Tjuntjuntjara is a small, remote Aboriginal community located on the Spinifex Lands in the
Western Desert region of Western Australia. Within this area, Paupiyala
Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation (PTAC) is an Aboriginal corporation with
responsibility for managing the essential and community services in the
community. This includes, but is not limited to, the Community Store, Community
Resource Centre, a Women’s Centre, an Environmental Health program, municipal
services (airstrip, tip, road maintenance, water, power, sewerage), mechanics
workshop, and Spinifex Health Service’s (including Youth and Home and Community
Care programs). Tjuntjuntjara is the main population Centre for the Spinifex
Lands, over 55,000 sq. kms of Native Title area in the Great Victoria Desert
region of Western Australia.
Role
The Municipal Services Operations Manager (MS-OM) is a newly created role designed to
strengthen and structure Tjuntjuntjara’s municipal services capacity and with oversight and leadership, enhance the services delivered through the PTAC Maintenance, Remote Essential Municipal Services (REMS), and Mechanic.
Working closely with PTAC’s Co-CEO’s and external Strategic Advisor, MS-OM will ensure
these programs meet the essential needs of the community and broader Tjuntjuntjara Organisations, completing compliant and up to date reporting, associated budget planning and acquittals. The MS-OM will oversee these operations, developing and continuing to
improve smooth operations and service delivery in a timely manner. The role also aims to uplift Anangu staff recruitment and development and establish meaningful community satisfaction
measurements. For REMS, Maintenance and Mechanic Workshop; develop and monitor key deliverables for these programs that drive sustained improvement in service delivery. The MS-OM ensures that all aspects of service planning, resourcing, external relationships, and governance
align with PTAC’s values, cultural priorities, and strategic objectives.
Duties
Operational, Administrative and Risk Management:
- Manage day to day operations of the REMS, Maintenance and Mechanic
services by:
- Apply innovative leadership strategies to achieve program objectives in accordance
with stakeholders/funding bodies.
- In collaboration with Community Services Operations Manager, manage and maintain staff rosters and leave including maintaining suitable coverage for essential
services, rostered and annual leave for all PTAC staff.
- Engage in monthly budget review of each program to effectively manage budgets.
- Plan annual budget and programming, working closely with DABS, CEO’s and external Strategic
Advisor.
- Ensure PTAC staff meet all compliance requirements as practicable.
- Provide Monthly reports to the Co-CEO including general updates, project reports, Key
Performance Indicator’s/program activity, risks and mitigation strategies.
- Monitor progress, evaluate outcomes, and address areas for improvement via assessment
of program monthly reports and KPI’s.
- Oversee/Complete reporting and acquittals for programs that you lead.
- Oversee special projects/operations that align with your programs.
- Oversee resource allocation, risk management, WHS and compliance with all PTAC policies
and procedures.
- Work with HR to develop or improve policies for your units when required.
- Escalate unresolved or contested issues to the CEO promptly and transparently.
Workforce and Organisational Development
- Create positive, collaborative, supportive and respectful workplace environments for
staff that aligns with PTAC values.
- Role model and uphold PTAC’s code of ethics and conduct.
- In collaboration with HR and working closely with the Co-CEO, recruit and retain
suitably skilled/experienced/qualified employees for programs within your remit
- Produce a panel report with recommendations for Co-CEO review.
- Provide supervision to direct reporting staff.
- Manage staff performance and liaise with HR and Co-CEO as necessary, with reference to PTAC
policy.
- Lead and participate in Group Reflective practice.
- Complete HR functions such as Annual Performance reviews with direct staff and facilitate
professional development opportunities in line with PTAC HR policies and
procedures.
- Review roles and responsibilities with continuous quality improvement in mind.
- Support staff to manage their own wellbeing and comply with WHS requirements where
practicable.
Community Operations
- Manage Community operations when necessary – crisis in community, emergency/disaster,
in partnership with the senior leadership team.
- Be on call as required.
- When required by the CEO/Co-CEO, act as the senior point of contact for employees and organisational processes within the PTAC community, providing early assessment and decision‑making in relation to emerging issues when required.
Manage emergency procedures, risk reporting, and incident escalation processes.
- Manage emergency procedures, risk reporting, and incident escalation processes,
working in partnership with the senior leadership team.
- When required by the CEO/Co-CEO, act as the senior point of contact for employees
and organisational processes within the PTAC community, providing early assessment and decision‑making in relation to emerging issues when required.
Strategic Alignment
- Develop culturally meaningful communication tools, including reports, presentations,
feedback mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability on service
provision, for presentation to the PTAC board.
- Identify funding and partnership opportunities to support strategic initiatives and
community projects in collaboration with the CEO/Co-CEO, PTAC external
Strategic Advisor and the broader PTAC leadership team and staff.
Stakeholder and Community Engagement
- Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders/funding bodies to
ensure communication remains regular, transparent and compliant with program
objectives / KPI’s.
- Facilitate community consultations to ensure decision-making reflects the voices and
perspectives of Spinifex People.
Capability and Mentoring
- Promote community understanding, knowledge and engagement with PTAC services.
- Foster capacity building within the corporation and community by mentoring local staff and supporting professional development and training initiative
The ideal candidate will have:
- Management or Leadership qualifications.
- Proven leadership in community services in remote/cross-cultural settings.
- Extensive experience managing municipal services or similar roles.
- Expertise in integrated community
program management with municipal and community services.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, budget management, and compliance skills.
- Proven understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by Aboriginal corporations (or equivalent) in remote communities.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills to engage with diverse stakeholders,
staff and community members.
- Knowledge and experience in delivering compliant programs, KPI’s.
- Exceptional knowledge and experience managing budgets and multiple funding grants.
- Understanding of and capability to ensure data integrity.
- Experience using Microsoft suite of applications.
- Resourcefulness, adaptability and creativity in problem solving
- White Card.
The salary range offered is between $124,093 plus site loading – $126,58 plus site
loading depending on skills and experience per annum plus superannuation. As a
not-for-profit, PTAC offers salary packaging, which can boost your take-home
pay by reducing taxable income.
For any job-related queries or to obtain a detailed Duty Statement please contact ptachr@dabs.net.
To Apply: Submit your cover letter along with your resume via Seek or alternatively in PDF format to ptachr@dabs.net.
Before an offer of employment can be made PTAC requires a National Police Clearance, not
older than 6 months.
You are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible as PTAC reserves the right to shortlist and interview applications as received. While we would love to contact each applicant, this is not always possible, and we thank every applicant in advance for taking the time to apply.
Unsolicited resumes and contact from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.
Indigenous Australians are encouraged to apply. We are seeking to increase the diversity of
our workforce to better meet the needs of our clients and to improve equal
opportunity outcomes for our employees. This is authorised under Section 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.
