together.

About the role

Based within the Consulting team, you will support and participate in the design, management, and delivery of social innovation projects and initiatives that create positive outcomes for citizens, families, communities, and partners.

This role has been designed for someone early in their career (with at least two years’ work experience in a related context). It has been structured to provide an end-to-end experience of the social innovation consulting process in the social innovation space.

TACSI is a fast-paced environment and you’ll come together with diverse disciplines, ages and experiences to tackle complex social issues and build the conditions for social innovation – all whilst helping each other learn and grow. The role requires working on multiple projects andcognitive switching between deep relational work and administrative tasks.

Your key responsibilities

Contribute to the design and delivery projects & initiatives:

• Actively support small to medium sized social innovation consulting projects or elements within larger projects to time and budget, with a strong focus on stakeholder relationships, experiences and impact.
• Support the facilitation of workshops and events with community, organisation and government stakeholders.
• Actively support the development of funding proposals
• Monitor and maintain your workload to deliver 70% billed work, working in a variety of project teams and in support of those leading projects.

Grow your social innovation practice:

• Actively support the design and delivery of work across the different stages of the innovation journey.
• Proactively seek opportunities to learn and expand your knowledge of social innovation practices.
• Create compelling resources to support our work and communicate the outcomes of our work in purposeful and engaging ways.
• Build a working knowledge of emerging trends in social innovation and social impact.

Grow and maintain customers:

• Build and maintain positive, proactive and outcomes focused relationships with clients and partners, ensuring alignment with TACSI’s purpose and strategy.
• Support the team to build and nurture relationships with external organisations and potential partners that are important forces in achieving our purpose.
• Be a strong ambassador for TACSI’s brand, purpose, work and learning.

Lead self and others:

• Model and champion TACSI’s ‘‘Words to Live By’.
• Engage in core TACSI routines and learning experiences.
• Deepen your cultural competency through working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and leaders, ensuring that our practices are inclusive, respectful, and aligned with cultural protocols.
• Invest in your self-awareness and personal development.
• Support the implementation of a safe, productive and healthy work environment.

What you’ll bring to the role and TACSI

You have a genuine energy, passion and commitment to working in the social sector and on society’s most important challenges. You demonstrate empathy to both those you serve and also your colleagues and peers. You have excellent interpersonal skills, high levels of emotional intelligence, and an ability to create a positive experience for clients and partners.

You are ready to learn and contribute to the development, design and delivery of social innovation projects. You’re ready to face new challenges, uncertainty and change and can work with others through these moments.

You actively seek to identify opportunities to contribute to TACSI and support our team. You are a reflective and active learner, committed to deepening your knowledge in social innovation practice, whilst supporting the growth of others too. And you do all of this with humility and care.

Your capabilities

• Support the delivery of projects and initiatives.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills across diverse audiences.
• Ability to adapt your style and approach based on context.
• Excellent customer service.
• Emerging financial acumen.
• Desk and contextual research.
• Skills in designing creative outputs.
• Self-management and self-care.

Your knowledge

• Emerging understanding of social innovation practices.
• Desired – general understanding of social policy and Australian politics.
• Willing to actively engage in your own learning journey to increase your cultural competency.

Your experience

• At least 2 years’ relevant experience – public-sector experience, third-sector or social innovation and/ or design experience.
• Have experience working with multiple and diverse stakeholders.
• Exposure to project management including budgeting and financial management.
• Exposure to either/ both of the following highly desirable:
  • Design experience in a consulting environment
  • Graphic design

Your education

• Degree or Diploma qualifications in relevant field(s) of social sciences or design or equivalent experience.

Shaping your role at TACSI

We’re proud to have staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences working together at TACSI. While role narratives provide a structure for work expectations, we also encourage you to bring your own unique experience and work style to our team. We believe this helps TACSI strengthen our approach to innovation and problem solving, because true innovation comes from many sources, not just one.

Your relationships at TACSI

TACSI is a “networked” organisation, with a non-traditional structure that aims to enable transparency, adaptivity, creativity, connectivity and leadership across the entire organisation. This role will have no direct reports, instead you will leverage the strengths and knowledge of the entire ‘network’. You will be a part of project teams that form and dissolve around the work, some for a number of weeks, others extending to years.

To ensure you are adequately supported and growing your capability, you will be matched with some peers as part of TACSI’s Circle of Support Program. In addition, you will receive direct support and coaching from Senior Social Innovators, Principals and Directors as requested. Other key relationships include the Chief Innovation Officer and Platform Operations team.

Working with The Australian Centre for Social Innovation

Working with TACSI offers a unique opportunity to deepen and broaden your skills, create a positive impact in people’s lives, and learn from the rich knowledge and experience of our network.

We also offer:

• Salary packaging benefits (up to $15,899 tax-free benefit per FBT year)
• Extra meal and entertainment benefits (up to $2,650 tax-free per FBT year)
• Flexible work practices including ability to work from home.
• Dedicated time and allowance for professional development and learning.
• A bright and spacious workplace in the centre of Adelaide with free parking.
• Recognition program for positive feedback.
• A welcoming team with a sense of fun!

You can apply either:

Clicking the “Apply Now” button and:

• Answering the questions in the Google Application Form and uploading your CV; or
• Uploading a video response to the questions (max 5 minutes) via the Google Application Form (max file size 100MB) with a copy of your CV

If you identify as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person, part of the the LGBTIQA+ community or live with a disability and would like a confidential conversation about these roles, please email [email protected] using the subject line: Social Innovator enquiry via EthicalJobs.