Business Manager - IEA

ABOUT JIGSAW:

Jigsaw is a not-for-profit organisation designed to break the cycle so many people with disability face – of never gaining entry to the workforce.

At Jigsaw, we believe people prepare best for work, through work and our mission is to ‘build an Australia in which people with disability are fully included in the workforce’.

At the heart of the Jigsaw model is a thriving document and data management social enterprise, providing a range of high-quality commercial services to corporate and government clients. This social enterprise enables us to provide a training pathway for people with disabilities to prepare for employment at their own pace and undertake award wage employment before transitioning to open employment. Our proven model has resulted in an average 12 month employment retention rate that is more than double the average national retention rate of Commonwealth Employment Services.

We’re building something new!

After over 11 years of delivering solid, lasting employment outcomes under our work-integrated social enterprise and NDIS-funded model, Jigsaw Australia was selected to deliver the new Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) Commonwealth Government program in the Canberra/Queanbeyan Employment Services Area. Replacing the prior DES model from 1 November 2025, IEA aims to support specialist cohort providers like Jigsaw with deep experience in providing tailored services. Jigsaw will deliver services to a specialist cohort of youth with disability under the age of 25 years, and we aim to remain true to our proven disability employment model within the IEA framework; helping to shape national disability employment services for the better.

Learn more about Jigsaw at https://jigsawaustralia.com.au/

ABOUT THE ROLE:

With growth and maturity of our IEA program some 6 months in, we’re now seeking expressions of interest from experienced leaders in the Employment Services sector to oversee our service delivery by leading a small team, driving performance and outcomes, and ultimately creating meaningful, sustainable employment opportunities for young people with disability.

The Business Manager will be hands-on and leading by example, engaging regularly with our participants and supporting them on their pre and post-employment journey. Your team’s success is your success, so empowerment, regular training, mentoring and development of your people is important.

The Business Manager will engage directly with the local community and employers to support the growth of Jigsaw’s presence in the region, with the support of your team. Effective gathering and use of data is important for success, to understand and manage site performance - ensuring Jigsaw’s success.

Key areas of accountability include:

• Coach, mentor, motivate and support teams to deliver quality, high performance and compliant employment services at the site, with a strong focus on outstanding customer service.
• Ensure that the delivery of services is aligned to Jigsaw’s Service Delivery Model
• Engage directly with participants using a strengths-based approach to motivate and prepare people aged 25 and under through their Inclusive Employment Australia program journey.
• Engage directly with employers to form strategic partnerships to support individual or multiple sustainable placement opportunities for people with disability, with the support of your team.
• Engage with fellow local community service organisations to support participants with addressing their vocational and non-vocational barriers to employment, as well as ensuring ongoing referrals for participants directly registering into the program.
• Effectively use external resources, including but not limited to JobAccess and the Centre for Inclusive Employment, to support participants and employers with all things inclusive employment.
• Use participant experience feedback, reporting and data to ensure strong site performance to set targets.
• Strategically lead and manage Jigsaw’s success with the Inclusive Employment Australia program; including identifying innovative ways to drive performance and ultimately improve outcomes for people with disability in employment.
• Maintain compliance to the Inclusive Employment Australia Deed and Guidelines at all times.

Qualifications and experience required:

Essential

• Leadership within Commonwealth Employment Services
• Caseload management of disadvantaged job seekers; preferably within the Disability Employment Services program
• Knowledge of inclusive employment practices and barriers faced by people with disability
• Have the right to work in Australia
• Own transport and willingness to travel intrastate based on employer and participant support needs
• Willingness to work outside of standard business hours as required, based on employer and participant needs (infrequent)
• Possess a current satisfactory NDIS Worker Screening and Working With Children Check
• Completion of NDIS Worker Orientation Module
• Possess and maintain current First Aid and CPR certifications

Desirable

• Solid existing employer networks
• Knowledge of the NDIS sector
• Knowledge of Work Integrated Social Enterprises (WISE)

What makes Jigsaw an unbeatable workforce:

• Competitive, above award rate salary + Super + Salary packaging
• A quarterly Wellness Day to pursue wellness initiatives or activities of importance to you!
• Jigsaw employees receive tax-effective salary packaging opportunities, meaning you can increase the value of your take-home income (including novated car leasing).
• An opportunity to be part of a passionate team, helping to build a fantastic workplace culture whilst carrying out purposeful work.

If you are interested in joining a dynamic organisation at a time of exciting change in the disability sector, apply with your current resume and a cover letter addressing the above criteria.

For more information regarding the role, or to obtain a copy of the position description, please email recruitment@fightingchance.org.au

As a values-based organisation supporting marginalised communities across Australia, we value lived experience and cultural diversity. We encourage applications from people with disability and from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If you require adjustments to our recruitment process, please reach out for a confidential discussion.

Our Commitment to Child Safety

Fighting Chance is a Child Safe Organisation committed to the safety, wellbeing, and inclusion of all children and young people. We have zero tolerance for abuse, harm, neglect, discrimination, or inequality, and are dedicated to preventing harm of any kind.

We uphold the rights of children and young people to be heard, to have their identity and culture respected, and to have their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

All staff are expected to uphold our Code of Conduct and implement our Child Protection Practices, and to actively promote a culture of safety, respect, and trust in everything we do.

At Fighting Chance, we beli