ABOUT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF FOUNDATION (GBRF)

The Great Barrier Reef is a global icon and an irreplaceable ecosystem. It holds significant cultural, environmental, and economic value to Australia and is home to thousands of species of marine life. Our Reef is facing increasing pressure from multiple threats, the most pressing being climate change. Without intervention, including a rapid upscaling of restoration and conservation actions, we are projected to lose 90% of coral reefs by 2050.

For over 20 years the Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF) has served as the lead charity for the Reef, forging partnerships and investment across business, philanthropy, science, conservation, community, First Nations and government to design and deliver solutions that deliver a better future for coral reefs. Right now, the GBRF manages a portfolio (valued at $800m) of over 400 projects involving more than 500 delivery partners.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Head of External Relations is a key member of the GBRF Executive team, responsible for developing and managing strategies, relationships and opportunities that grow the GBRF’s brand, reputation and network and secure the resources, partners and funding required to realise the ambitions of the 2030 Strategy and Project Portfolio.

Leveraging the Foundation’s positioning and track record, this role will drive the strategic development and execution of an ambitious, global communications and fundraising program It will act as both an enabler and amplifier of reef protection activities and play a critical role in instilling hope in the minds of Australians when thinking about the future of the Great Barrier Reef.

The Head of External Relations leads two teams: communications and engagement, fundraising and partnerships and is responsible for driving a collaborative and high-performance culture within this team and fostering meaningful collaborations across the organisation and partner network.

The successful candidate will be a proven not for profit professional, with the personality and skills to provide leadership in the areas of fundraising, relationship building, advocacy and storytelling to advance the vision and strategic priorities of the Foundation.

Applicants who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander are strongly encouraged to apply.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Birthday Leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• Cultural, Religious and Ceremonial Leave
• Recharge Days
• Gifted leave over Christmas period
• Option to purchase additional leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Opportunities to visit the reef and volunteer within our programs
• Tailored induction program
• Parental Leave

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Relevant tertiary qualifications
• Extensive experience in strategy development and managing a multi-gift marketing fundraising program, with successful achievement of meeting targets and setting strategic priorities, or an equivalent combination of higher-level education/training and relevant significant expertise.
• Proven experience and success across all disciplines of marketing (brand and reputation, strategy, content creation, social media, communications, issues management).
• In depth understanding of the Australian not for profit environment, philanthropy and its application to charities and Foundations or the ability to rapidly acquire such understanding.
• Experience in managing and driving collaborations across a diverse partner/stakeholder landscape.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills. Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, with demonstrated experience building effective working relationships, including being able to consult, negotiate and liaise effectively with a diverse range of people and to prepare high level reports to Executives and external parties.
• Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting data to inform strategy.
• Highly developed organisational skills with the capacity to successfully manage several programs concurrently with competing priorities and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and inspire work groups, to help form agile and high performing teams.
• An ability to manage a multitude of complex tasks and projects simultaneously.
• Attention to detail.

WORK TYPE

• Permanent Full Time
• Brisbane based

To submit your application please click 'Apply Now' by the closing date.

A position description is attached.