Director, Education &

- Capacity Building

Level 7 | Full-time, ongoing

Location: All locations considered, with Melbourne or Sydney preferred The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the peak body for unions in Australia. Through the Australian Trade Union Institute (ATUI), we deliver education, training, resources and capacity-building initiatives that support unions to grow, build power and win for working people.

We are seeking an experienced union leader to join the ACTU as Director, Education &

- Capacity Building. This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape and deliver education and capacity-building strategies that strengthen unions and build sustainable capability across the Australian union movement.

The ACTU is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce that reflects the rich cultural and social diversity of our community. We strongly encourage applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of colour, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability, and people from working class backgrounds.

About The Role

Reporting to the Executive Officer and working as a member of the ACTU’s senior management team, the Director, Education &

- Capacity Building leads the Australian Trade Union Institute and the ACTU’s broader education and capacity-building work.

You will provide strategic leadership to a multidisciplinary team responsible for delivering contemporary, evidence-based and practical education, training, events and resources for union leaders, staff, officials and delegates.

Working closely with ACTU affiliates, you will ensure programs respond to the priorities of unions and draw on current research, practical experience and leading organising, campaigning and leadership strategies from Australia and internationally.

The role has a strong focus on leadership development, campaign education, collaboration across the movement and initiatives that build unions’ long-term organisational capability. It also oversees partnership initiatives, funding arrangements and the ACTU’s Registered Training Organisation responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities Include

- Developing and implementing strategic, long-term education and capacity-building initiatives that strengthen unions, support growth and deliver high-quality learning outcomes across the movement.
- Leading the development and delivery of the ATUI program,



including partnership initiatives and the ACTU’s Registered Training Organisation responsibilities.
- Providing strategic leadership to the Education &
- Capacity Building Work Centre, including setting priorities, allocating resources, managing performance and delivering agreed organisational outcomes.
- Contributing to ACTU organisational strategy and leadership as a member of the senior management team.
- Working closely with unions to ensure education and capacity-building programs reflect their needs and priorities and are accessible, relevant and impactful.
- Leading movement-wide collaboration and the sharing of ideas, initiatives and resources through courses, seminars, workshops, forums, conferences and on-demand training.
- Working directly with unions on their planning, development and capacity-building needs.
- Supporting leadership development initiatives through the Australian Union Leadership Academy.
- Engaging expert practitioners from within and outside the union movement to contribute to ATUI programs.
- Overseeing the collaborative development, evaluation and review of curriculum and learning programs.
- Ensuring ACTU education programs are grounded in deep practical experience across leadership, organising, campaigning, industrial relations, work health and safety, diversity and inclusion, and delegate development.
- Coordinating the development of programs for ACTU conferences and forums in partnership with union leaders, union staff and other ACTU work centres.
- Overseeing existing funding arrangements and identifying new funding, partnership and collaboration opportunities.
- Leading, managing and developing the Education &
- Capacity Building team and fostering a high-performing, team-oriented and values-driven culture.
- Working closely and effectively with ACTU affiliates and other stakeholders.

About You You are an experienced union leader with a strong understanding of organising, campaigning and union strategy. You can translate strategic priorities into practical initiatives and lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality outcomes. You bring sound judgement,



political awareness and the ability to build trusted relationships across the union movement. You are collaborative, values-driven and committed to strengthening unions through education, leadership development and sustainable capacity building.

You will bring

- Demonstrated leadership experience within a union, including experience in organising, campaigning and union strategy development.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership and deliver outcomes through multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience developing and maintaining complex and diverse stakeholder relationships.
- The capacity to exercise judgement, discretion and initiative and provide high-level advice in a politically sensitive environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing budgets, resources and organisational priorities.
- The ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
- High-level written and verbal communication skills.
- A deep understanding of the Australian union movement.
- A strong commitment to the values of the ACTU and the union movement.

Experience in education, mentoring and/or industrial relations will be highly regarded.

Why work with us

- Work at the centre of the Australian union movement.
- Lead education and capacity-building initiatives with movement-wide impact.
- Help unions strengthen their leadership, organising, campaigning and organisational capability.
- Contribute to meaningful and lasting change for working people.
- Work in a collaborative, experienced and values-driven organisation.
- Build partnerships with unions, educators and expert practitioners across Australia.

Some interstate travel is required. Benefits The ACTU offers a competitive Level 7 salary of $169,735 to $202,686, depending on skills and experience, along with:

- Additional 15% superannuation.
- Annual leave loading.
- Working-from-home opportunities.
- Generous leave arrangements, including up to five additional days of annual leave.
- The opportunity to participate in a rostered day off arrangement.

How To Apply

Please submit

- A cover letter addressing the selection criteria and outlining your suitability for the role.
- Your current CV.

Applications should be emailed to Yvette Nash, Executive Officer at [email protected]. Applications must include a cover letter addressing the selection criteria outlined in the position description. Applications that do not meet this requirement will not be considered.

Applications close: Tuesday 10th November 2026.

Apply Now

📌 Director, Education & Capacity Building at Australian Council of Trade Unions (Melbourne)
🏢 Australian Council Of Trade Unions (Actu)
📍 Melbourne