First Nations Workforce Development and Retention Lead

First Nations Workforce Development and Retention Lead First People Recruitment Solutions – Sydney CBD NSW Uniting is one of the largest not‑for‑profit community providers in NSW and the ACT, with a 100+ year history of supporting people across aged care, disability, community services, and chaplaincy. With a strong focus on social justice, Uniting is committed to disrupting disadvantage and ensuring First Nations communities are strong, thriving, and self‑determining. About the Role This role provides strategic leadership in the design, delivery and continuous improvement of First Nations workforce development and retention initiatives across Uniting, with a central focus on embedding cultural safety, career progression, wellbeing and long‑term sustainability. Leading the workforce elements of the First Nations People & Place Strategy (People Pillar), the role works in close partnership with First Nations staff, leaders and communities to co‑design evidence‑based strategies that translate organisational intent into practical, measurable outcomes. It influences organisational systems, leadership practices and policies to remove systemic barriers, strengthen cultural capability, embed clear career pathways and improve employee experience, while using workforce data, lived‑experience insights and robust reporting to drive accountability, continuous improvement and lasting change. Key Duties Lead the co‑design and delivery of First Nations workforce development and retention strategies as part of the First Nations People & Place Strategy, ensuring cultural safety, empowerment and self‑determination are embedded across workforce systems and practices. Design and implement workforce initiatives that strengthen attraction, onboarding, career pathways, leadership development and long‑term progression for First Nations employees. Identify and address systemic workforce barriers by leveraging workforce data, staff engagement, consultation and lived‑experience insights to inform practical, evidence‑based solutions. Provide strategic advice and influence to senior leaders and people managers to embed cultural safety, accountability and culturally informed leadership behaviours across the organisation. Lead the development and delivery of cultural capability initiatives aligned to Uniting's broader capability frameworks, including tools and benchmarks to measure impact and improvement. Monitor, analyse and report on First Nations workforce metrics across recruitment, progression and retention to drive continuous improvement and inform organisational decision‑making. Experience Demonstrated experience designing, implementing and evaluating workforce development and retention strategies, ideally within complex or values‑led organisations. Proven ability to translate strategic objectives into practical workforce initiatives that improve attraction, progression, retention and overall employee experience. Experience identifying and addressing systemic workforce barriers using workforce data, consultation, engagement and lived‑experience insights. Strong experience embedding cultural safety and cultural capability within organisational systems, leadership development and people management practices. Demonstrated capability in using quantitative and qualitative workforce data to inform decision‑making, establish benchmarks, monitor outcomes and drive continuous improvement. Experience working in partnership with First Nations stakeholders, communities or organisations, with an understanding of the impacts of organisational culture, leadership behaviours and policy on First Nations workforce wellbeing and retention. This is an identified position for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginality is a genuine qualification authorised under Section 14(d) of the Anti‑Discrimination Act 1977. Successful applicants will be required to provide appropriate evidence of identity as an Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. How to Apply Click APPLY or contact Marisa Conlon, Senior Consultant, Talent Acquisition at (email protected) for further information on the role. Please submit applications in Word format only by midnight, 11th January 2026. FIRST PEOPLE Recruitment Solutions is a majority Aboriginal owned agency providing contingent, fixed‑term, and permanent recruitment solutions to Government and Corporate Australia. Our Head Office is based in Canberra with a national reach to all the states and territories, regional and remote areas of Australia. FIRST PEOPLE Recruitment Solutions acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures; and to elders past, present and emerging. #J-18808-Ljbffr