Leo Watkins
Oakdowns
Summary
Dedicated and results-driven public service professional with extensive experience in contract management, tenancy services, stakeholder engagement, and compliance. Adept at developing and implementing policies, ensuring regulatory adherence, and fostering collaborative relationships with government agencies, and community organizations. Proven ability to manage complex cases, resolve conflicts, and support vulnerable populations through effective problem-solving and service delivery. Strong leadership skills, with a track record of training and mentoring teams, optimizing operational efficiency, and driving positive community outcomes. Passionate about public service, and committed to upholding integrity, accountability, and excellence in all aspects of work.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Contract Manager – Higher Duties Contract Position
Homes Tasmania
08.2024 - Current
- Reply to constituent enquires on behalf of the CEO, Ministers Office, Members of Parliament, and the Ombudsman regarding social housing application
- Provide support to program managers of housing support providers to ensure compliance with terms of agreement as per individual funding deeds
- Developed and maintained collaborative working relationships with varied external support agencies to help tenants to manage applications
Tenancy Officer
Homes Tasmania/Department of Communities
04.2022 - 08.2024
- Manage 300 assigned individual tenancies and support another tenancy officer with 60+ high risk tenancies
- Using digital platforms to manage tenancies including Housing Management Solution (HMS), Jira, Content Manager, EmpowerHR and Microsoft Office
- Developed and maintained collaborative working relationships with varied external support agencies to help tenants to manage tenancies
- Training and onboarding of inexperienced staff
- Draft, prepare and serve a range of documents for tenants and internal recipients including legal documents and reports
- Display and uphold the values of Homes Tasmania
- Conducting field work with minimal supervision including property inspections, lease extensions, evictions and rent arears management
Government Liaison Officer
Department of Communities
12.2020 - 03.2022
- Government Liaison Officers (GLOs) worked from quarantine hotels across Tasmania to provide support to guests to manage COVID-19 risks
- Consult with a range of internal and external stakeholders in line with established protocols and new guidelines
- Exercise considerable initiative, judgment, and confidentiality whilst working within established guidelines, delegations, instructions, and time limits
- Populate and manage a guest communication register which staff and management used for case management, handovers, and escalation purposes
- Prepare and publish the weekly roster for all GLO's across multiple sites
- Provided initial on-board training and on-going, ad-hoc training for other GLO's
Food and Beverage Manager
Best Western Hobart
06.2019 - 09.2020
- Elevated service standards to meet and exceed guest expectations while effectively managing labor costs to enhance profitability
- Recognized for fostering a collaborative environment through open communication and promoting a 'one team, one goal' philosophy
- Chaired the Workplace Health and Safety Committee, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and best practices
- Developed and implemented the hotel’s COVID-19 Safety Plan, prioritizing health and safety for staff and guests
- Played a key role in transitioning the hotel to a government quarantine property, leading the leadership team in adapting and creating new systems for the safe and profitable provision of food and accommodation under unprecedented conditions
Supervisor
Henry Jones Art Hotel – Jam Packed Café
07.2018 - 01.2019
- Responsible for daily operations and leadership of staff in a busy Café within the Henry Jones art Hotel
- Member of the Workplace Health and Safety committee
Restaurant Manager
Mures Upper Deck
11.2016 - 06.2018
- Built strong relationships with guests and staff, while leading daily operations, scheduling, and maximizing productivity
- Coached staff on food safety, customer service, and revenue-driving techniques, while optimizing costs and managing payroll in alignment with projected revenue
- Ensured compliance with industry standards, collaborated on menu development, updated pricing, and negotiated vendor contracts to enhance overall performance
House Manager
Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania
08.2015 - 11.2016
- In this role I oversaw all aspects of the physical club rooms with a strong focus on the food and beverage offered to members and guests
Food and Beverage Manager
Delaware North Companies – Hobart Airport
04.2013 - 03.2015
- I provided operational management for three busy outlets and 35 staff
- The final part of this role was focused on winding up the business and ensuring seamless handover to the incoming operator
- During this role I exceeded all Key Performance Indicators including financial goals, service standards, food safety and staff satisfaction
Education
Diploma - Applied Health and Community Support
University of Tasmania
Hobart11-2026
Diploma of Management - Hospitality
William Angliss Institute of TAFE
Melbourne01.2002
Certificate III - Commercial Cookery
West Ryde TAFE
Sydney01.1998
Skills
- Leadership of teams
- Incident management
- Policies and procedures review, and implementation
- Intercultural awareness
- Conflict resolution
- Asset management
- Communication improvements
- Reporting
- Stakeholder engagement
- Recruitment and training
- Workplace Health and Safety Champion
- Customer service
- Problem resolution
- Analytical thinker
- Compliance management
Certification
- Working with Vulnerable People – Employment, 10/31/26
- National Police Check, 08/31/24
- Responsible Service of Alcohol
- Full Tasmania Driver’s License
Volunteer Experience
- Neighborhood Watch Tasmania, Oakdowns Group Coordinator
- Dads In Distress, Hobart Group Co-facilitator
- Lifeblood Australia (Red Cross), Regular blood donor
Awards and Training
- Clarence Plains Community Awards recipient 2022 and 2023
- Clear Writing Workshop, presented 26Ten - March and October 2023
- Unscrambling government – How Government Works short course, Tasmanian Training Consortium, 11/01/22
- Personal Letter of thanks from then Secretary of the Department of Communities for my effort as a Government Liaison Officer.
- Attended a four-day leadership workshop, Henry Jones Art Hotel, presented by then General Manager – Tourism, Matt Casey.
Timeline
Assistant Contract Manager – Higher Duties Contract Position
Homes Tasmania
08.2024 - Current
Tenancy Officer
Homes Tasmania/Department of Communities
04.2022 - 08.2024
Government Liaison Officer
Department of Communities
12.2020 - 03.2022
Food and Beverage Manager
Best Western Hobart
06.2019 - 09.2020
Supervisor
Henry Jones Art Hotel – Jam Packed Café
07.2018 - 01.2019
Restaurant Manager
Mures Upper Deck
11.2016 - 06.2018
House Manager
Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania
08.2015 - 11.2016
Food and Beverage Manager
Delaware North Companies – Hobart Airport
04.2013 - 03.2015
Diploma - Applied Health and Community Support
University of Tasmania
Diploma of Management - Hospitality
William Angliss Institute of TAFE
Certificate III - Commercial Cookery
West Ryde TAFE
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