We are recruiting! Seeking a Melbourne-based Project Lead
We are looking for a Melbourne-based Project Lead to join our team.
The details
FTE: 0.6 FTE with potential for growth
Location: Melbourne-based
Reports to: Australian Directors
Salary: $90k - $100k
Who we are
ThirdStory is a not-for-profit partner for innovation and change with operations in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Bermuda/the Caribbean. We want to see a world where communities are strong, and people achieve the lives they aspire to. We collaborate across education, health and social settings to create and grow new ways of doing things; bringing together tools, methods, people and passion to help make change happen. Our approach is informed by two decades of partnerships and projects in local and international contexts, and led by a multidisciplinary, award-winning team of researchers, designers, facilitators, coaches, subject matter experts, and social innovators.
About the role
This is one of those roles where you get to help to make social systems more human, and have a positive impact on people’s lives. You’ll work on multidisciplinary project teams to make sense of complex challenges, collaborate with communities and professionals to develop potential solutions, and support transformational change with our partners.
This might include undertaking research with educators to inform programs that improve outcomes for children and families accessing early learning and care; partnering with communities to co-design new place-based housing initiatives; or working alongside health professionals to build their capability to design patient-centred well-being initiatives.
You’ll work closely with Senior Project Leads and Directors to seek out opportunities where ThirdStory can make a difference, build and maintain trusting relationships with stakeholders and partners, design and facilitate diverse projects across social settings, and help to measure, share and amplify our impact. We expect that the right person for this role will be proactive and self-directed, comfortable working independently and collaboratively, and have the confidence to seek out information from diverse sources and ask for support when needed.
About you
You have social innovation experience, with knowledge and skills in one or more areas of our Story for Change: research, learning and evaluation, co-design and prototyping, service and policy design, capability building, and/or implementation and change strategy
You have knowledge of and experience in social sector contexts (such as education, health, social services) or related fields
You can make sense of complex information and distil insights that support strong decision-making
You can identify challenges and propose possible solutions for consideration
You have demonstrated cultural competence in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and other culturally and linguistically diverse groups
You are confident in supporting and co-facilitating workshops and group processes, helping create inclusive environments where people can participate, share perspectives and contribute to collective outcomes
You have held relationships with senior team members, partners or clients, and are adept at moving work forward with leadership buy-in
You are experienced in managing and accounting for your time
You have developed and/or managed budgets
You have delivered powerful written and/or visual communications to a publishable standard
You are confident and flexible, and have experience working in interdisciplinary teams where collaboration is essential
You thrive in high trust, low supervision environments
You see yourself as a lifelong learner and are eager for new development opportunities.
Key tasks
Projects
Support the design and delivery of a range of projects, and lead strands of projects with support from Senior Project Leads and Directors
Contribute to and lead strong project planning and reporting, ensuring milestones and outcomes are met within budget, and positive relationships are maintained with partners
Undertake research activities, including desktop research and work in the field
Coordinate stakeholder engagement logistics for project and organisational activities
Write, edit and proofread project documents and reports
Ensure travel, workshops, communication and other logistics related to project delivery are undertaken effectively
Develop or oversee the production of visual design and communications products.
Partnerships
Establish and maintain relationships for trust with new and existing partners
Create opportunities to deepen our partnerships and collaborations with new and existing partners to grow our impact.
Thought Leadership
Develop new relationships in the social innovation, health, education, and social sectors on behalf of ThirdStory.
Maintain and grow key relationships in social sectors/spaces
Contribute to sharing our work online and at events, including writing and speaking
Coordinate and contribute to occasional events.
Business Development
Identify and cultivate relationships with potential partners and partner organisations
Undertake regular scans to identify business development opportunities
Contribute to the development and writing of proposals.
Developing our organisation
Contribute to developing and implementing our strategy and Story for Change
Contribute to internal meetings and workshops with insights, ideas, and kind, helpful, specific feedback
Be ready and happy to think on your feet and offer up your analytical, strategic, creative and relational talents to respond to challenges and develop solutions.
Role details
Location
The successful candidate will be based in our Melbourne office and have the ability to travel across Australasia.
Salary
Pro rata of between $90k-$100k plus superannuation per annum, depending on experience.
Equipment
You are required to provide your own laptop, internet and mobile phone. Project and organisation-related calls are able to be claimed back as an expense.
Contract
For our team, it is standard practice to offer a one-year fixed-term contract at the outset before considering permanent appointments. Our intention is for this to become a permanent role after the first year if the business pipeline and work are flourishing.
Hours
We are open to conversations about the best fit of hours for the right candidate.
To apply
Send the following to team@thirdstory.org by 9:00am AEST, Friday 3rd April 2026.
a CV; and/or LinkedIn profile
a cover letter; stating what excites you about this role, and why you believe you would be a good fit
a short video; that tells us more about you (2 minutes max – and we’re not interested in technical quality, we’re interested in you and what you say).
To discuss or ask questions, contact us via email team@thirdstory.org.
Applicants should have Australian residency or a valid Australian work visa.