Are you looking for a role where you can make a difference?

Lead services. Develop leaders. Strengthen outcomes

SYC is seeking an experienced senior leader to oversee operational delivery across a diverse Community Services portfolio.
This is an opportunity for an accomplished leader who brings sound operational judgement, a strong understanding of quality service delivery and a demonstrated ability to develop capable, accountable management teams.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer – Community Services, you will provide leadership across services spanning out-of-home care, justice, tenancy services, community housing, youth services and lived experience, supported by practice and compliance functions.
You will play a key role in strengthening service performance, identifying opportunities for improvement and ensuring managers have the direction, capability and support to deliver safe, effective and sustainable services.

Key responsibilities
Lead operational performance across a diverse portfolio of community services, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery, contractual compliance and effective management of resources.
Develop and empower departmental managers, building their leadership capability, confidence and accountability through coaching, supervision, constructive challenge and clear performance expectations.
Drive continuous improvement by critically assessing service delivery, identifying emerging risks, systemic issues, service gaps and opportunities to strengthen quality, efficiency and outcomes.
Provide informed operational advice and recommendations to the COO, identifying priorities,



resource requirements, operational pressures and opportunities requiring executive consideration or investment.
Strengthen operational governance and accountability, ensuring managers effectively oversee safeguarding, incidents, complaints, service quality, financial performance and workforce risks within their areas of responsibility.
Lead through complexity and change, supporting managers to balance competing priorities, make sound decisions and implement improvements while maintaining service continuity.
Build productive relationships with government departments, funding bodies and sector partners, representing SYC professionally and contributing to collaborative solutions that improve service delivery.

About you
You are an established senior leader with a demonstrated record of leading complex community, human or social services. You understand the balance between supporting managers and holding them accountable, and you can translate organisational priorities into practical operational outcomes.
You bring:

- Significant senior management experience overseeing multiple services, programs or operational functions, ideally within a funded community services environment.
- Demonstrated success leading and developing managers,



strengthening leadership capability and building high-performing teams.
- Strong operational and commercial judgement, including experience with contractual obligations, financial performance, workforce planning and risk management.
- Proven ability to critically assess service performance, identify systemic improvements and lead meaningful operational change.
- Confidence providing clear, evidence-informed advice, recommendations and constructive challenge to executive leadership.
- Sound understanding of safeguarding, quality assurance, regulatory requirements and person-centred service delivery.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to navigate complex relationships and competing expectations.
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in social work, human services, community services, management or a related discipline are required.
- The successful candidate will also need to meet applicable screening and employment requirements, including a Working with Children Check, National Police Check and driver's licence.

If you are a senior leader who can bring together operational excellence, strong people leadership and a commitment to better service outcomes, we encourage you to apply.

SYC is an Equal Chance Employer and is proud of our diverse workforce. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people living with a disability to apply. If you require assistance completing your application, please contact our recruitment team who will be happy to support you via [email protected].

📌 Head of Community Services (Kent Town)
🏢 SYC
📍 Kent Town