Program Manager

Location: 139 Newcastle Street, Perth WA & Occasional Travel to Regional Areas of WA

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

12 months fixed-term contract with possibility of extension

About AACHWA

The Aboriginal Art Centre Hub of Western Australia (AACHWA) advocates on behalf of its member art centres located in regional and remote Western Australia. AACHWA delivers professional development programs for managers, boards, and artists; provides recruitment advice and services; and acts as an advocate to, and central point of contact for, Regional, State and Federal funding bodies. Our work is guided by the values of Respect, Integrity, Leadership, Imagination and Collaboration.

About the role

The Program Manager is responsible for the end-to-end leadership and delivery of the Our Country Moves and Our Mob Online Capacity Building Programs and the development and delivery of the landmark OCM exhibition. This role provides strategic oversight of governance, budget, stakeholder relationships, procurement, and contractor management to ensure the successful delivery of multi-scale projects across regional and remote Western Australia.

Our Country Moves is an Aboriginal-led State-wide project that will facilitate cultural exchanges between Western Australia Aboriginal art centres and artists to deliver a sector-wide artistic and business capacity development program. The role includes supporting the planning, delivery, evaluation and promotion of the capacity building programs.

This role may require occasional travel to regional and remote Western Australia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Governance and Strategic Oversight

• Providing overall project governance, oversight, and long-term planning of project areas.

• Ensure alignment with board-approved objectives, budgets, policies, and risk management frameworks.

• Prepare and present high-quality reports to the CEO, Board, funders, and project sub-committees.

• Supervise project tenure requirements, approvals, and compliance obligations.

• Oversee project evaluation and risk management.

Project Funding, Partnerships and Stakeholder Management

• Manage funding relationships, including compliance, reporting, and acquittals.

• Lead partnership negotiations and manage partnership and funding agreements in line with project areas.

• Advocate and secure leveraged funding, as required.

• Engage respectfully with Aboriginal communities, art centres, training providers, funders, local governments, and other stakeholders.

• Oversee contract governance, administration, documentation, milestones, and variations.

• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and funder obligations, including Contract and Compliance Management.

Leadership and Team Management

• Provide leadership and direction to the Project teams.
• Manage project teams work schedules, priorities, resourcing, and contractor deployment across multiple sites.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and culturally safe project environment.
• Oversight of External Consultant engagements and contracting.

Financial Oversight

• Maintain full oversight of the project budget approved by the Board.
• Monitor expenditure, forecasts, and risks in collaboration with the Finance Manager.
• Ensure value-for-money outcomes and timely financial reporting.

Exhibition:

***(***In collaboration with the Curator and the Project Coordinator)

• Oversee the curatorial development and delivery of the long‑lead exhibition, managing team milestones and maintaining a strong partnership with the exhibition collaborator.

• Supervise and manage processes supporting project staff, interns, and volunteers across curation, collections, object handling, and all aspects of exhibition planning, design, and installation.

• Oversee the development of artistic and exhibition development activities including the acquisition and art commissioning programs.

• Guide the development and delivery of targeted business capacity building training to arts centres to improve their skills across governance, strategy, finance, and art centre business operations.

• Support the development of clear project protocols and processes to ensure the project remains responsive to art centre needs and that decisions effectively prioritise project roll‑out.

• Work with the Project Coordinator to oversee the development and delivery of targeted business capacity building programs to teach new skills and knowledge to art centre managers, staff, arts workers and board members to expand capacity.

• Working with the Project coordinator (Our Mob Online) to oversee digital marketing and e-commerce capacity building activities that AACHWA is undertaking with selected Art Centres to support their online presence.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Criteria:

● Minimum of 3-5 years of demonstrated experience working within a project management role.

● Understanding of working in regional and remote contexts.

● Highly developed communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

● Demonstrated commitment to culturally respectful practice and community engagement.

● Availability and willingness to travel to regional and remote communities as required on occasion.

● Ability to resolve conflicts as they arise, analyse problems, and provide practical solutions.

● Must have full Australian working rights.

● National Police Clearance.

● Working with Children Check (WWC).

Highly regarded (but not essential):

● Aboriginality will be highly regarded but is not essential in this role.

● Comprehension of arts and culture.

● Experience working with Aboriginal organisations, communities, or the not-for-profit sector.

● Experience in exhibition development and/or capacity building activities with artists and/or Aboriginal communities.

● Knowledge of Aboriginal Art Centres.

● Tertiary qualifications in project management, arts, or a related field.

● A current ‘C’ Class Driver’s License.

Why Work For AACHWA?

In return for your skills and commitment, AACHWA offers:

• 4 weeks annual leave and gifted leave days over Christmas

• Not‑for‑profit salary packaging options up to $15,900 per annum

• Professional development opportunities

• 10 days’ cultural and ceremonial leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees

• A free, confidential Employee Assistance Program

• Opportunities to travel to regional and remote art centres across WA

• A supportive, values‑driven workplace committed to cultural integrity and community impact

How to Apply

To apply, please click the ‘Apply now’ button and submit your CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

For any queries relating to the position, please contact [email protected]