Conflict Resolution Service is seeking an experienced and values-driven manager to lead the delivery of our youth homelessness prevention programs, including the Family Support Program and Family Connections Program.

This is a rewarding leadership role for someone who is passionate about supporting young people and families where conflict, relationship breakdown or family stress is placing a young person at risk of homelessness.

The Manager will provide day-to-day leadership and practice support to the team, oversee program delivery, and carry a small caseload to remain connected to the purpose and complexity of the work.

About the role

The Manager - Youth and Family Programs will:

- Lead and support staff delivering the Family Support Program and Family Connections Program

- Oversee day-to-day program operations, intake, allocation and service delivery

- Provide practice guidance, supervision and support reflective practice

- Carry a small caseload of young people and families

- Support high-quality assessment, case planning, coaching, facilitated conversations and family mediation

- Ensure services are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, strengths-based and focused on outcomes

- Support staff to work safely with family conflict, complexity, risk and vulnerability

- Maintain robust documentation, data quality, reporting and contractual compliance

- Build positive relationships with government, community and referral partners

- Contribute to program development, service quality and continuous improvement

- Uphold CRS’s safeguarding, privacy and risk management responsibilities.

About you

You will bring strong experience working with young people and families, along with the confidence to lead staff in a supportive, clear and accountable way.

You will understand the links between youth homelessness, family conflict, trauma, communication breakdown and broader social pressures. You will be able to guide staff in working with both young people and their families in a way that is respectful, practical and focused on safety, stability and stronger relationships wherever possible.

This role would suit someone with sound judgement, a calm leadership style, strong communication skills and a genuine commitment to early intervention.

Selection criteria

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

1. Experience working with young people and families,



including an understanding of family-focused practice and the importance of family connection, stability and relationships in supporting a young person’s wellbeing and housing outcomes.

2. Experience leading and supervising staff, including the ability to support a multidisciplinary team, provide reflective supervision, and adapt support to the needs of different practitioners.

3. Strong practice knowledge in youth homelessness prevention, family conflict, early intervention, trauma-informed practice, risk assessment and working safely with complex family dynamics.

4. Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with government, community, referral and specialist service partners.

5. Experience managing funded program requirements, including service delivery obligations, internal data monitoring, funding body reporting, KPIs and contract deliverables.

Qualifications and requirements

Essential:

- Tertiary qualification in social work, psychology, counselling, human services, youth work, family therapy, mediation, management or a related discipline

- Demonstrated experience in a leadership, management or supervisory role within a community services, youth, family, homelessness or related setting

- Experience working with young people and/or families with complex needs, including family conflict, risk, trauma or vulnerability

- Strong understanding of trauma-informed, strengths-based and family-inclusive practice

- Experience providing supervision, practice guidance or support to staff

- Current driver’s licence

- Current Working with Vulnerable People registration, or ability to obtain one

- Current police check, or ability to obtain one.

Desirable:

- Recognised qualification in mediation or conflict resolution, or willingness to undertake mediation training

- Experience managing or supporting funded programs in the not-for-profit or community services sector

- Family violence training or experience working with family violence-related complexity





- Mental health first aid training or experience supporting clients with mental health-related needs.

Why join CRS?

CRS is proud to be recognised as an employer of choice, fostering a supportive, inclusive and values-driven workplace. This role offers the opportunity to lead important early intervention programs, maintain direct practice, and contribute to meaningful outcomes for young people and families in the ACT.

CRS offers a range of benefits, including:

- Salary packaging options to increase your take-home pay

- Wellbeing initiatives, including reimbursement for approved wellbeing-related items

- Paid birthday leave

- Regular supervision and reflective practice

- Professional development and opportunities for career progression

- Opportunities to contribute to service development, innovation and continuous improvement.

This is a meaningful leadership role for someone who wants to stay connected to practice while supporting a strong team and making a genuine difference.

Safeguarding commitment

CRS prioritises the safety, wellbeing and rights of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Safeguarding is embedded in our practice, supervision, decision-making and service delivery.

All staff are expected to contribute to safe, inclusive and culturally responsive environments where children and young people are respected, listened to and protected from harm. Staff must comply with CRS’s Safeguarding Policy, Child Safe Framework, Code of Conduct and relevant reporting obligations.

How to apply

Please submit your resume and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria through the “apply” function, or email your application to Executive Director Cindy Young - *****@crs.org.au

Applications that do not address the selection criteria may not be considered.

For further information or to obtain a copy of the position description, please contact Cindy Young on 02 6189 0*** or email as above.

Applications will close 5pm Wednesday 29 July 2026. Please note applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews will be offered throughout the advertised period.

Conflict Resolution Service is an equal opportunity employer.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

📌 Manager - Youth and Family Programs (Canberra)
🏢 Conflict Resolution Service
📍 Canberra