Job Description

Senior Community Engagement Officer – Wollongong

• Clerk Grade 9/10 | $129,464 – $142,665 + super, leave loading, flex

• 1 x temporary full‑time roles (3 years) + talent pool
• Location: Wollongong (50% local office attendance), 35 hours per week

Are you an experienced engagement professional who knows how to navigate complex stakeholder environments and lead conversations that matter? Do you want your work to directly influence major social housing outcomes for communities across NSW? Join Homes NSW, part of the Department of Communities and Justice, and take a senior role in shaping how government works with communities to deliver new social and affordable housing and homelessness services.

About Homes NSW

Homes NSW brings together housing and homelessness services under one roof to deliver more social and affordable housing, end the cycle of homelessness, and provide quality public housing to over 262,000 tenants. We put people at the heart of everything we do—our clients and our staff.

Your role

As a Senior Community Engagement Officer, you will lead the development, delivery and evaluation of stakeholder and community engagement strategies across a portfolio of major housing projects.

You’ll provide strategic advice, manage complex and sensitive issues, and work closely with project teams, service providers and community stakeholders to ensure engagement outcomes support timely, high‑quality project delivery.

This role requires strong judgement, leadership and adaptability, particularly when balancing competing priorities, managing multiple projects, and navigating diverse perspectives within tight timeframes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of stakeholder and community engagement strategies for complex projects
• Build, maintain and influence strong relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Provide strategic advice on emerging issues, risks and community sentiment
• Manage consultations, negotiations and engagement activities to agreed timelines and quality standards
• Monitor and evaluate engagement effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement
• Undertake research and analysis to support evidence‑based decision‑making
• Contribute to and support project teams to deliver key milestones on time and within budget
• One or no direct reports

Preferred Experience

We’re looking for candidates with experience supporting major infrastructure project delivery - particularly in public participation and community/stakeholder engagement. Experience with State Significant Developments, understanding of the NSW planning frameworks and IAP2/ Engagement Institute certification will be highly regarded.

Essential requirements

• A current and valid NSW Drivers Licence.
• The role may involve travel both locally and regionally, including overnight travel, as required by the business and/or directed
• Occasional after hours/weekend work required

For more information, please download the role description: Senior Community Engagement Officer

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now’ button.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• A challenging and rewarding career
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

Want more information? Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 1 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 3 pages).

Applications close Sunday 24 May 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Rachael de Zylva via Rachael.deZylva@homes.nsw.gov.au

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Jess Tan on 0499 531 131 or via jess.tan@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

The Welcome Experience
Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW’ page.