Program Manager
The Organisation
Westjustice is a community organisation that provides free legal help to people in the Western suburbs of Melbourne.
Westjustice can help with a broad range of everyday legal problems including consumer disputes credit and debt family law and family violence fines motor vehicle accidents tenancy youth criminal law and more.
Westjustices purpose is to deliver targeted services and drive meaningful change.
Benefits & Culture
Be a part of an organisation where 98% of our team are proud to work for
We pay 3% above the SCHADS award
Strong focus on wellbeing
Strongly committed to being a diverse and inclusive organisation
Flexible working conditions
Gifted additional paid leave over the summer holiday period
The Role
Westjustices tenancy team is an experienced multidisciplinary group of practitioners who assist advise and represent renters in Melbournes Western Suburbs with residential tenancy matters including possession proceedings family violence matters urgent applications for repairs and compliance and systemic litigation on key questions of law. Our lawyers appear in VCAT and the Magistrates Court regularly and a social worker assists renters with more complex needs to obtain just housing outcomes.
Due to the opening of the new Wyndham Law Courts Westjustice is seeking to employ an experienced Program Manager to join our Economic & Housing Rights Program on an ongoing contract.
The Program Manager is responsible for:
Leading a small team to provide quality legal advice via a client centred trauma informed and multi-disciplinary approach and undertaking case work as required
Providing strategic and expert advice and working collaboratively with others to achieve the organisations goals
Developing and implementing the Programs work and action plans
Managing existing partnerships to deepen and grow the Program
Skills Required
Unrestricted Practising Certificate
Senior legal expertise and highly developed court representation skills
Leadership and management skills to make reasoned strategic decisions in a collaborative manner
Experience in supervision mentoring and training of junior lawyers students and volunteers
Strong understanding of the social context of the law and familiarity with legal and social issues faced by vulnerable and/or disadvantaged communities
Demonstrated knowledge of Victorias justice system
Strategic thinker with proven highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills that enables effective collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders;
Excellent communication skills including written communication (work plans reports funding submissions/tenders and business cases)
This position will be primarily based at our Werribee office but may be required to work from our other Westjustice offices and our partnered sites.
The successful applicant will require a current Working with Childrens Check and a Police Check or be prepared to apply for both. People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application which in each case will be individually assessed for the relevant role. Applicants must possess the right to work in Australia.
For enquires call Jennifer Jones on (03)for a confidential discussion.
To apply please send your resume together with a concise cover letter demonstrating your skills and experience via this portal. We will be interviewing candidates as applications are received so dont wait to apply.
Westjustice is committed to building a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people people living with a disability people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds mature age workers and LGBTIQA-identifying people. People with lived experience of the justice system are encouraged to apply. A police check result does not automatically disqualify an application but will be individually assessed for the relevant role.
Please ensure that you let us know in advance of any reasonable adjustment you may require during any part of the recruitment process including application and interview by contacting Ellen Flint via Any information disclosed will be held in the strictest of confidence.
Required Experience:
Manager