Open Programs Manager

Parramatta, NSW, Australia

Location: This role will work across our Redfern and Parramatta centres but will mostly be based at Parramatta. From late 2025, they will also be leading programming from our new community hub in Mt Druitt. 

Term: Full-time, 38 hours per week. 

Reports to: Programs Lead

Direct Reports: 3

Salary: $108,000pa plus superannuation. Fringe benefit is available, providing an additional $16k per year tax free. For more information, click here.

About Story Factory:

​​At Story Factory, we believe that stories can change lives. We focus on enriching the lives of young people in under-resourced communities through quality creative writing programs, improving their writing skills, increasing their confidence and expanding their future prospects. 

Story Factory runs a wide variety of fun and engaging creative writing programs at primary and high schools across Sydney and Western Sydney, at our centres in Redfern and Parramatta, and digitally across Australia.  

Since opening in 2012, our achievements include:

• 65,000+ student enrolments, with more than 8,000 enrolments in 2024;
• 15% of student are Indigenous and 49% are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
• Recognition of our work with multiple awards, including a Secretary’s Award for Excellence in the 2018 Public Education Foundation Awards, and Executive Director and Co-founder Catherine Keenan AM being named the 2016 Australian of the Year Local Hero.

We are currently in the third year of a five-year strategy that will see us grow the reach and impact of our work. 

For further information visit: https://www.storyfactory.org.au/ 

• Click link to view our Theory of Change document
• Click link to view our Strategic Plan document, including our Values
• Click link to view our Reconciliation Action Plan document
• Click link to view the latest Annual Report document 

The role:

The Open Programs Manager is charged with leading the delivery of Story Factory’s fun and engaging after-school and holiday programs. These creative writing programs are delivered to primary and high-school students in person at our centre in Parramatta, online, and from late 2025 from our new hub in Mt Druitt. Occasionally they are also delivered in collaboration with other community organisations at their premises.

The Open Programs Manager leads a small team of highly creative Storytellers to plan, design and deliver these programs in line with Story Factory’s mission to support young people to develop their literacy and find their voice. The role involves leading the creation of new Open Programs, delivering 2-4 programs per week, supporting and developing the Open Programs team, and ensuring that all of Story Factory’s Open Programs meet the highest standards for quality and impact.

The Open Programs Manager supports the Programs Lead in ensuring all Open Programs align with Story Factory’s Theory of Change and make a meaningful difference in young people’s lives. The Open Programs Manager will also work collaboratively with the Programs Lead, and the managers of our schools, digital and special projects teams, to coordinate programs across Story Factory, sharing resources and skills and supporting the whole programs team. 

The ideal candidate will be a highly creative and very experienced educator with a passion for writing, and for improving outcomes for young people in under-resourced communities. 

The Open Programs Manager will work across our Redfern and Parramatta centres but will mostly be based at Parramatta. From late 2025, they will also be leading programming from our new community hub in Mt Druitt. They will have three direct reports, all experienced and creative Storytellers/Program Facilitators.  

Story Factory is a Child Safe Organisation. Like all staff at Story Factory, the Open Programs Manager must adhere to our Code of Conduct at all times, and be a role model in all matters of child safety. A current Working with Children Check and Police Check are prerequisites. The role has a three month probation period.

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Lead the creation and programming of new Open Programs, collaborating with Storytellers and supporting them to deliver these to the highest standard.
2. Ensure all Open Programs support young people with diverse abilities.
3. Ensure all Open Programs are culturally appropriate, incorporate diverse perspectives, and support students of all backgrounds to succeed.
4. Provide day-to-day support to Storytellers in the Open Programs team, addressing issues around program delivery and students, and ensuring administrative work is completed.
5. Conduct regular team meetings and one-on-one meetings to monitor progress, troubleshoot issues and set goals.
6. Follow up on feedback from the Programs Lead, conduct observations and provide strategies and tools to support Open Program Storytellers to meet their goals.
7. Collaborate with the People & Culture Lead to create professional development plans for Storytellers in the Open Programs team.
8. Deliver up to 4 workshops per week during term time, primarily in Open Programs but occasionally in other streams such as school programs.
9. Collaborate with other Program Managers and the Programs Lead on organisation-wide program planning, development, and review; staffing; and professional learning for Storytellers.
10. Oversee the production of promotional and publication materials for Open Program workshops (printed and online).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential: 

1. At least five years’ experience teaching or delivering writing programs to young people;
2. Experience creating and developing engaging writing programs for young people;
3. Experience managing and developing a team of educators or creative professionals;
4. Strong background in program development, management and delivery either in a school or other educational setting;
5. An ability to creatively differentiate delivery, scaffolds, resources, and outcomes depending on the learning and support needs of students.

Desirable:

1. Project management skills;
2. Strong organisational and administrative skills;
3. Current driver’s licence. 

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

At Story Factory, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion and sexual orientation. We know that diversity and inclusion helps us to attract, recruit, engage and retain a team of talented people. 

We encourage people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse backgrounds to apply. Residents of Greater Western Sydney are particularly encouraged to apply.

If you require specific support to apply for this position, please advise the recruiting manager whose contact details are listed in the advertisement. We will work with you to identify the best way to assist you.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria. 

Applications close at 5pm on June 25th 2025.