Job Description
Position Summary
Maximum Term, Full Time Contract (3 years)
Based at La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC
Salary packaging, gifted leave at Christmas and Easter, paid parental leave
About The Role
The General Manager, Policy, Advocacy and Service Impact leads the development of Good Shepherd’s evidence-driven influence on policy and systems affecting women, girls and families. The role uses lived experience insights, practitioner knowledge and research to guide priority areas for evaluation, advocacy and learning, and oversees the organisation’s Impact and Learning Framework. Working across national platforms and strategic partnerships, this role drives bold, systemic change in domestic and family violence responses and financial wellbeing for people experiencing hardship.
Key Responsibilities
Implement the Impact and Learning Framework and embed a consistent, organisation-wide approach to monitoring, evaluation and learning that supports continuous improvement and identifies new opportunities for deepening impact.
Identify strategic research priorities and develop an evidence-based advocacy agenda that drives policy, legislative and systemic change for women, girls and their families.
Support external organisations to understand and evaluate the impact of programs addressing domestic and family violence and financial hardship, contributing to stronger system-wide responses.
Lead and support knowledge exchange and pilot initiatives across the Good Shepherd global network.
Drive innovation and thought leadership, strengthening Good Shepherd’s mission, strategic priorities and the Institute’s reputation for social policy and advocacy excellence grounded in lived experience.
About You
5+ years’ senior leadership experience in evaluation, research, policy or advocacy.
An advanced qualification in evaluation, social sciences, human services or a related field.
Expertise in leading and designing monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks and impact measurement.
Proven ability to drive policy, practice and systemic reform on complex social issues.
Strong leadership skills and the ability to foster an inclusive, high performing culture.
Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and experience building cross sector, multi-disciplinary collaborations.
Solid understanding of the social services landscape and emerging sector trends.
Experience with lived experience co design, community led or place based approaches.
The ability to translate insights and data into innovative, evidence informed solutions.
A humble, curious and self aware leadership style.
Benefits
Salary packaging - which can add up to $15,900 in tax-free pay per year
4 days gifted leave at Christmas and Easter (pro rata)
Up to 100 hours of paid study leave (where relevant to role)
Hybrid working arrangement with opportunity to wfh 1 day a week
12 weeks paid parental leave (primary career)
Additional leave through purchase leave pathways
Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service
Eligible for participation in the portable long service leave program
About Us
Our 2023-2027 strategy outlines the world we want to see and our role in advancing it. We aspire for all women, girls, and families to be safe, well, strong, and connected. We strive for equity, dignity and social justice for women, girls and families by collaborating globally and acting locally, supporting our communities in Australia and New Zealand to thrive.
We want women, girls and families to live full and dignified lives, have dignified income and enjoy financial wellbeing. We aim to provide place-based, people-centred, holistic services while working at the system level to achieve bold and audacious reform. We currently offer microfinance programs and products, financial counselling and coaching, family and domestic violence support services, family and youth programs, playgroups, education programs and community houses. These services are complemented by research and strong advocacy to address the underlying structural causes of injustice, exclusion, and inequality.
Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (GSANZ) respects the dignity of all people, draws strength from, and celebrates the diversity of our community. At GSANZ, we strive for an inclusive culture where all identities feel safe and that they belong. We welcome and actively seek applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of all sexual orientations and gender expressions and identities, people with disability, and culturally and racially marginalised people. Each person’s individual decision regarding disclosure will be fully respected.
How To Apply
Please click 'Apply' to complete your application. Please upload your resume and a brief cover letter addressing the requirements of the role.
Applications are considered as they are received. APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 15 March 2026
To view the position description, please email recruitment@goodshep.org.au
We recognise that applicants may hesitate to disclose their need for adjustments during recruitment due to concerns about discrimination. To address this, Good Shepherd asks all candidates about any required accommodations, with the intention of minimizing any sense of exclusion or discomfort associated with requesting adjustments.
Good Shepherd believes in genuine inclusive practice and employment and will therefore offer job customisation to meet the varying needs of diverse candidates.
Personal data held by Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website.
We recognise the rich diversity of people across Australia. We are committed to ensuring that our team is reflective of the diverse community we serve and to supporting a culture of equity, inclusion and diversity.
Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand is a Child Safe employer. Employment is subject to satisfactory referee checks, a current employment working with Children Check, National Criminal History check and proof of the right to work in Australia.
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