Chief Commercial & Finance Officer

About Equatorial Launch Australia

We launch rockets! It’s a pretty cool industry and we are at the heart of it.

Equatorial Launch Australia’s (ELA) mission is and aspires to be the pre-eminent multi-user commercial Space Launch company, providing world-class Launch services supporting testing, launch and recovery of space vehicles and payloads flown to and from all space orbits.

The Executive Chairman and Group CEO leads a seriously professional and highly qualified leadership team who are trusted leaders in the development of the space industry in Australia and globally. Our team’s experience and capability spans across aerospace, commercial enterprise, regulation, asset development, and complex project management along with space strategy and systems engineering.

ELA owns and operates the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC), a multi-user commercial spaceport in East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia at 12° S. ELA were contracted by NASA to launch Australia’s first commercial rockets to space from our site in June and July 2022. We are heading into the next phase of our development and we have some bold plans for the future where we will be conducting around 50 orbital space launches every year.

What type of company is ELA:

We are a world and Australian industry leader in our field, but we are still relatively small and in scale up mode.

We pride ourselves on being relaxed professionals and want the industry and all who deal with us to say, “wow these guys are really good!”.

We don’t care about your background, or personal situation, but we care about you, and it is compulsory for you to be good at what you do and to have fun while you’re doing it.

Two of the things we don’t want are: precious people who say “that’s not my job”, or people who say “that’s my responsibility, get out of it”. We value teamwork, respect and a ‘can do’ attitude couple with a desire for excellence.

The Role:

As the Chief Commercial & Finance Officer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial strategy and ensuring the fiscal health of the company. This is a unique opportunity for a seasoned financial leader to contribute to the success of a pioneering startup in the space industry. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of strategic financial acumen, leadership skills, and a passion for space exploration.

In this role, you will develop and execute financial strategies that support our ambitious growth plans. Beyond traditional financial responsibilities, you will actively engage in strategic decision-making, providing valuable insights and recommendations to the executive team. Your influence will extend to shaping the trajectory of the company, guiding not only financial decisions but also contributing to broader business strategies and outcomes.

The role will be located in our Adelaide office, with some travel to the Arnhem Space Centre required for short periods.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute comprehensive financial strategies to support the company's growth and long-term objectives.
• Lead the budgeting process and provide accurate financial forecasts, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Drive capital-raising initiatives, including equity and debt financing, to secure funding for the company's ambitious projects and expansion plans.
• Oversee the preparation of timely and accurate financial reports, providing insights to support decision-making.
• Manage relationships with shareholders and investors, communicate financial performance, and participate in fundraising activities.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Build and lead a high-performing commercial team, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

What we are looking for:

• Experience in Start-up/Scale up or a clearly demonstrated flexibility and can-do attitude.
• Experience delivering in a similar role, preferably in the aerospace or aligned industry.
• Extensive knowledge of financial modelling and planning, analysis, and reporting.
• Previous experience with capital raising as well as managing shareholder and investor relationships.
• Equally happy in all aspects expected in a senior commercial role.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and lead a team to achieve positive business outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to make effective decisions under pressure, balancing competing priorities and demands.
• You don’t know the phrase “that’s not my job” and are a real “can do” person.
• You’re fun and casual but very good at what you do.
• You will be hardworking and a real team player, looking to become a crucial part of a vibrant and supportive team. 
• Fundamentally, you will be very good at what you do, have a great attitude, strong aptitude for all things related to our business and want to fit in with ELA.
• A relaxed professionalism, desire to be regarded as the best at what you do and an absolute absence of “that’s not my job” or “stay out of this, this is my job” thoughts are required for success at ELA.
• You cannot be overqualified or too good for this role – you will be challenged and will enjoy the experience.

Next Steps:

To apply, send your Cover Letter, detailing why you want to work for ELA and how you meet the requirements of this position and your CV outlining your work history.

You must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this position.

Equatorial Launch Australia is passionate about creating a culture that values inclusion and diversity, where all our people are treated fairly and respectfully.

Follow us - https://www.linkedin.com/company/equatorial-launch-australia/

Our Website - https://ela.space