Senior Manager Community Culture and Engagement
At Wollongong City Council, we continuously strive to create an Extraordinary Wollongong for our community. We focus on the delivery of exceptional services, infrastructure and facilities for our community. Our aim is to work toward the community's goals in the Our Wollongong Our Future Community Strategic Plan 2035.
Wollongong is a great place to work, live and play! Together, our responsibility is to create an inclusive community where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs. Our strength is the diversity of our people.
We lead with courage, openness and curiosity and believe our employees are the key to our success. Learn more about us here.
The Opportunity
This is a high impact opportunity to lead a portfolio that brings Council to life for the community in a division that builds connection, participation and pride for all who call Wollongong home.
As a Senior Leader, you will lead a multidisciplinary portfolio spanning community development, arts and culture programs, engagement, city centre management, events, place activation and strategic partnerships. Your focus will be on setting direction, enabling delivery and ensuring the community experience is inclusive, contemporary and sustainable.
You will provide strategic and operational leadership shaping priorities, strengthening governance and translating insight into decisions that improve service quality and community outcomes. Throughout your work, you will embed the pillars of culture, safety and performance, setting clear expectations, building capability and leading change across complex service environments.
Working closely with Councillors, the Executive and a broad network of community and delivery partners, you will influence outcomes across the organisation and the region. You will join a collaborative leadership team that values clear advice, respectfully challenges ideas and shares ownership of results.
This is a permanent full-time position with a total remuneration package of circa $250,000 per annum (inclusive of superannuation) Salary packaging options include lease-back or novated lease arrangements. The salary package will be assessed based on skills, experience and qualifications.
How you'll make a difference
In this role, you will shape how Council connects with its community strengthening participation, celebrating culture and delivering experiences that create a sense of belonging.
You will act as a strategic partner across the organisation, bringing together corporate planning and cross-functional delivery to turn Council's direction into practical priorities for community, culture and engagement. You will lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of services, programs and place-based initiatives to ensure they align to the Community Strategic Plan and are guided by evidence and insight.
You will provide clear, collaborative leadership for a portfolio that is stakeholder-focused and delivery-oriented. By setting expectations, building capability and strengthening governance, you will enable teams to work effectively and collaboratively and deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes.
You will champion contemporary engagement and creative programming, leading the delivery of new initiatives, events and place activation that reflect community aspirations. You will test new approaches, partner with others to extend reach and ensure services remain inclusive, responsive and sustainable.
You will role-model high standards and create the conditions for strong performance, championing physical and psychological safety, using disciplined reporting and review to drive continuous improvement, and applying transparent decision-making and sound financial stewardship.
About you
You are an experienced senior people leader who is energised by building strong community connection through culture, creativity and meaningful engagement. You bring a balanced approach that is strategic and outcomes focused, while remaining closely connected to what matters to community. The future excites you and you are motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
You bring strong capability across engagement practice, community and cultural development, place activation and program and event environments. Your experience spans complex, community-facing portfolios where priorities can compete and issues may be sensitive. You are comfortable navigating these environments with sound judgement and credibility, and translating feedback, insight and diverse perspectives into clear advice and practical direction.
You are a disciplined and thoughtful leader with a strong understanding of governance, risk and accountability. You have experience overseeing significant programs, contracts and budgets, and you apply a structured approach to performance, reporting and continuous improvement. You know how to lift performance through clear expectations, coaching and supportive challenge, and you lead change in a way that brings people with you.
You cultivate strong, values-led teams and create inclusive environments where people are supported to perform at their best. You value diversity of thought, actively encourage inclusive perspectives and build trust through clarity, consistency and integrity.
You engage confidently with Councillors, executive leaders, delivery partners and community stakeholders. You work respectfully with community groups and are recognised for your ability to communicate with clarity, courage and credibility. You navigate sensitive issues with professionalism and care, and build alignment so decisions are understood, outcomes are delivered and confidence is maintained.
Why you'll love working at Wollongong City Council!
- True work-life balance
We know you work hard, and we make sure that effort is rewarded with real flexibility. Our hybrid work options, flex-time, and rostered days off mean you can maintain balance while delivering great outcomes. - Great working conditions
- Career growth and recognition
We are committed to supporting your personal and professional development. Our initiatives include a reward and recognition program, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance, and leadership development programs to help you grow and succeed - Generous leave provisions
Benefit from five weeks of annual leave per year (pro rata) and access long service leave after just five years. - Health, safety, and wellbeing
We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks and discounted gym memberships. - A vibrant social culture
Join our Social Club for monthly activities, an annual trivia night, and fantastic Christmas events!
Participate and engage in meaningful work, and contribute to our extraordinary community, where together we make a difference.
For more information, click on 'Apply' to be redirected to Wollongong City Council's job vacancy page.
Applications close 11:59pm Sunday 31 May 2026
We invite everyone to apply no matter your identity, you'll be welcome. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), people with disability and veterans.
Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.
Applicants are required to undergo a rigorous employment screening process which will include Reference, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.