Community Connection & Learning Specialist
Help Create a More Connected, Inclusive and Engaged Community.
Do you love bringing people together?
Are you passionate about community connection, lifelong learning and creating opportunities for people from all walks of life to thrive?
Wollongong City Libraries is looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Specialist Community Connection & Learning professional to join a welcoming and passionate team.
This is a rewarding opportunity to design and deliver meaningful programs, build strong community partnerships and create positive outcomes for people across our diverse Wollongong community.
If you are a flexible, can-do person who enjoys working with people, building relationships and making things happen, we'd love to hear from you.
Find out more about what we do here -> https://www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/library
This is a permanent full-time 35 hour per position. Salary from : $92,295.35 - $109,769.89 plus 12% Superannuation. (Salary package will be assessed based on skills, experience and qualifications)
A current paid NSW Working With Children Check and Class C Driver Licence or equivalent is required for this role. You must be physically able to undertake outreach activities, event setup and library desk duties, including participating in a one-in-eight Saturday roster, as well as occasional evening events as per operational requirements
Under Part 2, Section 6 of the Child Protection (Working With Children) Act 2012, this position has been designated as requiring a paid Working With Children Check.
Interested?
Click on ‘Apply’ to complete your online application.
You will be prompted through the application to answer the selection criteria as outlined overleaf.
Contact Sarah Howes, Service Team Leader – Community Connections and Learning on (02) 4227 7844 for questions related to the job
For questions related to submitting your application online, our recruitment process or you require adjustments in the recruitment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team on (02) 4227 7065.
Applications close 11:59pm, Monday 14 September 2026 | APPLY
Internally this role is known as Specialist - Community Connection and Learning 
The opportunity
Based primarily at Wollongong Library, this exciting role offers the opportunity to work across our library network and throughout the community, attending outreach activities, programs and community events across the Wollongong Local Government Area. You will build strong relationships with community groups, service providers and stakeholders while planning, delivering and evaluating engaging programs that promote literacy, inclusion, lifelong learning and community connection. Working closely with diverse communities, you will create welcoming and inclusive experiences that encourage people to connect beyond their own groups and participate more broadly in library and community life. You will also coordinate projects, grants, budgets and community partnerships, contributing to innovative and customer-focused library services. As part of a friendly, flexible and hardworking team, you'll bring a positive, can-do attitude, a collaborative approach and a genuine passion for strengthening community participation and belonging.
What you will be doing
- Contribute to reporting and outcomes for key initiatives, including the Disability and Inclusion Action Plan and Reconciliation Action Plan.
- Manage grant-funded projects, including budgets, administration and acquittals.
- Evaluate programs and services to drive continuous improvement.
- Independently manage projects and priorities from planning through to delivery.
- Support Learning Cities and other community learning initiatives.
- Build and maintain partnerships with community groups, stakeholders and external organisations.
- Develop and manage partnership agreements that support inclusion and community engagement.
- Identify opportunities to improve service delivery and community participation.
- Collaborate across Council, libraries and the community sector to deliver shared outcomes.
- Deliver programs and initiatives that promote literacy, inclusion, belonging and lifelong learning.
About You
- You are a passionate, community-minded professional with qualifications in areas such as Library and Information Services, Education, Community Development, Adult Education or a related discipline, backed by extensive experience in a library, community, education, cultural services or related professional environment.
- You are confident developing, delivering and evaluating programs, projects and events that create meaningful outcomes for diverse communities, including people with disability, multicultural communities and other underrepresented groups.
- You have exceptional communication, presentation and reporting skills, are comfortable presenting to community groups and stakeholders, and can build strong, trusted relationships through your friendly, empathetic approach with a high level of emotional intelligence.
- You bring experience coordinating grants, budgets and community partnerships, and are confident managing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment with strong organisational, time management and computer skills, including Microsoft Office and PowerPoint.
- You are adaptable, solutions-focused and able to work independently while contributing positively to a welcoming, flexible and hardworking team. Experience supporting, mentoring or guiding others will be highly regarded, as will a strong understanding of operational compliance and working within established frameworks, including Work Health and Safety requirements.
- To be successful in this role, you will hold a current NSW Working With Children Check and Class C Driver Licence or equivalent, be physically able to undertake outreach activities, event setup and library desk duties, and be available to participate in a one-in-eight Saturday roster, as well as occasional evening events as per operational requirements.
