Pathways and Programs Manager

• Work Type: Hybrid, 2 days in the office (Wednesday & Thursday) and 3 days WFH

• Employment type: Full-time Fixed Term Maternity Leave Cover

• Salary: $120,000 to $130,000 + Superannuation + NFP Salary Packaging

• Location can be in our Perth or Sydney Office

About Aurora:

Aurora’s vision is a society in which Australia’s First Peoples determine their aspirations through education and life-long learning, shaping a new future for our country.

Our mission is to inspire First Peoples in their education journey and connect them with educational and career opportunities that enable them to realise their potential.

At Aurora, we're on an exciting growth trajectory, intensifying our impact and expanding our horizons. To fulfil our mission, we're broadening our team with individuals eager to contribute to our vision, strategy and purpose-driven culture. Below is the outline of one such opportunity awaiting your expertise. However, we encourage you to explore all newly created job positions to find the one that best aligns with your career aspirations, capabilities, and passions.

Aurora is an Indigenous organisation registered in Supply Nation and won the Australian Employer of Choice Award 2023-2024 and Great Place to Work Certification.

About the role:

The Pathways and Program Manager leads the planning, delivery and continuous improvement of Aurora’s pathways programs. The role is accountable for the program strategy, operational planning, budgets, reporting, risk management and stakeholder engagement across key programs (including Scholarships and Study Tour programs, and Indigenous Pathways Portal), in alignment with Aurora’s strategy.

Responsibilities:

Stakeholder Engagement and Strategic Partnerships

• Act as a central point of contact for the Pathways team for internal and external stakeholders.

• Represent Aurora at relevant external stakeholder events to build awareness of Aurora and the Pathways programs.

• Support funding relationships and partnership activity in collaboration with the DCEO and Fundraising & Marketing team.

• Work with Program Leads and the Fundraising & Marketing team to coordinate external engagement initiatives and contribute to submissions, proposals and partner reporting as required. Provide regular stakeholder engagement updates to the DCEO, Development team and Program Leads.  

Administrative Support for the Trusts (as applicable)

• Contribute to the preparation of Trust documentation (agenda, reports and scholar updates) and coordinate meeting processes as required.

• Maintain accurate and current Trust records and financial tracking, working with the DCEO and Finance.

Program Leadership and Delivery Oversight:

Symposium and Study Tour

• Oversee the development and management of the Symposium and Study Tour operational plan, including annual and tour-specific budgets and schedules

• Coordinate reporting requirements and contribute to evaluation and continual improvement.

• Oversee end-to-end planning and delivery (promotion, applications/selection, logistics, participant support and post-tour follow ups).

• Be available to attend Symposium (Sydney) and the Study Tour, as required.

• Support pipeline development for future tours and connect participants to other Aurora opportunities.

Scholarships

• Oversee the development and management of the Scholarships Program operational planning, including annual budgets, event-specific budgets and reporting schedules.

• Manage the end-to-end scholarship process (promotion, application, review, interview panel, interviews, offers, administration and reporting).

• Oversee scholar support in line with the  Student Support Framework (check-ins, travel/visa support, and access to academic and wellbeing services).

• Monitor scholarship reporting and milestone requirements, and oversee financial payments in line with policy and delegations.  

• Build scholarship pipelines and connect scholars to other Aurora programs and networks.

Indigenous Pathways Portal

• Oversee the Portal operational plan, including budget and resourcing requirements for Portal operations. Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure Portal activity aligns with Aurora’ priorities.

• Ensure Portal scholarship listings are maintained and kept up to date.

• Ensure all reporting requirements are met.
  

Leadership

• Foster a values-aligned team culture focused to deliver program outcomes.

• Provide day-to-day guidance, and support to the teams, in alignment with pathways objectives.

• Regularly check-in with Pathways Leaders to provide constructive positive feedback.

• Drive engagement between the Pathway team and the broader organisation including active participation in activities such as team meetings and planning initiatives.

• Maintain strong contact with other teams to generate team cohesion.
  

Other requirements of the job:

Cultural Safety 

Comply with cultural safety principles about overcoming the cultural power imbalances of places, people and policies to contribute to improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. This includes: 

• Continuously growing and applying understandings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; 

• Actively reflecting critically on the potential for one’s own unconscious bias; 

• Continuously supporting reform (internally and externally) to ensure procedures, processes and program practices are culturally safe. 

