CONTRACT UNTIL 30 DECEMBER 2025 (FULL TIME HOURS)

The Mental Health Commission NSW is seeking interested applicants for the Manager, Strategic Planning and Projects position within the Directorate of System Reform. This is an exciting opportunity to join a small fast fast-paced team that leads projects and strategic plans relating to improving mental health and Wellbeing in NSW as identified in the MHC Strategic plan.
The Commission is a small agency of around 30 FTE based in the Sydney CBD and working flexibly within hybrid workplace guidelines.
Role of Mental Health Commission NSW
The Mental Health Commission of NSW is a statutory agency, working to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the community. We are committed to ensuring people live well on their own terms, having the services and supports they need.
The Commission works with government agencies, peak bodies, community-managed organisations, academics, advocacy groups and service providers. We believe this approach, with close collaboration in all aspects of our work, will achieve stronger services and better outcomes for all people in NSW.
Visit us at: http://www.nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Lead the development of strategic plans relating to improving mental health and wellbeing as prioritised by the Commission and the NSW Mental Health Commission’s strategic plan.
• Prepare frameworks and strategies that respond to emerging mental health issues and ensure they are co-designed with people with lived experience and other stakeholders, and take into account the broader context across the mental health and wellbeing sector.
• Provide proactive support to the Director, System Reform to develop the System Reform Directorate’s annual program of work.
• Lead and manage all aspects of co-designed projects as directed by the Director, System Reform that are outlined in the Minister for Mental Health’s annual Charter letter and other key documents.
• Provide technical advice and proactive support to teams within the Directorate and Commission regarding the design and preparation of projects/activities and produce reports and other deliverables for the Director, System Reform and Commissioner.
• Provide expert advice on emerging issues, using systematic reviews, data and information and best available evidence of contemporary models of care and service delivery models to inform and address the needs of people with lived experience of mental health issues and caring, and those at risk of poor mental health.
• Advocate for and promote the prevention of mental illness and early intervention strategies for mental health.
• Undertake research activities as required.
• Lead and manage staff and teams to ensure effective and efficient individual and team work-program delivery, within a strong project management accountability framework.
• Manage team and project budgets to ensure funds are planned and expended, to meet the approved budget deliverables.
• Work with teams across the organisation, as leaders, collaborators or area experts.
• Ensure work is co-designed with people with lived experience of mental health issues, caring and kinships groups and other key stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders and facilitate formal and ongoing engagement.
• Prepare high quality briefs, discussion papers, reports, correspondence and presentations to support the information needs of the Executive and Commissioner.
• Represent the Commission on committees and working parties, as appropriate to the team’s roles.Key Challenges
• Managing consultations, negotiations and cross-agency partnership arrangements on sensitive and related issues with a wide range of stakeholders of varying philosophies, priorities, capacities and interests.
• Maintaining current knowledge of trends and developments including policy and funding initiatives, data development and the measurement of outcomes, in an environment which is subject to rapid change and development.
• Proactively identifying and researching issues of strategic significance for the Commission and working across teams and agencies to propose and develop policy options for dealing with these issues.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing the development and evaluation of strategic plans in a public sector setting.
• Highly developed technical skills in the analysis, reporting and presentation of data and information related to health and social service need/demand, using routine data collections and planning tools.
• Extensive experience and demonstrable high-level skills in project management.
• Sound and up to date understanding of Commonwealth and state-wide directions in mental health and social services reform.
• Proven experience in leading and managing teams to produce deliverables within specified timeframes.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication (verbal and written), conflict resolution and organisational skills, with an ability to analyse complex issues, to prepare clear, comprehensive and complex documents, and to influence and negotiate outcomes.
• Significant experience and skills in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range key stakeholders.
• Relevant qualifications or equivalent industry experience in strategic planning and project management.

The Manager, Strategic Planning and Projects is responsible for managing the development of strategic plans relating to improving mental health and wellbeing, as identified in the annual System Reform Directorate’s annual program of work for the Mental Health Commission of NSW.