Events & Operations Specialist

Events & Operations Specialist

Status: Full Time

Reports to: Head of Programs

Award: Level 5-1, Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Award 2010

Location: Minus18 Office, at the Victorian Pride Centre, 79-81 Fitzroy St, St Kilda VIC. This role includes hybrid, weekend and evening work with some interstate travel.

Salary: $114,842.68 Full Time Salary.

As a registered charity, Minus18 offers salary packaging that increases your take-home pay. Based on this role’s base salary, the estimated package is:

• Base pay: $105,577
• Salary packaging: Up to $6,385
• Allowances: $2,880
• Additional Superannuation (12%): $12,669

Start Date: From September 2026

Applications Close: Sunday August 30, 2026

ABOUT US

Minus18 is Australia’s charity improving the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth. We believe LGBTQIA+ young people deserve to live with pride, and we create opportunities for them to do so.

At the heart of our work is:

• Belonging and connection: Creating safe spaces, belonging and connection for LGBTQIA+ people to prevent harm.
• Youth Voice: Amplifying lived experience into evidence and content to influence change.

Since 2011 over 100,000 young people have engaged in these services across Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, and millions more via digital platforms.

ABOUT THIS ROLE

As the Events & Operations Specialist for Minus18, you will lead the scaling and delivery of our youth events across Australia — and be a public advocate for the young people at the heart of our work.

Our flagship events are Queer Formals: inclusive spaces with performers, DJs and dance floors created specifically for LGBTQIA+ young people aged 13–19. We currently run these each year in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, welcoming between 400 and 1,000 young people at each event. From 2027, we’re expanding — and you’ll lead that growth, bringing Queer Formals to new states and territories across the country while continuing to deliver the events our communities already know and love.

You’ll work with a high degree of autonomy, building the operational systems and relationships that make nationwide growth possible — designing the way we deliver them. You’ll be on the ground in new communities, developing the local relationships and partnerships that make each Queer Formal feel like it belongs there.

With event management and demonstrated capacity to lead and scale growth, you will:

• Lead the scaling of operations and systems to enable nationwide growth
• Lead event planning, delivery and evaluation
• Develop community and organisational partnerships
• Be a voice and advocate for young people and the work of Minus18

This role will be at the forefront of Minus18’s growth and impact, connecting directly with young people, external stakeholders and sector leaders.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITES

EVENT PLANNING & COORDINATION

• Lead the development of the Annual Events Calendar
• Lead end-to-end project management of events, including planning, timelines, stakeholder coordination and delivery
• Develop and execute comprehensive event plans, timelines for the delivery of large scale LGBTQIA+ Youth events ensuring alignment with Minus18 strategic goals, funder requirements and participant outcomes.
• Identify and secure suitable event venues, catering services, audio-visual equipment and other necessary resources for successful event execution.
• Coordinate with vendors, suppliers and performers to ensure all event logistics are effectively managed.
• Identify and address potential risks related to event planning & execution, implementing appropriate safety measures and contingency plans.
• Manage event budgets, including tracking expenses, cost negotiation, and ensuring responsible financial management.
• Manage & coordinate event inventory.
• Work with Marketing to support the development and implementation of effective marketing strategies to promote events and gain sign ups.
• Utilise various communication channels to reach the LGBTQIA+ Youth Community and broader audiences to promote events and create community within participants.
• Work within a team to foster strong connection between Minus18 in-person events and online community.
• Work with the Youth Safety Specialist to ensure events are planned and delivered in adherence with Child Safe Standards, Minus18’s Child Safety Policy, and in line with best practice approaches to youth safety, accessibility and participation.

EVENT DELIVERY

• Demonstrate a deep understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues, youth-related challenges, and the importance of creating safe spaces.
• Implement appropriate measures to address accessibility and accommodation requirements for attendees.
• Ensure that events align with the needs and interests of LGBTQIA+ youth participants.
• Oversee the coordination of a team of volunteers to support in the delivery of events.
• Oversee and coordinate event logistics during events including preparing run sheets, hosting bump in/out and coordination of performers and contractors.
• Work with the Youth Safety Specialist to respond to critical incidents at events.

