Operations Manager, South West

About this role

• Full time maximum term position up to 31 May 2026
• Salary range: $98,902 - $123,624 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model
• Flexibility in office location is available: Geelong, Sunshine, Ballarat, Horsham or Warrnambool

About the role
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is looking for an experienced Operations Manager to lead and support our regional offices in the South West catchment. Reporting to the Regional Associate Director, South West, you will play a key role in managing administrative functions and improving service delivery across these offices.

In this role, you will work to ensure the smooth running of operations, align them with VLA's strategic goals, and lead key projects, including built environment initiatives, to help improve service delivery.

Our South West catchment includes offices in Sunshine, Geelong, Ballarat, Horsham and Warrnambool, with a focus on making legal services more accessible to clients in outer-metropolitan and regional areas. This position requires regular travel to these locations.

The successful candidate can be based at any of our South West offices:

• Sunshine office on Wurundjeri Country
• Geelong and Ballarat offices on Wadawurrung Country
• Horsham on Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country, or
• Warrnambool on Gunditjmara Country.

About you
As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Proven leadership skills with experience managing projects, teams, and collaborating across departments to achieve regional and organizational goals.
• Strong analytical abilities, with the ability to identify issues and create solutions that improve service delivery and efficiency.
• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal), with a talent for building strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Highly organized with experience managing administrative tasks and ensuring smooth operations in a legal or similar environment.
• Relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent extensive experience (mandatory).
• A willingness to travel across the South West region and adapt to the unique needs of different locations.

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

About Victoria Legal Aid
We provide legal representation to those who need it most. With over 1300 staff employed in 16 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

Employee benefits

• Focus on work-life balance including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Excellent salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 and Novated Leasing
• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance

How to apply
To be considered for this role, you MUST submit your current resume and a completed CANDIDATE APLICATION FORM (listed within the file attachments).

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Melanie Rudolphus, Associate Director, South West on (03) 5329 6281or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted. 

Applications close by 11.59pm on Sunday 6 April 2025.

Other relevant information
It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.