General Manager - Housing and Homelessness

About Ruah

Ruah is a leading values-driven employer in Western Australia’s community services sector. Our staff go boldly, not just supporting people in need, but working to end homelessness, end domestic violence and create opportunities for people struggling with poverty and mental health challenges.

Our professional team of operational and corporate services staff is backed by one of WA’s biggest Peer support workforces. Our staff reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion, where difference is valued, celebrated and embraced.

By choosing to work with us, you are helping transform the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our community.

About the Role

Ruah is seeking a General Manager (GM) to lead its Housing and Homelessness portfolio, drive systemic reform, and integrate public health services for social impact. As part of the Senior Leadership team, the GM will use strategic decision-making to improve service delivery, with a focus on client engagement and sustainable outcomes.

 The key focus of this role includes:

1. Leading reform initiatives, aligning with the National Housing and Homelessness Plan, and embedding Housing First principles.
2. Collaborating with local and state governments, securing funding for clients across health, justice, disability, and mental health services.
3. Driving operational efficiencies, ensuring governance, and fostering a culture of excellence.

The ideal candidate will have strong leadership experience, particularly in health services, public policy, or social impact.

This is a full-time permanent position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Lead a diverse team of professionals, providing strategic oversight and fostering collaboration to achieve common goals in line with Ruah's mission and strategic plan. Champion a cross-sector approach to address the root causes of homelessness while integrating public health initiatives and offering expert policy advice.
• Reform and policy: Drive systemic reform and lead innovative operational initiatives, focusing on outcome-driven solutions through a cross-sector approach to address the drivers of homelessness. Provide expert policy advice and integrate primary health initiatives to ensure comprehensive and sustainable impact, aligning with Ruah’s mission and strategic goals.
• Operational Efficiency: Provide leadership to the operations portfolio, driving operational efficiencies, and fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration always with the client outcomes front of mind.
• Governance and Compliance: Ensure robust governance and oversight of governance for all operational areas.
• Financial Management: Prepare budget submissions and manage the forecasting and oversight of programs and project budgets.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with sector partners and related external stakeholders
• Social Impact: Focus on achieving social impact through addressing homelessness and related drivers and working to ensure system integration across related service areas. 

What we’re looking for

The successful applicants will be required to meet the following criteria:

• Relevant qualifications in a related discipline at degree level and/or post graduate fields of health, social impact, or health policy.
• Extensive experience in providing impactful leadership within the health/ community/ not for Profit sector with exemplary strategic, financial, operational and people management skills.
• An understanding of the political environment and current issues affecting the health and welfare system.
• Extensive experience in managing a diverse portfolio of services, programs, and projects within a strong best practice/ continuous quality improvement framework.
• Strong ability to analyse data and information, identify risk, opportunities, and issues for the organisation, with an ability to respond accordingly to address these, to achieve its goals and objectives.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills.
• Experience in developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships and stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrated quality in written and verbal communication & Confident public speaking and presentation style.
• Financial and business skills and acumen with extensive experience in the preparation of budgets, business plans and funding submissions

The following criteria are considered desirable:

• The GM is required to have extensive strategic and senior leadership experience.
• Experience in working with local and state government is essential to align with the National Housing and Homelessness Plan, which coordinates a functional end to homelessness driven by evidence-based practices.
• Strategic understanding of Government Policies, National and International Research in how this applies to the delivery of Community Sector Services for Homelessness in Western Australia.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of diversity and social inclusion- including gender, sexuality, disability, cultural, age, and linguistic diversity and Aboriginal culture.

What do we offer?

• A salary package starting from $140,000 plus a $10,000 car allowance and mobile allowance.
• 5 weeks annual leave
• 16 weeks paid parental leave, with flex to take at 32 weeks half-pay (uniquely, new staff can access 4 weeks paid parental leave after just 6 months’ service). 
• Incredibly valuable Salary Packaging with:
• up to $15,900 core packaging
• plus additional $2,650 in entertainment packaging benefits for travel, accommodation, meals, entertainment, parking and more!
• options to use an Everyday Purchase card to make things simple.
• An extensive learning and development program. 
• Opportunities to be active in the Ruah Community such as participating in a wide range of working groups, joining us at Pride events, being a part of a range of cultural events to promote and support reconciliation and much, much more! 

Required compliance documents:

• Current drivers’ license
• National Police Clearance Certificate

How to Apply 

If you are a strategic leader with a passion for making a positive impact on the community and have the experience and skills outlined above, we would love to hear from you.

Please click apply, create your LiveHire profile, and submit your current CV along with a cover letter of no more than two pages, detailing your suitability for the role.

Closing date for applications: Midnight, Sunday 29 September 2024.

Ruah may close or extend this advertising period at it's discretion.

For further information please contact Elsie Blay, Executive Manager - Services, at elsie.blay@ruah.org.au.

Recruitment agencies need not enquire.

We are building a workplace where difference is embraced and encouraged - and to do this, we need people on our team who are representative of the clients we work with, who are passionate about change and courageous enough to stand up for what is right. 

Ruah has a zero tolerance against child abuse and are committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, and their right to feel safe and be safe across all areas of our organisation.

Everyone is welcome. Everyone belongs.