EVENT EVALUATION

• Develop best practice and innovative feedback collection methods to ensure high % of attendee feedback at each event
• Collect data required by Program Evaluation Framework, and any additional data required to ensure event delivery is aligned with the needs of LGBTQIA+ young people.
• Prepare post-event reports, including feedback and outcomes.
• Actively evaluate the success of each event and identify areas for improvement with recommendations.
• Contribute to cross-event knowledge sharing within your team.

OPERATIONS AND GROWTH

• Lead the development of operational models and workflows to scale delivery and support nationwide events.
• Develop systems, policies and processes to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Wherever possible, ensure event operations are automated, repeatable and documented.
• Ensure best practice is followed across all event operations and logistics, keeping up to date with industry developments and innovations.
• Work alongside Manager to develop key community partnerships and relationships in new and existing event locations.
• Work alongside Manager to develop models of community partner engagement that support strategic scaling objectives and local needs.
• Be a voice and advocate for young people and the work of Minus18 in public settings.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF EVERYONE

Regardless of role, all team members are expected to:

• Live our values and model the behaviours outlined in the Code of Conduct.
• Be a proud Minus18 representative. which can include attending events or participating in speaking opportunities when needed.
• Contribute to a safe, inclusive and well-organised workplace that enables everyone to do their best work.
• Collaborate across teams and contribute to organisation-wide initiatives, events and programs as required.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

The ideal candidate has:

• Relevant qualification in Event Management, Hospitality, Communications or a related field is desirable
• Proven experience in planning and managing large-scale events, particularly in the LGBTQIA+ or youth-focused sectors
• Proven experience translating strategy into deliverable frameworks, plans and outcomes
• Proven experience in scaling operations, systems, policies and process for growth on national level
• Strong understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues and familiarity with youth-related challenges
• Experience representing organisations in public settings, including public speaking
• Demonstrated experience working with a team to deliver set strategy and outcome
• Exceptional organisation, time management and multitasking skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities, with the capacity to engage with diverse stakeholders effectively
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines while maintaining attention to detail
• Demonstrated passion for Minus18’s mission to improve the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Valid Victorian driver’s license (required) and regular access to a car (preferred)
• A successful Police Background Check and Working With Children Check (WWCC). These can be obtained once an offer of employment is made, and before role commencement
• Current First Aid accreditation (or willingness to obtain)

We’ve provided a significant amount of information about this role to support your application process, and give you a full understanding of what you’re applying for.

Research shows that men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, while other genders (and intersecting identities) tend to only apply when they check every box.

If you think you have what it takes but don’t meet every single criteria above, we would still love to hear from you.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this role, please send us the following:

• A copy of your CV
• A written response or short pre-recorded video (max 5 min) introducing yourself, and briefly responding to the key selection criteria.
• If you send in a video, something recorded on your phone is fine. Please ensure this is uploaded to a 3rd party service (such as Youtube, Dropbox, etc) and shared via URL, not as an attachment.

Applications close on Sunday August 30, 2026.

PROCESS

Application: You are asked to submit a written or video response to the key selection criteria.

Interview/s: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a live interview/s with the team. These will be conducted face-to-face or online.

Reference Check: Successful candidates will undergo a reference check, Working With Children Check and Police Background Check.

Minus18 is committed to promoting and advancing equal opportunity for LGBTQIA+ people, especially LGBTQIA+ people in our strategic priority groups (People of Colour, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, and people with culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds). We encourage people in our strategic priority groups to apply, and to let us know if any special assistance is required during the application process (including barriers to recording and uploading your video).

Need assistance? JobAccess includes help finding work, changing jobs, accessing DES providers and workplace modifications to help you find / maintain employment. Please email jobs@minus18.org. your questions https://www.jobaccess.gov.au/people-with-disability/available-support

We uphold our responsibility to provide safe environments for young people at Minus18, working with communities to ensure we are culturally respectful and inclusive. We have adopted the National Principles for Child Safety.

Minus18 is located on the land of the Yalakut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples, Australia’s First People and Traditional Custodians. We acknowledge their continued connection and contribution to land, water and community, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. Sovereignty was never ceded; this always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.