People & Workforce Development Manager

Country Connect Foundation is a First Nations-led organisation delivering wellbeing, youth, homelessness and disability services across remote Northern Territory communities.

We work differently.

Our approach is place-based, community-led and grounded in relationships, with a strong focus on building local workforce capability and long-term outcomes.

We are now looking for a

People & Workforce Development Manager to help shape and support the people behind this work.

This is a newly established role, created in response to the organisation’s continued growth and following clear direction from our Board, who have identified our people and workforce capability as a priority focus area within our developing three-year strategy.

Strengthening this function is critical to sustaining our impact and supporting our future direction.

The role has strong potential to evolve into an executive leadership position; however, in the initial phase, we are seeking someone who is hands‑on and able to support day‑to‑day delivery.

About the role

This is not a traditional HR role.

This is a highly relational, people-first leadership role focused on

• supporting staff in complex environments
• building strong, culturally grounded teams
• developing leaders across the organisation
• strengthening First Nations employment pathways

You’ll work directly with managers, staff and communities - helping people grow, stay, and succeed in their roles.

You’ll also play a key role in ensuring our workforce capability aligns with NDIS Practice Standards and sector expectations, while staying grounded in the realities of remote service delivery.

You will sit in a dedicated People & Workforce function reporting to the CEO, working alongside a separate People Operations & Compliance function that manages systems, payroll and compliance.

• What you’lll be doing
• Build and lead workforce development strategies across remote communities
• Design training, leadership and capability pathways
• Ensure staff skills align with NDIS and industry requirements
• Supporting people & leaders
• Coach and support managers in leading their teams
• Help navigate workforce challenges, performance and team dynamics
• Strengthen leadership capability across the organisation
• Staff wellbeing & sustainability
• Lead initiatives that support staff wellbeing in high-pressure environments
• Identify and respond to psychosocial risks like burnout, trauma and isolation
• Help create safe, supportive and sustainable workplaces
• First Nations workforce pathways
• Grow local employment, traineeships and leadership pathways
• Build strong relationships with communities and local stakeholders
• Support First Nations staff to step into leadership roles
• Workforce advocacy
• Support staff navigating systems such as clearances and regulatory processes
• Work constructively with regulators where needed
• Ensure capable local people are supported into meaningful employment
• What we’re looking for

We welcome applicants with diverse experience and backgrounds, and value practical capability and approach to work over formal titles and qualifications.

You will bring

• Strong experience in people leadership, workforce development or organisational development
• The ability to build trust quickly and work alongside people in complex environments
• Experience working with or alongside First Nations communities
• A grounded, calm and practical approach to problem solving
• The ability to balance support and accountability
• An understanding of (or ability to quickly learn) NDIS workforce requirements
• Most importantly - you are people-focused, values-driven and comfortable working where things aren’t always neat or straightforward.
• Why join Country Connect
• Be part of a First Nations-led organisation doing meaningful work
• Help shape a workforce model that is different from traditional systems
• Work in a role that is relational, impactful and connected to community
• Opportunity to build and lead a function as the organisation grows
• Salary packaging options available
• Formal external mentoring provided
• Additional requirements (or ability to obtain)
• Ochre Card (Working with Children Clearance)
• NDIS Worker Screening Clearance
• National Police Check
• Willingness to travel to remote communities
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