Manager – Advocacy & Advisory Services

About Our Organisation

We are a free community advocacy charity dedicated to ensuring every person in the Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty region has a voice. Our volunteer advocates provide in-person support, telephone advocacy, and guidance to people who are navigating government agencies, understanding their rights, or simply unsure where to turn.

We currently operate weekly clinics in Welcome Bay, Greerton, Arataki, Pāpāmoa, City library, Te Puke and are growing — with a new clinic planned for Otumoetai and ambitions to extend services across the wider area. We treat every person who comes to us with respect and kindness, and we ask the same in return.

Role Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and grow a grassroots advocacy service that makes a real difference in people's lives. As Manager, you will provide day-to-day operational oversight of the service, support and develop our volunteer team, and work closely with the Founder and Board to guide the organisation through its next phase of growth.

The role is flexible and part-time, initially approximately 5 to 10 hours per week with the potential to grow to 20 hours as the organisation expands .As a charity, this position is currently offered on a volunteer basis, to become paid upon receipt of adequate funding.

Key Responsibilities

Service Delivery & Clinic Operations

• Oversee the day-to-day running of weekly advocacy clinics across Welcome Bay, Greerton, Arataki, Pāpāmoa, City library, and Te Puke
• Provide direct advocacy support alongside volunteers, including attending client meetings and covering the advocacy service when needed
• Manage and respond to telephone and WhatsApp enquiries, supporting clients who cannot attend in person
• Ensure all client interactions are handled with care, confidentiality, and professionalism
• Maintain awareness of referral pathways and connect clients to appropriate legal or specialist services as required

Volunteer & Team Management

• Interview, onboard, and induct new volunteers
• Provide day-to-day support, guidance, and mentorship to the volunteer team
• Manage volunteer rosters and ensure adequate coverage across clinic sites
• Act as a point of escalation for complex or sensitive cases
• Foster a positive, respectful, and inclusive team culture

Administration & Processes

• Oversee and support any administrative staff or functions
• Review, maintain, and improve operational processes and procedures
• Ensure accurate record-keeping and case management practices
• Monitor service quality and identify opportunities for improvement

Governance & Growth

• Liaise regularly with the Founder and Board members, providing updates on operations and service delivery
• Contribute to planning for service expansion, including the Otumoetai clinic and future WBOP growth
• Assist in identifying and recruiting new volunteers as the organisation grows
• Represent the organisation professionally within the community
• Assist the Board by supporting funding applications with local funding agencies

Skills, Experience & Attributes

Essential

• Experience in a community, social services, advocacy, or people-facing coordination role
• Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds
• Confident communicator whether in person, on the phone, and in writing
• Proven ability to manage, support, and motivate volunteers or small teams
• Organised and self-directed, able to manage competing priorities with minimal supervision
• A genuine commitment to community wellbeing and to giving people a voice
• Comfortable setting and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries

Desirable

• Familiarity with New Zealand government agencies (Work and Income, Kāinga Ora, ACC, Health, Housing etc.)
• Experience in a non-profit, charity, or volunteer organisation
• Knowledge of the Tauranga and WBOP community landscape
• Basic understanding of legal referral pathways or community law services
• Experience using WhatsApp or similar tools for community communications

Personal Qualities

We are looking for someone who embodies the values at the heart of our service:

• Empathetic and non-judgmental and able to meet people where they are
• Calm under pressure, able to handle difficult situations with composure
• Ethical and trustworthy, able to understand confidentiality and handle sensitive information with care
• Resilient , and be able to navigate challenging conversations and maintain appropriate boundaries
• Kindness, because that is how we treat the people who come to us