Manager Design and Innovation

Job Posting Organization:
54 reasons is Australia’s leading child rights organisation, proudly part of the Save the Children Australia Group and a global movement. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that children and young people have their rights met and thrive in all their diversity. With a mission to advocate for children and their caregivers, 54 reasons operates across every state and territory in Australia, including remote areas and capital cities. The organization employs approximately 600 people and values diversity in its workforce, reflecting the communities it serves.

Job Overview:
The Manager Design and Innovation position at 54 reasons is a part-time (.6-.8 FTE) permanent role within the Strategy and Partnerships team based in Melbourne. The primary function of this role is to lead design-led innovation initiatives that aim to improve outcomes for children, young people, and their families. The successful candidate will be responsible for setting and driving the organization's approach to design and innovation, facilitating the development and testing of new service models, and ensuring that these innovations are sustainable, fundable, and implementable. This role requires a deep commitment to child rights and the ability to engage with children, young people, and their families ethically throughout the design process. The position is crucial for creating lasting change and enhancing the client experience at 54 reasons.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Manager Design and Innovation include:

• Setting and driving the organization's approach to design and innovation.
• Facilitating the design, development, and testing of new and/or improved service models.
• Ensuring that innovations translate into sustainable, fundable, and implementable services.
• Championing design across the organization and building organizational capability in this area.
• Building and supporting partnerships and business development pathways necessary for scaling innovation across Australia.
• Collaborating with state and territory operational leaders, internal and external subject matter experts, service delivery, and funding partners.
• Engaging children, young people, and families ethically in the design processes.
• Influencing senior leaders and working across organizational boundaries.
• Self-organizing and adapting with initiative and a feedback and learning mindset.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires the following qualifications:

• Deep experience in design, service design, innovation, or social innovation, ideally in a senior role within complex social services or child and youth-focused contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to lead design and innovation strategy, not just projects.
• Proven capability in business development, partnerships, or funding-related work linked to innovation.
• Strong track record of engaging children, young people, and families ethically in design processes.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and work across organizational boundaries.
• Ability to self-organize and adapt with initiative and a feedback and learning mindset.

Educational Background:
While the job description does not specify exact educational requirements, it is implied that candidates should possess relevant qualifications in design, social innovation, or a related field that supports the role's focus on human-centered design and child rights advocacy.

Experience:
Candidates should have significant experience in design, service design, innovation, or social innovation, ideally in a senior role within complex social services or child and youth-focused contexts. This experience should include leading design and innovation strategies and translating these into implemented, funded, and scaled services.

Languages:
The job description does not specify mandatory languages; however, proficiency in English is likely essential given the location and context of the role. Additional languages may be beneficial, particularly those relevant to the diverse communities served by the organization.

Additional Notes:
This position is part-time (.6-.8 FTE) and permanent. The organization emphasizes a flexible working environment, including the ability to work from home. 54 reasons offers a range of employee benefits, including full salary packaging, individual learning plans, support for workplace wellness, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. The organization is dedicated to maintaining a safe working environment and requires all employees to undergo a National Police Check and a Working with Children Check.