Do you believe everyone deserves the opportunity for a fresh start?

Are you a leader with demonstrated experience in program management in the criminal justice / reintegration / community services sector, preferably including employment/social enterprise models for justice-involved people?

Are you looking for a role that helps to improve the lives of vulnerable people by enhancing overall program effectiveness?

Have you got experience working with people who are experiencing complex challenges in their lives?

Are you a confident communicator with strong interpersonal relationship skills?

Position Snapshot

- Salary range - $124,744 to $129,961 (pro-rata) Level 7 SCHADS Award 2010 + Superannuation (pay point dependent on qualifications and experience)

- Part-time (0.8 FTE), 12-month fixed term position

- Position is based in Melbourne CBD and Collingwood.

- Generous not-for-profit salary packaging with employee benefits such as annual leave loading of 17.5% is available

About the role

Do you believe everyone deserves the opportunity for a fresh start?

This role provides strategic and practice leadership to deliver Vacro’s Second Chance programs in line with the Reintegration Practice Framework, grounded in desistance theory, the capability approach and through-care service design.

This position oversees Second Chance Cycles and Second Chance Jobs, ensuring both programs operate as complementary pathways to reintegration. Second Chance Cycles delivers a community-based social enterprise model that builds skills, confidence and connection through cycle refurbishment, mentoring and community contribution. Second Chance Jobs provides specialist employment navigation, employer engagement and post-placement support to secure and sustain meaningful employment for people after incarceration. Together, these programs advance Vacro’s commitment to effective, person-centred reintegration.

The Manager ensures that all programs are culturally safe, trauma-aware, strength-based and responsive to the complex and intersecting needs of participants, including employment barriers, mental health, substance use and social exclusion. Through effective partnerships and team leadership, the role promotes tailored supports that build capability, autonomy and belonging.

This role will operate in a context of complex needs with people facing multiple barriers (employment discrimination, unstable housing, health/substance challenges, social exclusion) and success relies on more than a job placement. The ideal candidate will recognise that employment is a key lever in the reintegration journey (as part of a broader ecosystem). Negotiating employer attitudes, integrating lived-experience input, forging strong partnerships, and embedding evaluation and improvement will be critical success factors.

What you'll be doing

In this role, you will:

- Lead delivery and continuous improvement of Second Chance Cycles and Second Chance Jobs, in alignment with Vacro’s reintegration framework and organisational strategy.

- Develop program plans, budgets, KPIs and reporting mechanisms (in collaboration with Research & Evaluation) that reflect both operational outcomes (e.g., placements, participation) and reintegration outcomes (e.g., sustained employment, community engagement, identity change).

- Work collaboratively across Vacro teams (employment, community programs, case-management, research) and external stakeholders (employers, training providers, community organisations, corrections/custodial agencies)



to embed the programs within the reintegration ecosystem.

- Ensure integration of participant voice and lived experience feedback into program design, delivery and evaluation.

- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the three arms of the program, ensuring they are staffed, resourced, compliant with funding contracts, and responsive to participant needs.

- Ensure program practice is aligned to the Reintegration Pathway Framework

- Build and maintain strong partnerships with employers, training providers, community organisations, corrections/custodial services, and funding bodies so that program outcomes (employment, community participation, identity change) are achieved.

- Represent Vacro and the programs at external stakeholder forums, industry groups, community partnerships and media when required (in consultation with Communications).

- Work with Vacro’s Research & Evaluation team to embed robust data collection, participant outcome tracking, program logic alignment and continuous improvement cycles.

- Use evidence and feedback to refine program design, enhance practice, inform policy submissions and funding proposals.

- Ensure the programs operate in a participant-centred way, where participants are supported to build capabilities, meaningful employment pathways, community connections, and new pro-social identities.

- Work to identify and address barriers: e.g., employer perceptions, participant readiness, coordination with other services (housing, health, justice).

- Promote equity, cultural safety (including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), trauma-informed practice, and responsiveness to complex needs

About you

You will bring:

- Tertiary qualification in social work, criminology, community services, employment services, or related field; postgraduate qualification strongly preferred.

- Demonstrated experience in program management in the criminal justice / reintegration / community services sector (preferably including employment/social enterprise models for justice-involved people).

- Proven ability to lead teams and drive operational excellence, including budget management, KPI reporting, staff supervision and quality assurance.

- Sound understanding of reintegration theory (through-care, desistance, capability approach) and translation of research frameworks into practice; familiarity with Vacro’s Reintegration Practice Framework is highly desirable.

- Strong stakeholder engagement capability: experience working with employers, training providers, corrections/custodial systems, community organisations and government/funding agencies.

- Excellent analytical, evaluation and reporting skills; comfort with data, program logics, monitoring & evaluation processes.

- Passion for social justice, employment for people with justice-system involvement, and ability to advocate for second-chance employment opportunities.

- Strong interpersonal skills, cultural competence (including working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), trauma-informed practice mindset, and commitment to lived-experience inclusion.

- Strong focus on, and ability to achieve,



outcomes within tight deadlines and resource constraints.

- Ability to work flexibly, prioritise competing demands, and deliver in a fast-changing setting.

About Vacro

Vacro is an independent non-profit organisation working with people caught in the criminal justice system and their families. Founded in 1872, we are Victoria’s oldest and only specialised criminal justice reintegration service. We provide reintegration, family, and employment support that enables people to create new beginnings for themselves and their families.

We value the expertise of people from a wide range of backgrounds. Because of the work we do, we especially value the expertise of First Nations people, people with lived experience of the criminal justice system, and people of diverse cultural backgrounds and identities. We also welcome applications from people with a criminal record. (We do not discriminate based on a person’s criminal record, however in some circumstances, contractual or legislative obligations may limit a person’s eligibility for certain roles. We are happy to have a confidential discussion about how these requirements may affect a candidate).

Many members of our workforce bring invaluable lived experience that enriches our teams with authenticity and diverse insights. These individuals not only possess professional skills, but also a profound understanding of the challenges and complexities that arise from their personal journeys. Their unique perspectives cultivate empathy and spark innovation, enabling us to develop solutions that are not only practical but also meaningful. At Vacro, you’ll be part of a culture that champions inclusivity and values every voice, empowering you to make a real difference in the lives of those we serve.

What we offer

Vacro is dedicated to staff wellbeing. We provide extensive on-boarding training and ongoing professional development for staff, amongst other benefits.

Vacro is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. We celebrate and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, cultural background, age, gender, sexuality, disability or religious affiliation.

Some roles at Vacro require applicants to undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.

How to apply

If you're passionate about employment as a pathway to opportunity, independence and a new beginning, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply, or for any enquiries regarding the role, kindly email us at ••••@vacro.org.au using the subject line: Second Chance Programs Manager

In your application, please include your resume (and/or CV), and a cover letter that addresses the key capabilities area in the position description - see our current vacancies on our website for a copy of the position description www.vacro.org.au/Listing/Category/current-vacancies

Please ensure that you save your resume and cover letter with your name. For example, Jane Smith Cover Letter

Please email your application to ••••@vacro.org.au by 9am Friday 18 September 2026

Please note, if you choose to utilise generative AI in your application (e.g. ChatGPT), then please ensure you take steps to personalise your responses, such as by including specific examples from your professional experience. Generic AI-created applications will be disregarded.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or cultural adjustments during the recruitment process, please email Vacro at ••••@vacro.org.au as part of your application.

📌 Second Chance Programs Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 VACRO
📍 Melbourne