Evidence and Impact Lead

Make a Meaningful Difference and Create Opportunities

Are you passionate about driving real outcomes for multicultural communities while contributing to innovative research

Community First Step (CFS) is looking for an experienced and strategic Evidence and Impact Lead (EIL) to drive research evaluation and continuous improvement to strengthen our services and broader community outcomes.

About Us

For over 50 years weve stood alongside local communities in Fairfield and Greater Western Sydney working to disrupt the cycle of disadvantage and create fairer opportunities for all. Guided by our passion for social justice and equity we support individuals and families to find their place in the community and forge a fair future.

About this opportunity

This full-time fixed-term role to end June 2028 (with the possibility of ongoing employment) has two key components: leading internal evaluation and impact activities across CFS programs and contributing to a collaborative research project between CFS and the University of Sydney. Supported by a Ramsay Hospital Research Foundation Grant the project focuses on improving community and health care navigation for culturally and linguistically diverse refugee and migrant women in South-west Sydney experiencing mental health concerns.

Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the CFS Leadership Team the EIL is responsible for embedding evidence-informed and evidence-based practice across the organisation. This role leads the design and implementation of monitoring evaluation and research activities to inform service delivery strengthen client outcomes and support continuous improvement.

The EIL will also work closely with The University of Sydney research team contributing to the collaborative research project including participatory action research co-design activities qualitative data collection (including interviews and focus groups with interpreters where required) and support with data analysis and scholarly outputs.

About you

You will hold a PhD or equivalent in a relevant field such as social sciences health or humanities and have at least three years experience in research and evaluation across community health academic or not-for-profit settings. Youll be skilled in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies using participatory and co-design methods project management and stakeholder engagementideally with multicultural communities. A strong writer and communicator you can translate complex data into compelling reports briefing papers submissions and academic outputs for a range of audiences. You are also proficient with tools such as SPSS NVivo Qualtrics or REDCap.

Please refer to the Position Description for full selection criteria.

Benefits available at CFS include

• Generous salary packaging of up to $18.5K per annum
• 17.5% Leave Loading
• Two paid Gifted Days annually
• Employee Assistance Program
• Career development opportunities
• Discounted childcare services: 40% discount of out-of-pocket fees

The closing date for applications is COB 27th August 2025. For more information about this role email

Applicants should include a cover letter addressing the attributes and skills listed above and a current resume. Please note that we review applications regularly so dont hesitate to apply. However we only contact applicants selected for interviews.

Our workforce is as diverse as the communities we serve and we encourage First Nations people as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds of any faith or gender identity to apply.

Community First Step is committed to creating safe inclusive environments where children and young people are respected heard and supported.

All Community First Step positions are subject to a Working with Children Check (WWCC) and a National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Screening Check (NDISWC).