About the role
In this role, you’ll bring clarity to direction-setting and value delivery, helping the organisation define where it’s going, why it matters, and how key choices translate into positive outcomes for our community. Working closely with the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams, and Council, you’ll provide expert strategic advice and facilitation to ensure our strategy, investments and major initiatives are aligned, achievable, and deliver real public value.

Work type: Permanent, full-time position.
Classification: SPL $180,000 + super.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and review strategic documents and frameworks, ensuring alignment with Council priorities, community aspirations and legislative requirements.
• Advise the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Council on risks, opportunities, and external trends related to the achievement of strategic objectives.
• Oversee program governance and assurance for the corporate portfolio, ensuring strategic alignment and effective risk management.
• Build and maintain a public value management framework to assess organisational and community impact.
• Facilitate collaboration across multiple internal and external stakeholders to drive strategic, cohesive, informed decision-making.
• Prepare executive briefings and reports, providing clear evidence-based insights for decision-making.
• Lead, coach, and develop a multidisciplinary team of professionals, ensuring they feel valued, supported, and equipped to succeed.
• Manage the business unit budget, ensuring effective resource allocation and compliance with governance processes.

About you
To be successful in this role, you will have a tertiary qualification in business management or administration, public policy, economics or commerce, or related discipline and extensive experience in a similar position. 

In addition, you will possess a Project/Program Management certification (e.g. Agile, PRINCE2 or similar).

Essential Experience:

• Extensive senior leadership experience in leading strategy, project management and or strategic value management functions in a comparable organisation.
• Expert knowledge in corporate strategy development, strategic value management, and program and portfolio management.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, with the proven ability to build effective relationships and communicate with a diverse range of people internally and externally to the organisation.
• Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to assess complex information, identify patterns and insights, and develop practical solutions to organisational and community challenges.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including experience with using data to present evidence-based information and persuade decision-makers.  
• Proven ability to challenge the status quo and manage change in a complex and often demanding work environment.

Preferred candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Check and a Working with Children's Check as part of the recruitment process (funded by the City).

If this sounds like the role for you, then click apply now! 

Child Safety Responsibilities   
We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy.  

Diversity and Inclusion  
At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.  

We are the City
From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

Applications and Enquiries

Click the Position Description link to view more information about this position.

Enquiries: Daniel Ross | Chief Strategy & Performance Officer daniel.ross@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Click the Apply button to submit your application or find out more about this opportunity. If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@geelongcity.vic.gov.au noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch.

We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience.  We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared.

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