About the role
Be part of the movement changing business for good!
The role leads and coordinates the Regional Network of Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC), fostering an inclusive and enabling culture of participation and collaboration.
The role provides coordination and support to 5 regions of Regional Victoria:
- Barwon South-West
- Gippsland
- Grampians
- Hume
- Loddon Mallee.
This is a unique leadership opportunity in Regional Victoria and a flexible part-time role with a guarantee to protect non-working hours.
Working closely with the CEO and the SENVIC Leadership Group, the role is a network weaver with a strong focus on capacity building, connecting social enterprise practitioners and encouraging collaborations and collective impact. You will provide stewardship and support for each region to develop self-organising networks of social enterprises and their enablers, to increase engagement with SENVIC programs, deepen relationships and accelerate our Strategic Plan 2022-25.
In 2023, the role will oversee a small project team to support SENVIC’s strategic aim to establish a system-shifting network of networks. In partnership with WickedLab, the project will conduct outreach, map and create visualisations that strengthen Victoria’s enabling and inclusive social enterprise ecosystem.
A warm yet focussed facilitator, you hold space to foster peer-based learning, build relationships, find common ground and encourage curiosity and collaboration. Alongside SENVIC’s Metropolitan Manager, and enabled by the Communications and Engagement Lead, you will provide a central-point for contact, advice and guidance for local leads and other sector leaders in Regional Victoria.
In this small and dynamic team, the role is both strategic and hands-on, both a systems thinker and steward, while also pragmatic, realistic and results-oriented.
Key accountabilities for the role
- Lead and coordinate the Regional Network, providing stewardship and support to each of the five regions and their Local Action Plans.
- Lead and coordinate themed, sector-based or place-based networks as they emerge and establish self-organising practices.
- Lead a small team to conduct outreach and map collaboration and innovation across Victoria's social enterprise community.
- Build and maintain strong relationships, and oversee multiple layers of relationships between self-organising local collectives that contribute to an impactful network of volunteers and sector leaders.
- Lead and coordinate network gatherings around Regional Victoria from time to time, and attend self-organised network events.
- Represent SENVIC in the community and support engagement with external stakeholders.
- Host regular online and in-person meetings with Regional Local Leads and emerging theme-based networks to share knowledge and build capacity and connection within and between self-organising networks.
- Facilitate and host online and in-person forums and peer-based learning programs and events.
- Support SENVIC and routinely contribute to aggregate and integrate knowledge about the social enterprise community to help drive our impact.
- Support the Leadership Group to develop and deliver emerging projects as required including (but not limited to) the Regional Conference, inaugural SENVIC Awards and other initiatives and events.
- Contribute to a strong team culture of experimentation, innovation, evaluation and learning.
- Provide assistance and support at events (including travel) as required.
- Supervise other staff and volunteers as required.
Key selection criteria
Knowledge and skills required
- Leadership - Lead meetings of our diverse membership to find common ground and steward toward action and collective impact.
- Project management -Be highly organised and able to coordinate multiple projects and actors simultaneously and to prioritise and manage workflows effectively.
- Communication - Have excellent communication skills, adept at thinking though complex issues and communicating them simply and clearly to influence a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Network and organisational awareness -Have a sound understanding of the systems, relationships and practices that influence decision-making and create opportunities to promote collaboration and transformational change.
- Digitally savvy - Demonstrated strong digital skills and willingness to learn new technologies to strengthen our knowledge of social enterprise and its impact.
Personal qualities
- Values - Demonstrated commitment to SENVIC’s vision of a just, inclusive and sustainable society through entrepreneurship or community action.
- Inclusion - Champion inclusive practices and embrace new ways to make our work more accessible.
- Flexibility – Adapt approaches and work to changes in the environment and effectively meet new challenges with creative solutions to tricky situations.
- Initiative and accountability – Take responsibility for actions and proactively implement work plans and address issues.
- Teamwork – Cooperate effectively with the team and work collaboratively to achieve work plans and goals.
Bonus points:
- Deep knowledge and experience of social enterprise.
- Deep knowledge and experience of building participatory culture and strengthening rural and regional communities.
- Experience and training as a facilitator.
- Experience teaching, mentoring or coaching, ideally in a business context.
- Demonstrated knowledge of network and organising theory and an appetite to think outside the box.
If these criteria speak to you, you could be the perfect person for the job. Formal qualifications and extensive experience matter less than excellence, initiative and drive.
Other requirements important to our team:
- Legal entitlement to work in Australia and eligibility for a Victorian Working with Children Check (if required).
- A personal commitment to the practice and principles of non-violence, justice, social inclusion and gender equity.
- Commitment to working inclusively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQ individuals and communities and people with disabilities.
How to apply
Submit your CV and a brief cover letter (of no more than two pages) outlining how your skills and experience make you suitable for this role. You do not need to respond to each key selection criteria in a separate document, however we highly recommend that you focus on the accountabilities and required knowledge and skills when you prepare your application.
Diversity makes us stronger and smarter. We strive to include diversity and lived experience.
We strongly encourage Aboriginal people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people with disabilities to apply.
If you need any adjustments to assist you with your application, please contact Nick at nick@senvic.org.au.