 Child Safety / Working with Vulnerable People 

• Maintain the National Child Safety, Code of Conduct and Procedure. 

• Work with internal staff and external advisors to provide internal training and advice on child safety matters. 

Role model the required behaviours including: 

• Providing a welcoming and safe environment for children and young people. 

• Promoting the safety and well-being of children and young people associated with the program. 

• Interacting with children and young people in ways that are positive and safe. 

• If required, provide adequate care and supervision of children and young people associated with the program. 

• Acting as a positive role model for children and young people. 

• Report to an appropriate person any suspicions, concerns, allegations or disclosures of alleged abuse against children and young people. 

• Manage reports of any suspicions, concerns, allegations or disclosures of alleged abuse against children and young people. 

What will make me successful in this role?

 Purpose and values

• To align with our vision that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to realise their full education and employment potential.

• To uphold our core values of respect, collaboration, accountability, and impact.

• To promote cultural, psychological, and child safety, and encourage an inclusive and supportive environment.

• To be a leader who prioritizes purpose and people, and is dedicated to achieving excellence, promoting well-being, and fostering personal and professional growth.
  

Experience

• Prior experience managing an educational program for a non for profit or tertiary institution.

• Experience in project and program management.

• People management – minimum 2 staff.
  

Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain constructive relationships with a range of stakeholders including program participants, their families, corporations and government bodies.

• To take the initiative in developing improvement plans as needed, aligned with the organisational strategy, needs, and capabilities.

• To effectively communicate, collaborate, and coordinate with others to achieve shared objectives.

• To be open to receiving feedback and continuously learning and growing.

• To be proactive, self-organised, and capable of working independently.

• To embrace creativity and encourage diverse thinking and working approaches.

• To be adaptable to change and responsive to the shifting priorities and requirements of the organisation.

Travel and out-of-hours requirements
This role may require occasional travel (including interstate/overseas for Symposium (Sydney), study tours (US/UK), scholar retreats (nation-wide), and partner engagements.  These requirements will be planned wherever possible and managed in line with Aurora’s flexible work practices.

Why you’ll love working with us:

• To be inspired by our purpose, leaders, and team members, with 93% of our team members recommending Aurora as an excellent place to work.

• To experience a culture of psychological and cultural safety, with 96% of team members viewing Aurora as an inclusive organisation.

• To have a healthy work-life balance, with a hybrid work model, "No Meetings Fridays," SONDER, Aurora’s health and wellbeing companion, and access to Headspace. We also offer policies that support employees' personal and professional goals, such as study leave, cultural leave, and parental leave.

• To have opportunities for personal and professional growth, with multiple training sessions, Yarns with Elders and mentors, and internal development programs.

• We offer a competitive salary. Your salary would be between $120,000 and $130,000 depending on your experience + super (12%) + Non-for-Profit salary package (https://eziway.net.au/).

Please click 'apply' if you are interested in this role

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All employees must have a working with children check (WWCC), police check, and references. Aurora will inform candidates/employees when checks are conducted. Aurora will cover these expenses. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are strongly encouraged to apply.   

Aurora is an EEO employer that welcomes applications from people who have a disability, are LGBTIQA+, and people of culturally diverse backgrounds.

At Aurora Education Foundation, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the confidentiality of your personal information throughout the recruitment process. By submitting your resume or any other personal details to us, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

Purpose of Data Collection: The personal information you provide will be used solely for recruitment purposes, including assessing your suitability for employment opportunities within our organisation.

• Confidentiality: We will treat all personal information with the utmost confidentiality and only share it with relevant internal stakeholders involved in the recruitment process. 

• Data Security: We have implemented appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or alteration.

• Data Retention: Your personal information will be retained for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this disclaimer or as required by applicable laws and regulations. 

• Third-Party Disclosure: We will not disclose your personal information to third parties without your explicit consent, except as necessary to comply with legal obligations or as part of the recruitment process (e.g., background checks). 

• Access and Correction: You have the right to access, update, or correct your personal information held by us. If you would like to exercise this right or have any concerns about the handling of your data, please contact us 

 By submitting your personal information to us, you consent to collecting, using, and disclosing your data as described in this disclaimer.