Managing Director

Managing Director

ORGANISATION
Aboriginal Housing NT Aboriginal Corporation (AHNT) was officially launched in August 2019 at the National Housing Conference. AHNT is the first Aboriginal housing peak body advocating for the Aboriginal community-controlled housing sector in the NT.

NT has a membership of strong leaders and Aboriginal organisations across the NT that represent Town Camps, Homelands and Remote Communities and is the Territory’s leading voice on Aboriginal housing and homelands reform and sector capacity building.

AHNT is governed by a Board of up to 16 Directors who represent the Aboriginal Community-Controlled Housing and Homelands sectors, and the four NT Land Councils.

AHNT is a member of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (NATSIHA) and advocates on behalf of the Northern Territory’s Aboriginal Community-Controlled Housing and Homelands sectors through NATSIHA at the national level.

AHNT currently sits alongside other NT Aboriginal peaks and is a member of the Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT Alliance (APO NT). The alliance was created to provide a more effective response to key issues of joint interest and concern affecting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, including through advocating practical policy solutions to government.

The AHNT Board acknowledges NT Shelter as the Peak for NT housing and homelessness and works closely with NT Shelter through an MOU to advocate a shared approach to support advancements in Aboriginal housing and homelessness. AHNT is also an important member of Community Housing Industry NT (CHIA NT).

AHNT is committed to increasing Aboriginal participation in policy development and implementation, and to expanding opportunities for Aboriginal community control. AHNT works with NATSIHA, APO NT, NT Shelter and CHIA NT to strengthen networks between peak Aboriginal organisations and regional Aboriginal community-controlled housing organisations in the NT and nationally.

AHNT VALUES

Collaborative

We acknowledge that we can only achieve the change our communities need through strong partnerships with our communities, our sectors, and through key Influencers and decisionmakers.

Culturally informed

We will Include the knowledge, wisdom, and experience of Aboriginal people to deliver our vision. We acknowledge the similarities and differences that define our diverse communities and will deliver programs that ore respectful. responsive and aligned to the protocols that have governed our people for thousands of years.

Outcomes focussed

We focus on the change we want to see and recognise we may need to adopt our outputs along the way. Our goal is to effect change.

Strengths based

Our communities deserve the best strategies and programs that we can offer. We reach beyond existing "deficit-based" frameworks, to capture and leverage the wisdom of our own cultural knowledge and experience.

Accountable and reliable

We operate with integrity. We ore open, honest, and transparent and are accountable to the communities serve and the stakeholders we work with.

Innovative and Agile

We embed new, Innovative development models that work with people to shift underlying attitudes and support new practices and behaviours.

Duties and Responsibilities
As Managing Director, you will:

