• National leadership role at the forefront of disaster resilience
• Drive strategy, influence policy, and shape real-world impact
• Lead a purpose-driven organisation with strong government & sector partnerships

About Natural Hazards Research Australia

Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA) is a nationally significant organisation working at the intersection of science, policy and community resilience. With strong federal backing and deep partnerships across government, emergency management, academia and industry, NHRA plays a critical role in strengthening Australia’s natural hazard resilience and disaster risk reduction. The organisation brings together leading researchers and end users to translate insight into action, producing relevant research that informs decision-making and ultimately protects communities.

The CEO role

NHRA is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through a significant period of consolidation, influence and future growth. Reporting to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer will lead NHRA through its next phase of impact and evolution. Accountable for overall performance, sustainability and reputation, you will set the strategic direction while ensuring the organisation continues to deliver research that is useful, actionable and supportive of better decision-making. Operating at the intersection of government, science, industry and the sector, you will be the organisation’s principal representative shaping national conversations, building influential partnerships and strengthening its position for the future.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Set and deliver the organisation’s strategic direction, ensuring long-term sustainability beyond the current funding cycle.
• Lead and champion research excellence, ensuring outcomes translate into real-world impact.
• Build and maintain high-value partnerships across government, emergency management, academia and industry.
• Secure and diversify funding streams, balancing public-good outcomes with commercial discipline.
• Work closely with the Board to ensure strong governance, compliance and decision-making.
• Oversee financial performance, operational effectiveness and resource allocation.
• Lead, develop and inspire a high-performing, distributed team and inclusive organisational culture.
• Maintain robust risk management and safeguard the organisation’s reputation and integrity.

About you

You are an accomplished executive who operates confidently in complex, stakeholder-rich environments where policy, funding and real-world outcomes intersect. You bring a strong track record of building trusted relationships, aligning diverse interests and influence.

While you value research, your strength lies in applying insight, exercising sound judgement and ensuring outcomes translate into practical impact. Commercially astute and politically aware, you are comfortable making decisions in ambiguous environments, balancing competing priorities and leading through periods of visibility, challenge and scrutiny.

Above all, you are a relational and purposeful leader someone who builds credibility quickly, brings people with you, and is motivated to lead an organisation whose work has a direct and lasting impact on communities.

Required skills and proficiencies

Essential experience

• Significant executive leadership experience, ideally as a CEO, Deputy CEO, Executive Director, Director‑General or equivalent in a research, scientific, university, government, commercial, emergency management, or mission‑driven organisation of comparable scale, complexity, and stakeholder influence.
• Demonstrated track record of leading a complex, distributed or multi-stakeholder organisation, delivering strong commercial, financial and organisational outcomes while managing significant government funding and/or revenue-generating operations.
• Demonstrated success securing and managing major funding across government, industry, consulting and/or philanthropic sources.
• Experience reporting to a skills-based Board and building high-impact partnerships.
• Strong engagement with senior government and public sector stakeholders.
• Highly developed communication skills able to contribute to public conversations on natural hazards resilience and disaster risk reduction research.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of Australia’s natural hazards, emergency management, disaster resilience and climate adaptation landscape, including relevant policy settings.
• Sound knowledge of Australia’s research funding ecosystem.
• Understanding of not-for-profit governance, financial and regulatory obligations, including Commonwealth and Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission requirements where applicable, plus awareness of workforce sustainability, open science and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives in research.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification required; postgraduate qualifications in science, engineering, public policy, emergency management, business administration or a related field highly regarded.
• Australian Institute of Company Directors membership or equivalent governance credentials are well regarded.
• Eligibility to work in Australia and willingness to undertake a National Police Check and other required pre-employment checks.

Rewards and culture

You will be joining an organisation with a strong sense of purpose, collaborative ethos and clear mandate to deliver impact. This role offers the opportunity to shape national thinking, work alongside respected leaders across multiple sectors, and leave a lasting legacy.
An executive remuneration package will reflect the seniority and importance of the role, alongside flexible working arrangements and a supportive, values-led culture.

How to Apply

Applications should include a CV and a cover letter (maximum 3 pages) addressing your interest in the role and how your experience aligns with the selection criteria. To request the information pack, full position description and selection criteria please contact Claire Black on 0407 821 086 or [email protected] using the subject line: Chief Executive Officer - Natural Hazards Research Australia enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Preferred locations are Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Applications should be submitted using the online application on the Talent Nation website. To be eligible to apply, you must have unrestricted rights to work in Australia.

Talent Nation encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of all cultures, abilities, sex, and genders. Applicants can request a reasonable adjustment at any stage during the recruitment process, please contact us so we can provide adjustments for you.