Community Project Officer

Byron Shire Council is focused on partnering with our community and offers pristine beaches, diverse lifestyles, a magnificent natural environment and a subtropical climate. Stay, live and work in our community. We’re seeking a proactive Community Project Officer to support Council’s transition to new governance models for community halls.

In this pivotal role, you’ll be the primary contact for Section 355 Committees, help implement policies and systems, and lead the development and delivery of a new volunteer program. You’ll collaborate with volunteers, hall hirers, and internal teams to ensure facilities are well-managed, accessible, and effectively used. The role also supports the management of Council’s leased and licensed community buildings, where you will resolve issues, requests or complaints as they arise. This is a term-limited position contributing to Council’s strategy to strengthen the governance and management of community facilities. The position is 3 days (21 hours) per week, and is available on a fixed term contract for 2 years, with possibility of extension.

 Key focus areas:

• Support the Community Facilities Unit in implementing changes for facilities managed by Section 355 Committees.
• Contribute to corporate goals and a positive, collaborative workplace culture across all Council Directorates.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with volunteers and stakeholders to achieve community outcomes.
• Provide guidance, advice, and assistance to volunteers who support community facilities.
• Liaise with internal teams to resolve complex leasing, licensing, and operational issues.
• Develop and implement policies, programs, and projects to improve facility safety, utilisation, and community benefit.
• Ensure financial compliance, assist with budgeting, and maintain activities within budgetary limits.

 What we’re looking for you to bring to this role:

• Sound practical experience in project management; initiating, co-ordinating, monitoring and evaluating projects or improvement initiatives; developing appropriate planning documents; community engagement; research and report-writing.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field and substantial experience in Community Development, Public Administration or related field.

Your knowledge and experience will include:

• Sound knowledge of policy development, project management, program management, community engagement, report writing and service delivery.
• Sound knowledge of community development practice
• Sound working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite of computer programs.
• Understanding of local government.

To be successful in this role you will have: 

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and substantial experience in Community Development, Public Administration or related field.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including strong negotiation and communication skills and demonstrated ability to foster strong relationships with community, staff, volunteers and relevant stakeholders.
• Demonstrated excellent project management skills with the proven ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to think conceptually and analytically to interpret or develop policies and/or improve processes that meet the needs of Council and the community.
• Strong written communications skills including professional documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and supportively as part of a multi-skilled team addressing community needs.
• Demonstrated computer literacy, with experience in the MS Office suite of software (Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher and PowerPoint).
• Demonstrated commitment to Work Health and Safety, Equal Employment Opportunity and Cultural Diversity principles.
• Current Working with Children Check.

We offer: 

• 3 days per week, 2-year Fixed Term Contract. 
• Flexible working arrangements 
• Salary and Conditions will be in accordance with the NSW Local Government (State) Award with an appointment at a salary in the range of $1,615.14 to $1,871.39 per week full time equivalent (dependent upon skills and experience). 
• Partner with an organisation that is taking steps in all areas to reduce our carbon emissions and be an innovative and sustainable council.

It would be highly regarded if you had:

• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of relevant legislation and administration practices within Local Government.
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of process improvement and sustainability principles.

Other benefits include:

• Annual salary reviews 
• Superannuation 
• Education and training support
• Flexible work hours
• Attractive salary packaging scheme.
• Employee Assistance Program (4 sessions per year)
• Fitness Passport
• Health and Wellbeing days 

Contact:  Manager Social and Cultural Planning: Geeta Cheema 02 6626 7122 or our Community Facilities Coordinator: James a'Court 02 6626 7169.

Closing date: 10am (NSW time), Tuesday 11 November. Late applications will not be permitted. Interviews to occur on Tuesday 18 November.

Position Description:  Download - Community Project Officer PD here

We believe in diversity, inclusion and equality and are committed to ensuring that our workplaces are a reflection of our community. We recognise the benefits that diversity and inclusion brings, and in turn encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities and identities to apply for our vacancies.

We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to explore new ways of working – including part-time, job-share or working from different locations. Everyone can ask about it.

We strongly encourage applications from people with disability and will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment process and in the workplace. If you need an adjustment during the recruitment process, please call or email the contact person listed above, and also advise us of your preferred method of communication. 

Pre-Employment Screening Process:

• Reference Checks: Referees will preferably be your current or most recent supervisor and must be able to comment directly on your abilities in a work situation. If you have any objection to this action, your concerns should be raised in your application and be discussed with the Selection Panel.
• Functional Health Assessment: If applicable, the functional health assessment evaluates your physical and functional capacity against the physical demands necessary to safely perform the job for which you have applied. Applicable roles are subject to drug and alcohol testing, please note these tests will potentially require the provision of a urine sample, and a positive test will preclude a candidate from employment with Council at that time.  
• Background Screening: Background checks verify the information you have provided in your application, and where applicable, also check for relevant criminal history. Checks may also include, for example, a confirmation of your employment history, qualifications/tickets and working with children clearance.

HOW TO APPLY:

Scout Talent has released an improvement to the candidate application experience through the 'Save Application' Feature. As a candidate you can start an application and progressively update the application until they are ready to submit.

You can start an application on the go, from anywhere and return to finish your application via the automatic follow up email when you have time and the required information at hand. 

You must use your own email address and not one used previously by another person that has applied for a position with Council.

Being mindful of diversity and inclusion we have provided 2 options to apply for the position.

Option 1 - Written Application

You may wish to prepare your responses in a Word document, and then COPY and PASTE into the fields below.  

Step 1: Fill out our online application form below. Once you have completed all the questions, click 'Next'

Step 2: Attach your resume/CV and a cover letter (optional). Once you have attached your document/s click 'Next'.

Step 3: Please review your application and confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to send your completed application.

 You will receive an email to confirm your application has been received. 

Option 2 - Audio File Application

Step 1: Scroll down and review the Questions that you are required to answer. 

Step 2: Record an audio file of your responses and save the file (the file must be in an MP3 format and less than 50MB). Please note that all questions with a drop box or a check box as well as the reference checks details can not be answered via audio file and must be completed below.

Step 3: Fill out the Personal Details section and the questions that can not be completed by audio file on the application form below. For all of the Questions where you are responding via audio file, type the response “audio file”.  Once you have completed all the questions, click 'Next'

Step 4: Attach your resume/CV, a cover letter (optional) and your audio file.  Once you have attached your documents click 'Next'.

Step 5: Please review your application and confirm everything is correct. Click 'Confirm' to send your completed application.

You will receive an email to confirm your application has been received.