Program Manager

• Permanent Full Time Contract 
• Location:  Beeloo (Carlisle) WA 6101
• $118,169 + super + NFP salary packaging benefits
• Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Australians in need

Life at Mission Australia

When you join the team at Mission Australia, you become part of a community who are determined to end homelessness and ensure people in need can thrive. United by our Christian purpose and values, we advocate for a fairer Australia, to meet the growing needs of people across the country. Together we’re building hope and possibility for all.

Find out more about us and our purpose.

Your Opportunity 

The Drug and Alcohol Youth Service (DAYS) is the only dedicated specialist withdrawal and residential rehabilitation service for young people in Western Australia. As a key entry point for youth experiencing alcohol and other drug (AOD) challenges, DAYS delivers vital therapeutic support while working closely with a wide network of community partners to ensure holistic, wrap‑around support. This is an on‑site position that plays a central role in the day‑to‑day leadership and operational oversight of the service.

As Program Manager for Residential Rehabilitation based in Carlisle, you will bring passion for community impact, strong people leadership, and experience within youth, AOD, mental health, residential or crisis environments. You will oversee the effective running of a 24/7 service, lead a multidisciplinary team, and ensure safe, high‑quality and contractually compliant support for young people. Your leadership will guide the service’s operational delivery, clinical and practice governance, performance outcomes, and stakeholder relationships, while fostering a positive, reflective and values‑driven team culture.

You will also participate in the rotating on‑call roster, providing leadership support for escalations, crises and operational issues. This requirement reflects the dynamic nature of a 24/7 program and ensures consistent, responsive care for the young people accessing DAYS.

Your Key Responsibilities 

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of approximately 13–15 staff (including direct reports and casuals), ensuring high standards of practice, supervision, performance, and professional development.
• Oversee daily operations of the 24/7 youth residential rehabilitation service, including rostering, handovers, incident management and service continuity.
• Coordinate client intake, assessments and allocation, ensuring timely responses to referrals and consistent monitoring of young people’s progress.
• Maintain service compliance, quality practice and risk management, including reporting, data oversight, reflective practice, TCI implementation and adherence to funding, safety and service standards.
• Develop and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, engaging with funders, partner organisations, community services and internal Mission Australia teams.
• Manage administrative, financial and operational requirements, including budgets, incident reports, KPIs, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide on‑call leadership support as part of a rotating roster, responding to escalations, crises and complex situations involving vulnerable, intoxicated or distressed young people.

Requirements for Success 

• Demonstrated leadership experience (2+ years) within the child, youth & family, AOD, mental health, homelessness or residential care sectors, with the ability to lead teams in fast‑paced, complex environments.
• Strong capability in values‑based people management, workforce planning, supervision, motivation, and maintaining a positive and accountable team culture.
• Relevant qualifications such as a diploma, degree, or equivalent demonstrated experience in community services, AOD, youth work or related fields.
• Experience working with vulnerable young people and sound understanding of AOD, mental health, crisis intervention, FDV, risk, trauma‑informed practice and complex behavioural presentations.
• Confidence managing 24/7 service operations, including rostering, service flow, crisis response, and maintaining consistent standards across a residential setting.
• Ability to build strong stakeholder relationships, collaborate effectively, and represent the service with professionalism and integrity.
• High‑level communication, problem‑solving and de‑escalation skills, with the ability to remain calm under pressure, meet KPIs, manage admin-heavy workloads, and provide on‑call support approximately once every 5–6 weeks.
• Full driver licence with no restrictions.

Before starting work with us, you will need to undertake a national police history check, qualifications, and referee checks, and have a clearance to work with children/vulnerable people. 

Your Benefits

To ensure our employees feel valued, empowered, and celebrated, we provide a range of employee benefits including: 

• Rewarding work – every day you know you’re making a real difference
• Not-for-profit salary packaging, reducing your tax (details via AccessPay)
• Free external, confidential counselling and access to chaplaincy support.
• Volunteering opportunities  
• Extra leave available including an additional public holiday, additional annual leave day on your work anniversary and the opportunity to purchase further annual leave.

Our Culture 

Our innovative and inclusive culture will ensure you feel valued at Mission Australia as you help Australians in need and develop in your career.  

We prioritise the safety and wellbeing of everyone, both within our team and the individuals we serve.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment. We actively support and encourage people of all backgrounds; gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion, and sexual orientation to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. So, whoever you are, if you’re skilled and actively support our purpose and values, you would be welcome at Mission Australia.

If you live with disability and require support to submit your application, please email talentattraction@missionaustralia.com.au or visit our Careers page for additional contact details.

We strongly encourage applications from people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. For culturally safe support or assistance with your application, please contact us at Deadlycareers@missionaustralia.com.au  

Find out more about a career with Mission Australia. 

How To Apply

Click ‘Apply’ and send your application today!

As a committed Circle Back Initiative employer, we will respond to your application.

Applications for this role are shortlisted as received and we are interviewing through the advertising period.  Please apply as soon as possible to be considered. Thank you