Area Manager

• Permanent Full Time Contract 
• Location:  Garramilla (Darwin) NT 0800
• $138,818 + super + NFP salary packaging benefits + business car
• Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need

Life at Mission Australia

When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we advocate for a fairer Australia, to meet the growing needs of people across the country. Together we’re building hope and possibility for all. Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your Opportunity 

As the Area Manager for Community Services, Greater Darwin, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across a diverse portfolio of services supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. With oversight of three services (Darwin Sobering Up Shelter, Integrated Homelessness Supported Accommodation Program, and Litchfield Court) across multiple locations, this role is accountable for operational performance, contract delivery, workforce planning, and financial management within the region. Based at Mission Australia’s Darwin Head Office, this is an on-site position requiring strong visibility and engagement across services and stakeholders.

You will lead, coach, and develop frontline service delivery managers, building a high-performing, values-driven culture that prioritises person-centred outcomes, safety and continuous improvement. Working in close partnership with internal enabling teams, you will ensure services are compliant, well-resourced and aligned with Mission Australia’s national strategy.

As a senior representative of Mission Australia in Greater Darwin, you will build and maintain influential relationships with government, funders, community organisations and sector networks. Your ability to lead through complexity, manage risk and identify opportunities for growth and innovation will be critical to strengthening services and delivering lasting impact across the region.

This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for a proactive and strategic operator who thrives in complexity and is passionate about delivering tangible outcomes for people and communities in need.

Your Key Responsibilities 

• Lead operational performance and contract delivery across multiple community services in Greater Darwin, managing three direct reports and a team of up to 35 staff ensuring compliance, quality and positive person-centred outcomes.
• Provide strong people leadership to frontline managers, driving workforce planning, recruitment, retention, succession planning and professional development.
• Support the Regional Leader and State Director WA/NT in contract negotiations and provide strategic insights on risks, issues, workforce capacity and service delivery capabilities.
• Oversee financial management including budget preparation, monitoring, reporting and effective resource allocation across services.
• Partner with internal enabling teams (HR, Finance, Practice Quality, Service Delivery Support) to ensure consistent, compliant and effective service delivery.
• Monitor service performance, address underperformance, implement improvement plans and celebrate service and team successes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government agencies, funders, community organisations and sector stakeholders.
• Contribute to local and regional strategy development aligned with Mission Australia’s national priorities, identifying opportunities for service growth and innovation.
• Actively represent Mission Australia in regional forums, committees and sector networks to influence system-level outcomes and strengthen organisational presence.

Requirements for Success 

• Tertiary qualifications in Community Services, Management or a related field, or equivalent experience acceptable to Mission Australia.
• Minimum 5 years’ operational and strategic management experience within the community services or not-for-profit sector.
• Knowledge and experience working with Aboriginal cultural systems and protocols, with a commitment to culturally safe practice.
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple programs or contracts across a defined geographic area.
• Strong people leadership capability, including coaching, performance management and leading teams through change and complexity.
• Proven ability to deliver outcomes on time and within budget in compliance-driven and fast-paced environments.
• Extensive experience managing stakeholder relationships, including government partners, funders and community organisations.
• Demonstrated courage in leadership, with the ability to address risk, ambiguity and underperformance constructively and decisively.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify service gaps, innovation opportunities and future growth pathways.
• Full driver’s licence with no restrictions.

Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people. 

Your Benefits

To ensure our employees feel valued, empowered, and celebrated, we provide a range of employee benefits including: 

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support.
• Volunteering opportunities  
• Extra leave available including an additional public holiday, additional annual leave day on your work anniversary and the opportunity to purchase further annual leave.

Our Culture 

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career.  

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you’re skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email [email protected] or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at [email protected]  

Find out more about a career with Mission Australia. 

How To Apply

Click ‘Apply’ and send your application today!

As a committed Circle Back Initiative employer, we will respond to your application.

Applications for this role are shortlisted as received and we are interviewing through the advertising period.  Please apply as soon as possible to be considered. Thank you