1. Lead and manage key reforms to strengthen the Aboriginal community-controlled sector across homelands, town camps across the Northern Territory ensuring outcomes that underpin quality service delivery to support AHNT’s core business.
2. Provide high level strategic advice to the CEO AHNT, AHNT board and member organisations on remote housing and homelands programs, policies and strategies to strengthen the Aboriginal community-controlled sector (Sector) across the Northern Territory.
3. Establish and maintain strong strategic partnerships with the Land Councils, Northern Territory and Australian governments, NATSIHA, other peak bodies and the Sector.
4. Support the CEO AHNT on the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) for Remote Housing Northern Territory to represent and advocate for the Sector and influence remote housing and homelands policy.
5. Work closely with the JSC to support the coordination and implementation of the joint Australian and Northern Territory government’s $4b, 10-year remote housing and homelands investment.
6. Work closely with the Northern Territory and Australian governments, Land Councils and Sector to drive the coordination and implementation of the Northern Territory government’s Community Housing Growth Strategy with the Sector.
7. Support the CEO AHNT across a range of high-level meetings, including with Aboriginal Elders and senior leaders, Land Council executive groups, Ministers and government officials, community-controlled organisations’ board meetings, forums and remote community visits.
8. Manage, deliver and report on key high-level projects as required through the JSC.
9. Support and grow the strong relationship between AHNT and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (NATSIHA) as the national peak.
10. Support the ongoing activation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NT Shelter.
11. Support AHNT’s representation through the Community Housing Industry Association NT (CHIA NT).
12. Provide advice to the CEO AHNT and AHNT board on issues relevant to the lives of Aboriginal Territorians experiencing homelessness.
13. Provide strategic advice to executive management on anticipated or emerging issues relevant to remote housing, homelands and town camps policy and programs.
14. Provide leadership, strategic direction and work collaboratively with the CEO AHNT and AHNT team to build organisational capability, integrate and manage delivery of funded priorities and achieve organisational objectives as articulated in the AHNT Strategic Plan 2024 to 2027.
15. Ensure a high standard of accountability and transparency for funding partners in the delivery of programs.
16. Strengthen AHNT’s connections with other jurisdictions’ peak bodies and the national community-controlled sector.
17. Work closely with government agencies which play a key role in the design and delivery of remote housing and homelands policy and implementation of programs to facilitate an integrated ground-up approach to maximise outcomes across Northern Territory communities, town camps and homelands.
18. Develop and sustain strong collaborative partnerships and strategic alliances with other key stakeholders at the local and national level to drive implementation of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap Priority Reforms.
19. Lead and manage a team of highly experienced and committed housing and homelands sector professionals.

Required qualifications, skills and experience

1. High level strategic, conceptual, analytical and innovation skills including the ability to manage and interpret local and national political landscapes to ensure AHNT remains best placed to respond and adapt to change.
2. Exceptional collaborative and influential skills with a demonstrated ability to establish and sustain productive working relationships and strategic alliances with key internal and external stakeholders and demonstrated sound professional judgement and political acumen.
3. Demonstrated senior executive level experience driving and achieving strategic objectives across governance, policy and program delivery.
4. Highly developed political and cultural awareness, sensitivity, and understanding of the Northern Territory and national housing reform agenda and its intersect with the Northern Territory’s Aboriginal community-controlled sector.
5. Extensive knowledge and experience in providing leadership, guidance and budget advice coupled with very high standards of people management to support teams continue to achieve high quality outcomes in complex, high pressure environments.
6. Sound understanding of strategic planning and risk management in relation to the delivery of successful outcomes within a complex policy and service environment.
7. High level communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to work under pressure, build and sustain organisational capability.
8. Proven record in providing high level leadership and direction with an ability to cultivate strong working relationships, and to identify priorities and manage resources.
9. Highly developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate with influence, consult with partners and stakeholder organisations, and negotiate in an appropriate manner in writing and verbally.
10. Demonstrated extensive knowledge of contemporary Northern Territory remote housing and homelands policy, political and legislative issues, trends and developments across the Northern Territory’s remote housing and homelands portfolios.
11. Demonstrated ability to be progressive and innovative in a dynamic environment with the ability to resolve issues of potential conflict and to negotiate respectfully and constructively on contested issues.
12. Experience in the Aboriginal community-controlled sector and/or working in remote communities, homelands and/or town camps in service delivery, organisational development and social and community development.

Desirable

1. Proven ability working across complex policy landscapes and in sensitive cross-cultural contexts where English may not be the primary language.
2. Experience working with the Australian and Northern Territory governments and Land Councils.
3. Relevant tertiary qualification.
4. Ability to travel by aircraft and four-wheel drive.

Essential Requirements

• Current NT “C” Class driver’s licence or equivalent.
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check or the ability to gain.
• A current Working with Children Card or the ability to gain
• This is a full time, contract role offering a competitive remuneration package.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume outlining their qualifications, relevant experience and reasons for applying for the position to Jaimie Webb, Business Administration Officer at admin@ahnt.org.au (using the subject line: “Managing Director enquiry”)

Closing date: May 23, 2024

Only applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.