Employment TypePermanent

Closing Date5 Feb 2026 11:59pm

Job TitleCommunity Partnerships & Impact – Senior Manager

Job Summary

Job Description

Who We Are

We're an iconic Aussie brand with a global footprint. Our purpose is to build a connected future so everyone can thrive. We're all about providing the best experience and delivering the best tech on the best network.

This includes making Telstra the place you want to work. For you, that means a having career that grows with you and working with a team powered by human connection that prioritises wellbeing and choice.

 

For over two decades, Telstra has funded a wholly-owned subsidiary called the Telstra Foundation with the goal to support young people to thrive in their connected world. A registered Australian charity, the Foundation works with leading community stakeholders to improve children and young peoples’ online safety and wellbeing, their digital skills and their access to essential digital services (www.telstrafoundation.com).

About the Role

Working closely with and reporting to the CEO Telstra Foundation, the Community Partnerships & Impact – Senior Manager plays a pivotal leadership role in shaping, delivering, and amplifying Telstra Foundation’s mission to empower children and young people to thrive in safe, inclusive digital spaces and to shape their own futures. You will lead strategic partnerships across the community sector, manage high‑impact programs, and ensure our social investments create meaningful, measurable outcomes for young people and communities across Australia.Working collaboratively across internal teams, partners, and stakeholders, you will design and innovative youth‑centred initiatives, steward mission‑aligned partnerships, and strengthen our reputation as a trusted, forward‑thinking leader in corporate philanthropy and the youth focused non-profit sector.

What We Offer

Performance-related payAccess to thousands of learning programs so you can level-upGlobal presence across 22 countries; opportunities to work where we do business.Purchased annual leave schemeAdditional Telstra day offAdditional 30% off Telstra products and servicesToolkit provided (laptop + mobile phone + plan paid for)

What You’ll Do

1. Strategic Leadership & Impact Design

Co‑develop and deliver our community investment and impact strategy that centres children and young people, embedding principles of Safety‑by‑Design, youth co‑design, inclusion, digital wellbeing, and agency.Identify emerging challenges, opportunities, and trends in the youth, tech, and community impact sectors (e.g., online safety, digital inclusion, mental health, AI impacts) to inform strategic decisions.Translate our social investment framework into robust, measurable programs and initiatives that create safer, more inclusive digital spaces and amplify youth voice.Provide thought leadership on social impact, youth digital inclusion and wellbeing, community innovation, and adjacent focus areas.

2. Partnership Development & Stewardship

Build and nurture strong, long‑term relationships with youth‑focused community organisations, social enterprises, education providers, First Nations youth organisations, digital rights advocates, peak bodies, and sector leaders.Lead due diligence, selection, negotiation, and onboarding of funded partners and collaborators, ensuring child safeguarding, cultural safety, and ethical practice.Ensure partnerships are aligned to our mission, values‑aligned, and positioned for sustainable impact on youth online safety, inclusion, and agency.Represent the organisation at sector events, roundtables, conferences, and stakeholder forums.Support non‑profit collaboration opportunities within the portfolio and convene cross‑partner learning where there is appetite to explore.

3. Program Management & Delivery

Oversee a portfolio of strategic partnerships and grants, programs, and initiatives, ensuring high‑quality delivery, governance, and risk management, including child safety standards and responsible data practices.Work closely with partners to share learnings about youth co‑design, responsible technology, digital inclusion issues, and continuous improvement, using your knowledge and networks to support and enhance partner projects.Monitor program progress, troubleshoot challenges, and maintain strong reporting and accountability frameworks.Curate and leverage insights and learnings on youth digital wellbeing, inclusion, and agency to inform our practice and policy.Work closely with the Telstra Foundation’s Youth and Community Engagement Senior Manager to amplify the voices of young people, ensuring participation is accessible, inclusive, and safe.Work with Telstra teams to scale awareness and impact of strategic partnerships and embed insights that contribute to safer, more inclusive digital experiences.Work as part of a team to design the Foundation’s Community of Practice approach for partners and partner alumni

4. Impact Measurement, Reporting & Learning

Lead impact measurement and evaluation processes with outcomes that reflect safer online experiences, improved digital literacy and inclusion, increased youth agency, and equity for underrepresented groups (e.g., First Nations, disability, rural and regional young people).Use data and insights (quantitative and qualitative data and youth stories) to assess outcomes, drive learning, and refine program strategy, upholding privacy, ethics, and safeguarding.Prepare high‑quality impact reports, board papers, briefings, and public‑facing communications.Foster a learning culture across the organisation and with external partners

