About the opportunity
- A new senior leadership role in HumanAbility’s Research and Workforce team
- A configurable portfolio: shape the role around the strengths you bring
- Reports to the Executive Director, Research and Workforce, with several direct reports into this role
About HumanAbility
HumanAbility is the Jobs and Skills Council for the health, community services, aged care and disability, sport and recreation, and early childhood education and care. We are a not for profit, sector led organisation, contracted by the federal government to support skills and workforce
development. The work matters: better evidence and better policy translate directly into better care and support for Australian communities.
We have an opportunity for a Director, Policy and Research to join us on a full-time basis in an ongoing capacity subject to funding (currently funded until mid-2028).
The role may be located anywhere in Australia and will involve travel with overnight stays for organisation meetings, stakeholder meetings, workshops, and industry events.
About the role
The Director, Policy and Research is a senior role within HumanAbility’s Research and Workforce team, reporting to the Executive Director, Research and Workforce. The Director takes responsibility for an agreed portion of the team’s work, with the configuration set on appointment.
The Research and Workforce team carries four core functions.
- Sector deep dives: deep dives are six month stakeholder-led investigations into a workforce, with analytical, administrative, and engagement components.
- Research projects: delivering research projects across HumanAbility’s industries in scope.
- Data and analytics: maintaining HumanAbility’s understanding of the Australian data landscape and undertaking surveys.
- Policy submissions: drafting HumanAbility’s submissions into government inquiries, reviews, and reform processes.
HumanAbility is open to candidates with different combinations of strengths. The Director’s portfolio may be drawn from any of these functions or parts of these functions combined. For example, the role might lead the data function while carrying analytical load on deep dives or supervise the submissions writer while managing the research projects portfolio. The configuration will be agreed on appointment.
What you’ll do
Regardless of portfolio, you will:
- Provide high quality analytical and policy advice to the Executive Director, Research and Workforce, and as required to the CEO, Chief of Staff, Executive, and Board.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with stakeholders across government, providers, peak bodies, unions, First Nations organisations, and lived experience advocates.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the team members in your portfolio, building a culture of high quality, evidence-based work.
- Lead various teams from across the four functions, as agreed with the preferred candidate.
Drawn from across the four functions, as agreed on appointment, you may also:
- Contribute analytical, administrative, or engagement capability to HumanAbility’s workforce planning deep dives, including carrying significant analysis and synthesis, project planning and
governance, leading interviews, and managing stakeholder relationships.
- Contribute to the development of the annual Activity Submissions in accordance with guidance from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
What you’ll bring
Required of every Director:
- Proven experience in senior policy, research, data roles in a complex social policy or workforce environment.
- High level conceptual and analytical skills, and the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex evidence for diverse audiences.
- Proven stakeholder management skills and the ability to build productive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Experience leading and developing teams.
- Demonstrated ability to manage and adapt to competing and changing priorities.
Across the four functions, we are open to candidates with solid experienced in one or more of the following (the role will be shaped around the strengths you bring):
- Deep experience in social research project design, management, and delivery, including mixed methods, and a track record of supervising research staff and assuring research quality.
- Well developed quantitative and data analytic skills, including knowledge of sector specific datasets.
- Survey design and delivery experience.
- Direct experience writing for government, board, and ministerial audiences.
- Experience designing or running sector consultations, or large mixed methods inquiries.
- Lived experience, working experience, or policy experience in one or more of HumanAbility’s industries in scope.
- Connection to, and/or experience working with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, workforces, and communities.
- A relevant tertiary qualification is desirable.
What we offer
A genuinely flexible role. You will work with the Executive Director to configure the portfolio around what you bring.
Hybrid working, anywhere in Australia, with the expectation of in person attendance at organisational meetings, quarterly offsites, and engagements as requested.
Ongoing employment to June 2028, reflecting current DEWR grant funding.
Work that matters, in a small, evidence led, sector-led organisation with a defined mission.
How to apply
We encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every single criterion. We value diverse experiences and perspectives, and your unique skills could be a great fit for our team.
To apply, submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining the configuration you would be most interested in, and the strengths you would bring to it.
For a confidential conversation about the role, please contact our People and Culture team at people@humanability.com.au using the subject line: Director, Policy and Research vacancy.
Applications close 16 June 2026.
HumanAbility is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with
lived experience of disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people of all genders and sexualities.
