Are you someone who thrives in complex organisations and enjoys dealing with a multitude of stakeholders from all walks of life? We are currently recruiting a General Manager (Shared Services), known internally as General Manager Services, Partnership and Delivery, who will sit within our Synod Executive team and report to the Executive Director.

You will have responsibility for Key Mission Support departments which include Finance, People and Culture, Legal, Risk, Compliance and Insurance, and Property Services.

You will ensure that the teams are delivering to agreed outcomes, implementing identified improvements, and managing critical relationships to deliver specified outcomes and the broader UCA strategic plan.

• Providing leadership to the management and staff of Mission Support (Services, Partnership, and Delivery).

• Developing, implementing, monitoring, and holding accountable performance standards and goals of direct reports in our performance management system.

• Maintaining close relationships with the relevant UCA entities to ensure that the Mission Support services are providing the appropriate support services effectively and efficiently.

• Contribute to the Synod, Synod Standing Committee, Boards, and Senior Leadership Team, and provide a visionary contribution to the policy, planning, and strategic work of the Synod consistent with the mission of the Church in the current Australian context.

• Identify and deliver change where opportunities are identified through overlap, apparent incongruity, or knowledge of ‘best practice’.

• Foster productive working relationships with external parties such as government, regulators, insurers, lawyers, and representatives of other organisations and denominations.

• Plan, lead, and control significant project and operational activities.

• Work closely with the GM Communication, Collaboration and Information to review, restructure, and align the Synod structure to maximize deliverables to the entities we service.

• Manage and ensure adherence to an approved budget for Mission Support.

• Developing and delivering regular reporting on budget expenditure, project timelines, and risk management and then utilising this data to drive solutions and future planning.

• Translate the executive strategy into operational plans that can be easily understood and executed.

Essential Skills:

• Relevant qualifications in Business management, or related fields.
• Proven experience as a General Manager or similar executive role preferably leading across a shared service environment.
• Extensive experience in supporting delivery of business outcomes, to time and expected levels of quality, including a high level of knowledge of risk and issue management processes;
• Extensive experience in the development and delivery of large and complex projects including translating broad direction and strategies into actionable programs and deliverables.
• Extensive senior leadership experience encompassing people, budget, and project management skills and the capacity to achieve challenging outcomes, successfully managing competing priorities with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Proven capacity to build and grow partnerships and work collaboratively with others to meet organisational objectives and show ability through change.
• Extensive understanding of the responsibilities of a complex organisation via compliant policies, procedures, and processes to deliver high-quality service outcomes.
• A preparedness to work within the polity and ethos of the Uniting Church in Australia

About You:

• You have high-level interpersonal and written communication skills which reflect the capacity to deal with sensitive matters and liaise effectively, diplomatically, and discretely at all levels within the Church, its agencies, community organisations, and the public.
• An analytical thinker, problem solver, and decision-maker with the ability to research, monitor, and synthesise complex information, identify risks, and develop mitigation strategies to produce results.
• You can live and lead staff to make a “Jesus-shaped difference in what we do”. Our culture is focused on inclusion and is values-driven. We are building a shared understanding of our common purpose that is focused on a spirit of curiosity, and willingness for genuine collaboration.