Why this role matters

Youth Services exists so that young people are seen, supported and empowered to reach their full potential. With care and courage, we journey alongside young people, creating safe spaces, real opportunities and stronger communities where they can thrive.

As Team Leader, Youth, you will turn this purpose into consistent, high-quality practice and meaningful action. You will lead a committed team delivering prevention, early intervention and crisis outreach services and programs across the Northern Territory, ensuring young people are recognised for their aspirations, capabilities and capacity to shape their own futures.

Through purposeful leadership and genuinely relational practice, you will help young people feel safe, heard and connected to the people, opportunities and supports that matter to them. This is an opportunity to lead with care and courage, develop others and contribute to positive, lasting change for young people across the Territory.

About the role

Reporting to the Northern Territory State Manager, you will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team working alongside young people across Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs.

Our current services include homelessness prevention, early intervention and assertive outreach, with opportunities to expand our work across education, alcohol and other drugs, housing and related areas of youth support. You will help shape this growth, ensuring services are responsive to young people’s goals and to the distinct needs and contexts of communities across the Territory.

This is a highly relational role requiring confidence, curiosity, the ability to build trust and foster team wellbeing. You will represent Youth Services and develop productive relationships with schools, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, housing and health services, government agencies and local networks. By bringing people together around shared goals, you will strengthen referral pathways and support more connected responses for young people.

You will provide operational leadership, reflective supervision and practice guidance, fostering a team culture built on high expectations; accountability, collaboration and continuous learning. You will support staff to deliver trauma-informed, strengths-based and young-person-centred services, while promoting culturally responsive practice grounded in listening, learning and respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, families, communities and organisations.

From developing staff and strengthening practice to expanding partnerships and shaping new services, you will influence the future of youth support across the Northern Territory. We are looking for a leader who believes in young people, invests in relationships and understands that meaningful outcomes are built through trust, consistency and collaboration.

This full time, two-year maximum term position is primarily based in Darwin, although applications from Alice Springs and Katherine will also be considered. The role sits within the NT Youth Services team, reports to the Northern Territory State Manager and is remunerated at SCHADS Level 6.

How you will make an impact

• Lead and inspire a high-performing multidisciplinary team committed to excellence and better outcomes with young people
• Foster a culture of high expectations, accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement
• Build staff capability through coaching, reflective supervision, mentoring and professional development
• Support strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and young-person-centred practice
• Help lead the continued expansion of NT Youth Services, ensuring growth is purposeful, sustainable and characterised by excellence
• Shape responsive services across prevention, early intervention, outreach, housing, education, alcohol and other drugs, and related areas of youth support
• Help develop trusted partnerships with schools, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, government agencies and community services across the Territory
• Oversee service performance, quality, safeguarding, risk, reporting and compliance
• Champion the voices, strengths and aspirations of young people in service delivery, partnerships and continuous improvement
• Strengthen coordinated pathways that help young people access the right opportunities and support at the right time

What you will bring

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Youth Work, Social Work, Education, Community Development, Community Services, Psychology, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant qualifications and experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience in youth services, education, community services or a related setting
• A genuine belief in the strengths, aspirations and potential of all young people
• A deep commitment to creating safe, inclusive and empowering environments where young people can participate, flourish and shape their own futures
• Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of high expectations, accountability and continuous learning
• Experience supporting strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and young-person-centred practice
• A highly relational approach and demonstrated ability to build trust, develop networks and bring people together around shared goals
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills across community, government and service systems
• Excellent understanding of safeguarding, risk management, professional boundaries and duty of care responsibilities
• Strong communication, judgement and decision-making skills, including confidence navigating complex situations
• The ability to contribute to service development and growth while maintaining excellence, consistency and accountability
• Demonstrated ability to listen, learn and work respectfully with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, families, communities and organisations.
• A valid Northern Territory Working with Children Clearance, also known as an Ochre Card.
• A current driver licence valid in the Northern Territory
• A current First Aid Certificate, or willingness to obtain one before commencing

What we offer

• NFP salary packaging benefits up to $15,900 tax free and Entertainment Benefit up to $2,650 tax free
• Flexible working arrangements
• Employee Assistance Program
• Financial, retail and lifestyle discounts
• Discounted health and fitness programs
• Up to 8 weeks of purchased leave per year
• Generous parental leave
• Up to 5 days paid leave to support TSA programs
• A supportive, inclusive culture with passionate team members

How to apply

If you are passionate about developing people, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for young people to thrive, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.

The Salvation Army is an Equal Opportunity Employer who provides an inclusive work environment and embraces the diverse talent of its people. We value people of all cultures, languages, capacities, sexual orientations, gender identities and/or expressions. We are committed to achieving a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Salvation Army is a child safe organisation and is committed to protecting children and young people from harm. All child facing roles will require the successful completion of a Working with Children Check. Applicants for all roles require a mandatory Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check.

We value Integrity, Compassion, Respect, Diversity, and Collaboration