Director, Homelessness Evidence and Impact (Melbourne)

- New leadership role designed to strengthen homelessness services
- Establish the Homelessness Impact Hub
- Lead evidence-based research and resource program development The Organisation Homelessness Australia is a national peak body representing the homelessness sector and advocating for people without homes. Working collaboratively with homelessness services, lived experts, governments, researchers, and our 700+ members and 5,500+ engaged supporters, Homelessness Australia is focused on driving evidence-based practice and shifting systems, attitudes and policies to strengthen Australia’s response to homelessness. With new funding in place, Homelessness Australia is scaling a small yet high-performance team to advance their mission at pace and scale through increased advocacy, policy and practice leadership, and research capability. The Opportunity Reporting directly to the CEO, this newly created national leadership role is responsible for establishing and leading a Homelessness Impact Hub to create and share evidence of best practice homelessness service delivery, including the design and delivery of a practice-focused research and resource development program. If successful, you will establish the partnership, sector engagement and communications strategies that will connect homelessness services, government, researchers and lived experts, ensuring the Hub’s work is relevant, accessible and supports sector uptake. This role will also lead the creation of national forums, research dialogues and the biennial National Homelessness Conference, alongside building communities of practice and embedding lived experience in research, policy and program development. The Right Fit We are seeking a strategic and delivery-focused leader with experience in human services and a strong understanding of practice-focussed research. You are equally comfortable operating at a systems level and working hands-on to shape research, engagement and communication outputs that drive measurable impact. Essential capabilities to ensure impact include:
- Research & Program Leadership – Ability to design and deliver practice-focused research programs that generate evidence and translate findings into practical tools and resources.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships – Proven experience building and maintaining partnerships across human services, academia, government and lived experience, including with First Nations organisations and communities.
- Translation of Evidence into Practice – Strong capability to convert research, insights and sector input into accessible, high-value resources that strengthen service delivery and systems.
- Communication & Engagement Strategy – Experience developing and delivering engagement approaches that maximise uptake of research, resources and events across diverse stakeholders.
- Facilitation & Sector Leadership – Ability to convene and lead forums, communities of practice and national conversations that bring together sector, research and policy perspectives.
- Leadership & Delivery – Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives from concept through to delivery, balancing collaboration with clear decision-making and execution. The Advantages This is a rare opportunity to build a national function that strengthens the impact of homelessness services and systems. You will leave a legacy and build trusted relationships across complex stakeholder environments, while maintaining a focus on delivering outputs that are practical, accessible and valued by the sector. If successful, you will enjoy:
- Working and collaborating with talented, engaged and creative people to shape practice, impact and outcomes across the sector
- Developing and engaging a small support team to deliver impact at pace and scale
- Collaborating with the sector, government, lived expert and research communities to drive collective impact
- Flexible working arrangements, a maximum term contract to June 2028 and funded interstate travel #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply on Kit Job: kitjobau.com/job/3rmsqk