• Fixed Term: 8 January 2024 - 8 January 2025 (with potential to extend)

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on CEO to lead our organisation, with a strong commitment to Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and deep cultural competency. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional leadership skills, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to navigate complex issues while maintaining transparency, integrity, and respect. This role requires a profound understanding of Aboriginal culture and values, as well as a strong dedication to stakeholder and community engagement. The CEO will be responsible for effective operational management, reporting to all stakeholders, and demonstrating a high level of business acumen, risk management, and technology literacy. Applicants must be in or willing to locate to the Warrnambool region (south western Victoria) if successful. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

The key responsibilities for the CEO will include:

• Develop and implement the organisation’s strategic and operational plan including resourcing needs and financial and non-financial support
• Drive the organisation’s financial structure development and management, including supporting management to present budgets, financial statements and progress reports to community members or any other governance structure. Ensure the organisation delivers within budget expectations
• Ensure the effective day-today management of the organisation including general operations, including infrastructure projects, implementation of policies and procedures and Economic Development Plan and ensuring the delivery of milestones under funding agreements with government
• Drive a culture of good governance, accountability and transparency through ensuring the organisation adheres to its corporate governance, statutory and contractual obligations
• Engage respectfully, proactively and transparently with the community and Advisory Committee (or any new governance arrangement), particularly in relation to significant decisions affecting the strategic direction, operations, and performance
• Report proactively and respectfully to all stakeholders, including the governance structure. Ensure the organisation adheres to its corporate governance, statutory and contractual reporting obligations
• Build and maintain positive and collaborative relationships with key stakeholders including staff, community members, services providers, government agencies and other community organisations based within and outside of the community
• Build, lead, inspire and develop a team and service delivery profile that promotes cultural safety, growth and sustainable employment and engagement opportunities for community members. Create and maintain a positive and culturally safe working environment and collaborative and respectful operational culture.
• Be willing to challenge the status quo including supporting the transition to new governance structures as required.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

The successful applicant(s) will have worked in management within either an Aboriginal Community Controlled organisation, not-for-profit or government organisation. The applicant will have a passion for leading a purpose-driven organisation centred on Aboriginal community empowerment and a strong understanding of Aboriginal communities and/or the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector. The applicant will also be highly strategic and financially literate, and have a proven track-record of, and demonstrable experience in, financial and economic development matters.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate skills and experience in the following key areas:

• Aboriginal cultural competency | Experience working in and leading Aboriginal community organisations, engaging with Traditional Owners in Victoria and Australia and providing high-level strategic and operational advice to an Aboriginal board. Understanding of issues that relate to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Understanding of the context | An understanding of the social, cultural, political and economic operating environment.
• Leadership, people and executive management | Capacity to lead and manage an Aboriginal community organisation and work respectfully and collaboratively with board members. Strong leadership skills, and the ability to motivate others and build a positive team and organisational environment. Ability to lead staff and an organisation through periods of change, and in culturally sensitive and safe ways. Experience in executive management.
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving | Effectively address conflicts and challenges within the organisation and the community. Develop and implement strategies to solve complex issues.
• Transparency, integrity, and respect | Uphold the highest standards of transparency, ethics, and integrity in all organisational activities. Cultivate a culture of respect, diversity, and inclusion.
• Stakeholder communication and negotiation skills | Highly developed communications and interpersonal skills and the ability to negotiate, navigate challenging relationships and resolve conflicts.
• Operational Management and Reporting | Experience in strategic, operational and financial management to support the delivery of organisational prioritise. Experience in funding contract management and reporting, including liaison with government agencies, service providers and diverse boards (ideally including Aboriginal community members). Ability to meet requirements of legislative/regulatory frameworks.
• Business knowledge and acumen | Demonstrated understanding of, and experience in, commercial governance and management of funds, grants management processes, advocating for funding, analysing and reporting of financial data, and accounting principles.
• Risk management | Ability to effectively identify and assess emerging risks, consider options and devise effective and practical plans and innovative solutions to complex challenges.
• Technology literacy | Demonstrated technological literacy and proficiency using the Microsoft Office and other relevant software.

Tertiary qualifications in business, commerce, law or community development are desirable but not mandatory, however candidates must be in or willing to locate to the Warrnambool region (south western Victoria). Candidates will also need to be able to obtain satisfactory police and working with children checks.

For further details of the position, contact Michael Liang [email protected] using the subject line: Chief Executive Officer - Warrnambool region enquiry via EthicalJobs or on 0481 573 718.