The Organisation

Lifeline Canberra is one of Australia’s most successful and respected not-for-profit organisations, providing crisis support and suicide prevention services to thousands of Australians each year. Through its dedicated team of 900+ volunteers and around 20 employees, Lifeline Canberra plays a critical role in supporting those experiencing crisis, while working to create a community where no one has to face their darkest moments alone. Last year Lifeline Canberra answered over 41,000 calls from people in crisis, representing over 21,000 hours of vital phone support, all staffed by highly trained volunteers.

With a strong reputation for impact, innovation and community connection, Lifeline Canberra has built a sustainable and diversified financial base through corporate partnerships, philanthropic support, major community fundraising initiatives, retail operations and a growing training business.

The organisation’s reach now extends beyond Canberra, with operations in Melbourne (Narrm ) and a commitment to increasing its impact while maintaining financial sustainability. With an engaged and committed board, Lifeline Canberra is seeking to appoint an exceptional chief executive officer to lead the organisation through a period of strategic consolidation, growth and increased impact.

Benefits & Culture

• Lead an iconic organisation delivering life-changing crisis support services
• Partner with a committed board to shape future direction
• Driving sustainable growth and increased impact across Canberra and Melbourne
• Competitive executive remuneration package including salary packaging

The Role

You will provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the organisation continues to deliver outstanding outcomes for the communities it serves. You’ll balance purpose with performance, bringing commercial acumen, strategic insight and operational discipline while remaining deeply connected to the mission.

Over the next three to five years, priorities will include simplifying the organisational structure whilst sustainably growing the Melbourne operation, strengthening revenue streams and positioning Lifeline Canberra and Lifeline Narrm for opportunities to increase its impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and implementation of the strategy, in partnership with the board
• Providing inspirational leadership to a committed team of 900+ volunteers around 20 staff 
• Ensuring long-term financial sustainability through diversified revenue growth, partnerships and resource management
• Driving operational excellence through effective governance, risk management and transparent reporting
• Building trusted relationships with community stakeholders, individual and philanthropic donors and corporate supporters, philanthropic and community stakeholders
• Representing Lifeline Canberra and Lifeline Narrm as a respected leader in the community

Skills Required

You are an accomplished executive leader with the gravitas, commercial acumen and emotional intelligence to lead one of Australia’s most respected not-for-profit organisations.

You bring experience leading complex organisations and demonstrate the ability to balance strategic ambition with operational delivery. Comfortable working with an engaged board, you understand the importance of governance, transparency and providing high-quality information to support effective decision making, whilst having the courage to challenge constructively, providing candid advice.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Executive leadership experience within the not-for-profit, government or commercial sectors
• Commercial and financial acumen, with experience driving sustainable growth
• Experience developing and implementing organisational strategy and generating income
• Exceptional leadership capability, with the ability to motivate, develop and inspire teams
• Credibility representing organisations across government, business and community settings

You will know when to consolidate and when to grow, alongside a deep commitment to ensuring more Australians in crisis receive the support they need, when they need it most.

If you’re inspired to lead one of Australia’s most respected not-for-profit organisations, that saves lives every day, we would welcome your application. Please submit your CV and covering letter responding to the skills required above.

For further information, click here to download the information pack or contact Judith Marks or Richard Green at NGO Recruitment on (02) 8243 0570 for a confidential discussion.

Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested, we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

NGO Recruitment values equitable recruitment practices and is committed to representing candidates reflective of the diverse organisations and communities we work with. We welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds, ages, and identities, and are happy to adjust our recruitment process to support accessibility needs. If you are interested in this position and have most of the skills or experience we are looking for, please go ahead and apply.