Manager Strategic Policy

Department for Housing and Urban Development
Job reference: 862548
Location: 5000 - ADELAIDE, 5700 - PORT AUGUSTA WEST
Job status: Ongoing
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

Who are we:

The Outback Communities Authority is a South Australian Government statutory body which provides municipal services and community support to residents, associations, and townships across Outback SA - which is approximately 63% of the state. The Outback Communities Authority’s goals include improving liveability and sustaining our communities, growing the outback economy and advocating for the interests of outback people.

The Outback Communities Authority aspires to be an agile organization with a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration evident between colleagues and in our relationships with partners and stakeholders. The Manager Strategic Policy will directly contribute to the prosperity, sustainability, and resilience of Outback South Australia by delivering policies that address the unique challenges of the region, supporting local communities, and fostering responsible development.

Further information about the Outback Communities Authority can be found at https://www.outbacksa.sa.gov.au

The Outback Communities Authority is currently administratively aligned with the Department for Housing and Urban Development, whose primary objective is the delivery of homes and housing options for South Australians.

The Role:

The Manager Strategic Policy provides high-level strategic leadership, advice and management across the Outback Communities Authority (OCA), supporting the Director and Board to achieve the Authority's statutory responsibilities, strategic priorities and outcomes for the communities of Outback SA.

The position leads complex, high-priority initiatives that have organisation-wide or regional significance and provides authoritative advice on strategy, policy, governance, programs, community development and organisational performance You will hold the following responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and advice to the Director and Board on matters affecting Outback communities and the Authority's strategic direction.
• Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and review of strategic plans, policies, programs and initiatives
• Identify emerging issues, opportunities, risks and trends that may affect Outback South Australia and provide timely strategic advice.
• Lead cross-organisational initiatives that require coordination across multiple functions, communities or government agencies.

About You:

To be successful in this position, you must be able to demonstrate experience across the following key capabilities:

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, build capability, manage performance and create a collaborative and accountable organisational culture.
• Demonstrated capacity to exercise sound judgement, manage competing priorities and make decisions in circumstances involving ambiguity, complexity and limited information.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic leadership and high-level advice on complex issues within a government, statutory authority, regional or similarly complex environment.
• Highly developed analytical, conceptual and judgement skills, with demonstrated ability to provide clear, evidence-based advice on complex and sensitive matters to senior executives, boards or governing bodies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategies, policies, programs and projects that deliver significant organisational or community outcomes preferably within government and local government organisations focused on rural, remote, or Indigenous issues.

Desirable Qualification:

Tertiary qualifications in public policy, management, business, community development, regional development or a related discipline will be well regarded.

Special Conditions

Successful applicants will be required to obtain a satisfactory Department of Human Services Criminal History Check or National Police Check prior to employment.

Remuneration:

SM1 – $144,421 plus superannuation.

Enquiries:

Enquiries can be emailed to julieann.clohesy@hender.com.au or telephone Justin Hinora, Executive Consultant, Hender Consulting on 08 81008827.

Application Instructions:

All applications must be submitted online.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a covering letter (no more than 2 pages), outlining your skills and experience in relation to the key capabilities outlined in the role statement, a current CV and the contact information of three referees including your current line manager.

All applicants must complete a ‘Pre-Employment Declaration in the SA Public Sector’ form.

Applications close: 17/11/2026 6:00 PM

Attachments:
- Pre-Employment Declaration.pdf
- SM1 Manager Strategic Policy - DHUD Role Statement.pdf

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.