Lead Community Advisor

Support and empower people with MS and their whānau to live their best lives
- Work in a high-trust, supportive, friendly and collaborative team environment
- Permanent, 32-40 hours per week. Based in Wellington. Work from home.
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- Established in 1967, Wellington Multiple Sclerosis Society (WMS) is a non-profit organisation, devoted to supporting people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the Wellington region to lead independent, active and fulfilling lives. WMS is one of 18 regional societies throughout New Zealand, formed to support the needs of people with MS and other allied neurological diseases.Reporting to the President and WMS Committee, you will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of WMS, including leading and managing a small team while ensuring that people with MS, along with their whānau and/or carers, in the wider Wellington region receive the support, information, resources, and advocacy they need.

**Key responsibilities**:

- Facilitate the smooth operational running of WMS
- Provide leadership to and management of WMS staff, including providing direction, coaching and performance and development feedback
- Support WMS' clients, their families and whānau, by efficiently managing caseloads while balancing your own client responsibilities/caseloads and overseeing the work of other Community Advisors
- Visit clients in their homes and workplaces, and making appropriate recommendations and referrals after assessment
- Attend meetings with clients to advocate on their behalf, including with employers, GPs, Work & Income, etc
- Act as the link between clients and services available within the community
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with MS New Zealand (national body), cluster groups, MS societies, health professionals, services providers and referral agencies
- Attend and participate in WMS' monthly committee meetings (remotely via Teams, occasionally in person), sharing relevant updates and matters concerning the Society with the Committee.

You possess a sound understanding of the not-for-profit sector and the unique challenges that come with working alongside a voluntary board/committee. You are a self-starter, natural people person and a confident decision-maker with demonstrated leadership capabilities. Your ability to build solid relationships, communicate effectively and deliver meaningful outcomes will be the key to success in this role.

This role offers a diverse and dynamic range of responsibilities that will keep you engaged and motivated. You'll thrive in a small, close-knit team that is supportive, friendly and highly competent. Plus, you'll enjoy the flexibility and autonomy to manage your own schedule, along with the freedom to work from the comfort of your own home

**Person Profile**:

- Proven experience in a Community Advisor, Support Worker, Elderly Caregiver, Allied Health, or similar role
- A relevant qualification in health services or related fields
- Knowledge and understanding of the NZ healthcare system and services available for independent living
- Demonstrated people leadership skills, including developing and coaching staff and teams
- Excellent communication, time management and organisational skills
- Experience in leading an organisation or service function, including managing service operations and budgets
- A commitment towards service improvement and delivering service excellence
- Compassion, empathetic and sensitivity to others needs
- Able to maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and handle sensitive information
- Self-motivated, proactive, responsive, responsible and able to work independently and within a team
- Computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Office 365, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, CRM databases (i.e. Infoodle)
- Knowledge or understanding of the challenges faced by clients affected by MS, mental health issues, or other disabilities would be advantageous
- Hold a full and clean NZ Driver's Licence
- Ability and willingness to travel locally/domestically for work (quarterly and annually).

**Applications close**: Thursday 29th August 2024

**Send your CV and cover letter to**: Ngan Nguyen

**P**: 04 499 1069