Advocacy Lead

Do you want to work for a leading national not-for-profit organisation providing dedicated human and social services to a diverse Australia?
With community at the heart of everything we do, our purpose is to create a world in which everyone has access to equal opportunities.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a social change advocate to join SSI’s Stakeholder Relations, Research and Policy Division to achieve our impact strategy. In this critical and high impact role for SSI, you will raise the profile of issues and causes in alignment with SSI’s Impact Priorities through cross-sector campaigns, working with internal and external stakeholders and affected communities to influence positive change.

Working closely with senior SSI leadership, government representatives, community groups, and media, you will play a pivotal role to position SSI as a leading community sector voice in championing key social issues and driving systemic change. You will be actively involved in supporting major thought leadership events, key external activities and managing logistics. One of our highest profile campaigns this year has been Activate Australia’s Skills, an alliance campaign of more than 100 organisations advocating to reduce recognition barriers so more qualified migrants and refugees can work in their occupations again, fill skill shortages and improve services. This is one of the key issues this role will be actively involved in and supporting, please click the link to find out more: activateaustralia.org.au.

You will also support a coordinated approach to issue-based stakeholder engagement across the organisation, building strategic relationships with Australian sector peaks and advocacy bodies to position SSI as a thought leader across our key program portfolio in the areas of settlement, employment, disability, regional development and social and human issues.

This is a permanent full-time position, preferably based in Sydney with flexibility to work across any of our Sydney offices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop and manage SSI-led advocacy campaigns and develop and execute stakeholder engagement plans to mobilise support for campaigns

• Apply SSI’s advocacy criteria to sector campaigns, advise on recommended advocacy actions, and work with external advocacy partners to support sector-led campaigns on a range of social issues

• Represent and support SSI’s engagement in key events with stakeholders, including sector conferences, consultations, networks, summits and roundtables and assist with the development of materials to support executives

• Build and maintain strong relationships with policymakers, sector peaks, community organisations, industry partners, and relevant stakeholders

• Develop compelling advocacy reports, policy submissions, briefing papers, position statements, and campaign materials

• Monitor and analyse the policy and advocacy landscape to identify opportunities and risks on SSI’s advocacy priorities and strategic relationships

• Advise on stakeholder engagement opportunities, including strategic partnerships, collaboration opportunities, policy issues, emerging issues, stakeholder events and invitation lists, proactively and as needs arise

• Collaborate with government relations and communications teams to ensure advocacy campaigns are promoted to decision-makers and integrated with public messaging and media strategy

• Support stakeholder engagement across the organisation, including sharing information and opportunities and regularly updating stakeholder information in Salesforce

Essential Criteria:

• Tertiary degree in communications, public policy, social science, international relations, or another relevant discipline (or equivalent).

• Strong understanding of social policy issues and key actors, or the ability to rapidly acquire it through research and analysis.

• Strong strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Proven ability to work effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.

• Strong consultation, networking and relationship building skills.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to translate complex issues and concepts into clear and persuasive communications.

• Strong organisational, project and time management skills.

• Proficient in Salesforce or other stakeholder management systems, or the ability to quickly acquire that proficiency.

• Experience in the design and delivery of advocacy campaigns is highly desirable but not essential, and/or influencing public policy through policy, research or government engagement

About Us

Settlement Services International (SSI Group) is a community-based organisation and social business that supports newcomers and Australians to achieve their full potential. Taking an integrated approach how everyone can thrive within the community in which they live and the wider Australian society, we support children, young people and families; people living with disability; and asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. Our programs include facilitating employment, multicultural foster care, creating community engagement, advocacy, and influencing government and international affairs and provide though leadership within our sector nationally and globally.

About our Benefits

About our Recruitment Process

SSI Group is strongly committed to actively safeguarding children and young people and providing a safe environment for them to thrive. We ensure children and young people’s safety, and wellbeing is embedded in the everyday thinking and practice of everyone at SSI, whether they interact directly or indirectly with children and young people. All employees will undergo a National Police Clearance and a Working with Children Check as a condition of employment.

Our commitment to Diversity

SSI strives to be an inclusive workplace for all people. We recognise that we operate in a diverse community and welcome and encourage applications from all ages and genders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, the LGBTIQ+ community, veterans, refugees and people with disability.

To Apply

If excited by the information above, we look forward to receiving your application, including your resume and cover letter expressing your interest and suitability for the role.

Applications close 20th May 2025

If you would like more information on the recruitment process, please contact the talent acquisition team at [email protected] or call us on 0403 984893.

A recruitment pool may be created for permanent and temporary opportunities of the same role or role type that may become available in the future.

SSI is a Disability Confident Recruiter, and our Talent Acquisition team can assist in providing alternative formats to apply, making adjustments to the recruitment process, (including the application form), and offering information about workplace adjustments and support networks. Should you require adjustments please email us at [email protected]

Please note we will be scheduling interviews as applications come in, so please apply urgently if you believe this role aligns with your goals and experience.