Do you want to collaborate with families, providers and communities to create housing that genuinely supports the people who live in it?
Do you have experience supporting people with disability to live in a home where they feel safe, valued, and connected to what is important to them?
Do you enjoy managing multiple projects simultaneously from conception to operation?
**Applications without a cover letter addressing the questions below will not be accepted. AI cover letters are discouraged; we want to hear from you!**
About the role
As the Service Development Manager, you will play a pivotal role in creating sustainable, family-governed homes for people with disability.
You’re a strategic thinker with proven experience in SIL or supported accommodation settings. Beyond house establishment, you’ll drive community engagement initiatives, develop and maintain strategic partnerships with NDIS providers and sector stakeholders, and manage our database to facilitate effective co-resident matching for future cooperatives.
You’ll work directly with families, people with disabilities, and the SILC Leadership team to establish customised disability housing solutions that reflect residents’ unique needs and aspirations.
The ideal candidate brings strong project management capabilities, proven business development experience, and exceptional stakeholder relationship skills. You have a deep understanding of the NDIS framework and how funding can be optimally utilised to support participants with complex needs.
About Us
Supported Independent Living Cooperative (SILC) is a not-for-profit cooperative and NDIS registered provider of Supported Independent Living (SIL) services.
We believe people with disabilities, and their families, are best positioned to make decisions about where they live, who they live with, and who supports them.
We assist families in establishing their own cooperatives that operate family-governed homes for their loved ones. This model creates safe, supportive, and empowering environments where residents remain happy, healthy, and connected to their family, friends, and community.
Benefits:
- 12% superannuation
- 5 weeks annual leave per year
- Salary packaging option of up to $15,999
- Access to Employee Assistance Program
- Ongoing professional development opportunities
- A supportive and inclusive work environment
The key things you will do:
- Establish new SIL housing cooperatives from conception to operation – managing all establishments via project management software to ensure progress is understood across the organisation
- Complete all intake and referral requirements, including conducting initial SILC model explanation meetings with new referrals
- Regularly communicate with and update the SILC board, the Leadership team and the establishing houses on project progress
- Engage with the SILC database to complete effective co-resident and co-family matching that allows for the establishment of future SILC cooperatives
- Community engagement and brand reputation programmes – develop relationships, reputation and awareness of the SILC model with other providers
- Deliver information sessions that assist the community’s understanding of complex family-governed models
- Develop and maintain relationships with NDIS providers and key sector stakeholders
- Provide ongoing service development support to cooperatives established in the past 12 months
Essential Skills:
- Deep understanding of the NDIS framework, funding categories, and operational requirements
- Ability to work across multiple complex projects simultaneously, ensuring quality standards are maintained, and all key timelines are met
- Ability to manage diverse stakeholder relationships, including the SILC board, the Leadership and Head Office teams, emerging house operators, existing house operators, NDIS providers, community partners and support coordinators, including adjusting your communication style to match the requirements of each stakeholder group
- Ability to communicate and articulate complex NDIS, Cooperative & regulatory information in an accessible, digestible manner for families and people with disabilities
- Strategic thinking and business development acumen within a supported accommodation or SIL context
- Strong leadership and people management capabilities
- Presentation and community engagement facilitation skills
- Ability to coordinate, lead and follow up with multidisciplinary teams to ensure unified stakeholder collaboration and optimal participant outcomes
- Capability to manage complex house establishment projects from initial referral through to final house establishment/operational setup (120+ step process)
- Ability to implement project management methodology
Essential Experience:
- Experience in the establishment of SIL or supported accommodation models that are customised to meet residents’ particular needs
- Minimum 2 years working with people with disability, and their families, within a supported accommodation context who have complex support needs and high risk factors
- Effective understanding of the NDIS funding model, how funds can be used, and budget management for NDIS participants (this sits across both skills and experience)
- Proven track record of meeting KPIs and delivering to timelines within dynamic, fast-paced environments
- Proven track record in business development or service expansion
- Experience in building and maintaining strategic partnerships with other NDIS or community support providers
- Experience in complex end-to-end project management
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with CRM systems and database management
- Marketing and brand development capabilities
- Knowledge of cooperative law & cooperative governance principles
- Grant writing and tender coordination
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel with the ability to develop financial models to assess cooperative financial viability
Preferred Experience:
- Track record of identifying and securing new business opportunities
- Leadership experience in disability services or the health-care sector
- Experience working with family-governed models or person-centred approaches
- Previous work in cooperative structures or community-based organisations
Cover letter questions
- Give an example of a time you have managed a complex project with competing priorities and multiple stakeholders providing input.
- Demonstrate how you explain NDIS or compliance requirements to people who are learning about them for the first time.
- How would you balance the importance of policy and procedures vs the desire of a family member to do things their way?
- How would you approach managing different family expectations about information sharing during the house establishment process?
- When meeting families who’ve been let down by other NDIS providers, what’s your approach to building trust in SILC?
How to Apply
Please apply via Seek (https://www.seek.com.au/job/90517289?ref=direct-share-hirer-jobs-list). Your application must include:
- A cover letter addressing the questions above, and
- A current resume
Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted. Please note that AI cover letters are discouraged; we want to hear from you!