- You have a commitment to Council’s values of Respect, Integrity, OneTeam, Sustainability and Courage.
Selection Criteria
Wollongong City Council uses a merit-based recruitment process.
To support the panel in assessing your suitability, please respond to the criterion in detail. Your responses should clearly demonstrate how you meet each requirement, using specific examples that highlight your relevant skills, experience, knowledge, and attributes.
Please ensure your answers are authentic and reflect your own experiences. Responses generated by AI or copied from generic sources are discouraged, as they do not provide the depth or relevance needed for effective assessment.
We also encourage you to reflect on how your approach and values align with Wollongong City Council’s core values: Respect, Integrity, One Team, Sustainability, and Courage.
The more detail you provide, the better equipped the panel will be to understand your capabilities and alignment with the role and our organisation
- Tell us about your degree qualification and experience working within a library, education, community development, cultural services or related environment and how that experience prepares you for this role.
- Describe a grant-funded or budget-managed program that you have developed and delivered. How did you ensure the funding was effectively managed, stakeholder expectations were met, and the program achieved its intended objectives?
- Describe your experience working with diverse communities. How have you applied an inclusive or social justice approach when planning or delivering programs, services or engagement activities?
- Provide an example of how you have applied Child Safe principles and Work Health and Safety practices in a previous role. What was your responsibility, what actions did you take, and what was the outcome?
We’re values based, and purpose-led
We care about our community and aim to create an extraordinary Wollongong. This is achieved by working toward the goals in the Our Wollongong Our Future Community Strategic Plan 2035. Our work is guided by our values of Courage, Integrity, Respect, Sustainable and One Team.
Make a difference in your community
You’ll be part of a team that makes a positive impact through the services they provide, the infrastructure they build and the community they create.
Be your authentic self
Our strength is the diversity of our people. Council is an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, valued and belongs.
Grow capability and opportunity
We’ll invest in you to develop the next generation of leaders who’ll deliver services, projects and infrastructure that can only be found in large complex organisations.
Create local and industry connections
As part of a large and complex Council in a major city, you’ll establish networks with a range of Local Government Industry peers, bodies, associations and organisations.
Career growth and recognition
Reward and recognition, corporate learning opportunities, study assistance, True work-life balance
We know you work hard, and we make sure that effort is rewarded with real flexibility. Our hybrid work options, flex-time, and rostered days off mean you can maintain balance with family and enjoying our coastal lifestyle, while delivering great outcomes for community.
Great working conditions
Enjoy a 35-hour work week.
Generous leave provisions
Five weeks of annual leave per year (pro rata) and access to long service leave after just five years.
Health, safety, and wellbeing
We prioritise a safe workplace for everyone, every day, everywhere. Our wellbeing programs support mental, physical and social wellbeing of our people to be at their best and include an Employee Assistance Program, skin and hearing checks and discounted gym memberships.
A vibrant social culture
We have a thriving Social Club hosting a range of fun activities year-round from trivia to happy hour events, themed nights and more. There’s a dedicated social space with table tennis, pool table and shared break out areas.
How to apply
Click apply and submit your up-to-date resume and answer the selection criteria questions.
Your application will be assessed following the conclusion of the advertising period.
We will keep you informed during the recruitment process to:
- Advise you of your progress through each stage;
- Explain assessments that you need to complete;
- Notify you of the outcome of your application by email or phone, and
- Provide you with feedback on your request.
For assistance in submitting your application, please contact the Talent Acquisition Team on (02) 4227 7065.
More information
- We encourage applications from everyone regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, cultural background, faith, disability or gender identity. People with disability are encouraged to reach out so they can be supported to access adjustments in recruitment processes and in the workplace, to enable them to demonstrate their skills and capabilities to meet the requirements of the job.
- Wollongong Council adheres to the principles of a child safe organisation and is committed to the care and protection of all children and young people in the community.
- Suitable candidates may be placed on an eligibility list for future opportunities in the team, which may include full time, part time, temporary and or casual.
- Suitable candidates are subject to employment screening which includes reference checks, Identity and Medical History Checks, and may also include a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and Working with Children Check. Employment is subject to clearance of all these checks.