Director Specialist Community Services

St Vincent de Paul Society WA has been supporting Western Australians for more than 160 years. As a values-driven organisation, commonly known as Vinnies WA, we are committed to creating a more just and compassionate community by supporting people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage.

Across WA, we provide a broad range of essential services that help shield people from poverty, prevent homelessness and support individuals and families through times of hardship, including emergency assistance, financial counselling, mental health support, housing, accommodation and youth services.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and values-driven Director, Specialist Community Services to provide executive leadership across our Homelessness, Housing and Mental Health Services portfolio.

Reporting to the CEO, based out of our Canningvale and Woodbridge locations, you will lead a large and diverse directorate, driving strategic growth, service excellence, innovation and sustainability across programs. You'll work closely with senior leaders, government partners and community stakeholders to deliver high-quality, person-centred and recovery-oriented services that improve housing stability, wellbeing, independence and social inclusion.

Key responsibilities:

- Provide strategic leadership across Homelessness, Housing and Mental Health Services, ensuring high-quality, person-centred and recovery-oriented service delivery.

- Drive the development and implementation of strategic priorities aligned to organisational goals, community needs and sector trends.

- Lead and develop a high-performing leadership team, fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

- Ensure strong governance, risk management, safeguarding and regulatory compliance across all services.

- Oversee government-funded programs, contracts, tenders and reporting obligations to ensure sustainable service delivery.

- Champion service excellence through evidence-informed, trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.

- Manage directorate financial performance, budgets and resource allocation to achieve strategic and operational outcomes.

- Build and maintain influential partnerships with government, funders, community organisations and sector stakeholders to strengthen community impact.





Your Experience and Attributes

This is an outstanding opportunity for a seasoned executive who combines strategic vision with operational excellence, strong stakeholder engagement, financial acumen and a passion for creating positive outcomes for vulnerable people and communities. You will bring:

- Significant senior leadership experience in the delivery of complex community, human or social services and programs

- Tertiary qualification in Community Services, Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health, Housing, Social Policy, Business Management or another related discipline

- Expertise in governance, strategic planning and service delivery

- Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills

- Experience managing multiple programs including government funded, contracts and stakeholder relationships

- Strong business acumen, with strategic and analytical capabilities to drive well informed, confident, decision making

- A strong commitment to person-centred, trauma-informed and recovery-oriented practice

- The ability to lead high-performing teams and drive meaningful organisational impact

Desirable qualities include:

- Experience within a large not-for-profit or the community services sector

- Postgraduate qualification in leadership, management, community services, social policy or another relevant discipline.

- Experience leading homelessness services, community housing programs, supportive tenancy models or specialist mental health services.

The successful candidate will demonstrate behaviours aligned with our values of commitment, compassion, respect, integrity, empathy, advocacy, and courage in all aspects of work.

Working for Vinnies WA

At Vinnies WA, you’ll be part of an organisation where people matter - both the community we support and the teams that make it all possible.

Our values are at the heart of our Society, anyone who comes into contact with us is better for it,



our employees are supported to grow and nurture their capacity for leadership and resilience and hold mission at our core.

This is an opportunity to be part of an organisation that makes a positive difference to the lives of thousands of vulnerable West Australians, through a range of person-centred services and programs, made possible by the revenue raised through our Vinnies shops, generous donations, fundraising events and grants, and over 3,500 dedicated employees, volunteers and members.

More than this, as a not for profit, Vinnies WA are able to offer our employees:

- Generous tax-reducing salary packaging benefits (F/T & P/T employees only)

- Leave Loading + Birthday leave benefit (F/T & P/T employees only)

- 15% team member discount card to use in our retail shops

- Flexible and Hybrid working opportunities for eligible positions

Screening & Application Process

At Vinnies WA, we are committed to providing a secure and engaging environment for children and vulnerable people to ensure that their rights, needs and interests are met and that they are protected from harm and abuse. As such, we ensure that our preferred candidates are appropriately screened prior to any offer of employment, to make sure that the right people are in the right roles. Screening will consist of:

· Police Criminal History Check

· Legal right to work in Australia and

· Working with Children Check (if required)

If you are passionate about our “good works”, and want to lead services that change lives, and shape strategy that creates lasting community impact, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your application through SEEK (hit “apply now”). Please provide:

1. Current resume with details of 2 professional referees; and

2. Cover letter (limited to 2 pages) outlining:

- your suitability for the role (consider the criteria above); and

- your motivation for applying

To request a copy of the job description or arrange a confidential discussion, please email [email protected]

We are committed to creating a workforce that is as diverse as our Society. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, orientations and backgrounds.

Applications will be reviewed as received. No recruitment agencies please.

📌 Director Specialist Community Services (Canning Vale)
🏢 Vinnies WA
📍 Canning Vale