Role Type

Contract • Part-time • Mid-level Senior

Pay Rate

$46.69 AUD – $46.70 AUD (Hour)

Description

Position Summary

With philanthropic funding, the Foundation is delivering a 5-year community initiative on the unceded land of the Darug people in Blacktown, NSW. The project enables children to form positive food habits for life through pleasurable food education and kitchen garden programs. The Foundation is hiring a 6-month fixed-term Parental Leave cover for the Project Lead. Reporting to the Community Initiatives Manager in Narrm (Melbourne) on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples, the Project Lead works under general direction. The role is responsible for the day-to-day project coordination, school support, stakeholder engagement, and expense tracking of the project.

Utilising local knowledge, the Project Lead will take a place-based approach to the expansion of pleasurable food education and Kitchen Garden Programs (KGP) in primary schools across the Blacktown Local Government Area (LGA).

Key Responsibilities and Goals

1. Program Delivery & School Support

- School engagement: Identify and proactively connect with primary schools across Blacktown LGA to promote the program.
- EOI administration: Coordinate the Expression of Interest (EOI) process for additional schools in a way that addresses inequities.
- Hands-on support: Deliver advice, resources, toolkits, and ongoing guidance to local program members to ensure program continuity.
- Network coordination: Support local school clusters and encourage active participation in the wider Australian community of practice.
- Insight gathering: Feed local learnings and operational insights back to the broader KGP team to respond to community needs.
- Activity facilitation: Deliver engaging cooking and gardening activities to children and young people alongside school/service staff.
- Upskilling: Professional development and networking opportunities are facilitated for local educators, and the KGP team is supported with the delivery of professional development in New South Wales, as required.
- Success sharing: Document and celebrate school achievements through internal and community communication channels.

2. Community & Stakeholder Engagement

- Relationship maintenance: Build and sustain authentic, productive relationships with diverse external stakeholders and community groups.
- First Nations engagement:



Connect respectfully and proactively with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations using established frameworks that support self-determination.
- Health network alignment: Collaborate actively with local organisations supporting healthy eating priorities across Western Sydney (e.g., Western Sydney Local Health District).
- Local government liaison: Liaise with local council to align project activities with local health, wellbeing, and food strategies.
- Event delivery: Plan and deliver local community activation events and milestone celebrations to build program awareness and momentum.
- Inclusive delivery: Ensure all pleasurable food experiences are delivered accessibly, celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the local area.

3. Project Delivery & Administration

- Operational execution: Deliver day-to-day project activities smoothly within defined guidelines and project parameters.
- Task prioritisation: Manage daily schedules and show a proactive attitude to meet established project timelines with general oversight.
- Budget monitoring: Track local project expenditure precisely against a pre-allocated budget and submit receipts accurately.
- Resource management: Ensure considered and efficient use of available project supplies and educational resources.
- Future planning: Contribute valuable local feedback to help scope future regional initiatives across Western Sydney.

4. Evaluation, Reporting & Participation

- Data collection: Gather required monitoring data and evaluation metrics in accordance with project requirements.
- Evaluation: Project is monitored and evaluated to ensure on-the-go learning is applied, to inform ongoing improvement to delivery and scaling.
- Drafting reports: Assist in drafting timely, professional, and high-quality progress updates for management and funders.
- Record keeping: Maintain highly organised project documentation, knowledge management, and data security.
- Team collaboration:



Participate constructively and enthusiastically in cross-organisational meetings, events, and tasks.

Key Selection Criteria

- Relevant Experience: Practical experience in school-based kitchen gardens, health promotion, food education, or community-led initiatives with an equity focus.
- School Sector Knowledge: Familiarity with school environments and a solid understanding of the operational challenges faced by primary school educators and leadership.
- Kitchen Garden Skills: Core kitchen or garden knowledge enabling confident, hands-on support for educators on the ground.
- Facilitation Skills: Demonstrated experience and confidence delivering training workshops, professional development, or community education activities.
- Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to create and sustain positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including First Nations and multicultural communities.
- Local Knowledge: Strong understanding of the Blacktown LGA community dynamics and social factors impacting project delivery; existing local links are highly desirable.
- Project Coordination: Solid organisational skills to manage multiple project tasks simultaneously under general direction while accurately tracking expenses.
- Technical Aptitude: Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and experience utilising CRM systems (such as Salesforce) to manage data.

Prerequisites

- Relevant four-year degree with one year’s relevant experience; OR
- Three-year degree with two years of relevant experience; OR
- Associate diploma with relevant experience; OR
- Lesser formal qualifications with substantial years of relevant experience.

Compliance & Requirements

- Valid NSW Working with Children Check (Employee).
- Current National Police Check.
- Current NSW Driver’s Licence.
- Right to work in Australia.

Additional requirements

- The position is based on the unceded lands of the Darug people in Western Sydney NSW, requiring face-to-face time spent on the ground engaging with schools and stakeholders. A hybrid option to work flexibly with some days from home may be considered for the right candidate.
- The Project Lead may from time to time be required to travel intra-state and interstate. A motor vehicle allowance will be provided, along with any eligible travel reimbursements as per our travel policy and procedure.
- First aid certification, or a willingness to obtain.

📌 Blacktown Kitchen Garden Project Lead
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📍 Blacktown