5. Internal Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

Partner with internal teams such as communications, legal, finance, risk, and Telstra product teams to ensure seamless program execution aligned to our youth participation principles.Provide expert advice on community impact considerations for organisational initiatives and campaigns related to youth online safety and inclusion.Support executive leaders with insights, messaging, and strategic advice on social impact and youth digital wellbeing.Manage the Foundation’s Tech & Wellbeing Roundtable program in collaboration with ReachOut, convening cross‑sector stakeholders to advance safer, more inclusive digital ecosystems for young people.

About You

You will bring these skills and experiences to successful in the role:

Experience working with children and young people, including deep understanding of youth co‑design and youth participatory principles; commitment to child safeguarding and ethical practice.Significant experience in philanthropy, social impact, community development, corporate responsibility, or a related field.Proven success in designing and managing large‑scale community programs and non‑profit partnerships with demonstrated social impact for young people.Strong understanding of the Australian non‑profit sector, social challenges, and emerging policy trends in the youth and tech space (e.g., online safety, digital inclusion, youth mental health).Demonstrated ability to measure and communicate impact using frameworks and evaluation methodologies relevant to youth outcomes and digital wellbeing.Exceptional relationship management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.Strong strategic thinking, problem‑solving capability, and ability to influence at senior levels.Experience in governance, risk management, and grantmaking processes.Ability to work in a small team, including pitching in when required and providing support to other team members.Ability to build strong relationships based on trust and respect with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.Experience in the use of structured problem‑solving approaches and frameworks including Human‑Centred Design and Agile methodologies.Working understanding of the digital product lifecycle and considerations for Safety‑by‑Design and youth privacy.Strong facilitation skills adaptable to different situations and communication styles.High‑level written and verbal communication skills (report and policy writing), with advanced attention to detail, and the ability to convey information, influence outcomes, and build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.Proven capability in initiating, delivering, and managing complex, multi‑dimensional programs, including maintaining business plans; monitoring and assessing project risks and issues; and delivering projects to time, budget, and quality specifications.Excellent interpersonal, relationship‑building, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work with diverse stakeholders with competing expectations and needs.Ability to work flexibly within a multifaceted, fast‑paced environment, with creative and lateral thinking to generate new ideas.

Highly desirable qualification(s)

Strong understanding of program delivery within the Australian education and/or youth mental health sectors.Understanding of digital inclusion, youth impact, online safety, child safeguarding, or other thematic areas aligned with organisational priorities.Tertiary qualification in social sciences, public policy, business, community development, or similar.

Personal attributes

Purpose‑driven mindset and deep commitment to youth and community outcomes.Highly collaborative, empathetic, and values‑led working style.Curiosity, adaptability, and comfort working in ambiguity.Ability to balance big‑picture thinking with detail‑oriented execution.Strong judgement, integrity, and professional maturity.Inclusive, trauma‑informed practice; empathetic team player; accountable to youth voice.

Why Join Us?

Opportunity to lead ambitious social impact work at scale, empowering children and young people to thrive online and shape their own futures.Work with passionate teams and partners dedicated to making a meaningful difference in youth digital wellbeing and inclusion.Be part of an innovative, supportive, and purpose‑driven organisation.Flexible working environment and commitment to professional growth.

__________________________________________________________________________

As part of your application with Telstra, you may receive communications from us on +61 440 135 548 (for job applications in Australia) and +1 (623) 400-7726 (for job applications in the Philippines and India).

When you join our team, you become part of a welcoming and inclusive community where everyone is respected, valued and celebrated. We actively seek individuals from various backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and disabilities because we know that diversity not only strengthens our team but also enriches our work. We have zero tolerance for harassment of any kind, and we prioritise creating a workplace culture where everyone is safe and can thrive. 

As part of the hiring process, all identified candidates will undergo a background check, and the results will play a role in the final decision regarding your application.

We work flexibly at Telstra. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you. When you apply, you can share your pronouns and / or any reasonable adjustments needed to take part equitably during the recruitment process.

We are aware of current limitations with our website accessibility and are working towards improving this. Should you experience any issues accessing information or the application form, and require this in an alternate format, please contact our Talent Acquisition team on DisabilityandAccessibility@team.telstra.com or via the additional contact options found at www.telstra.com.au/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/disability-employment