Chief Executive Officer

Position: Chief Executive Officer 

Reports to: Board

Remuneration: Negotiable

Hours of work: Full Time

ORGANISATION 

Living Proud was founded more than 50 years ago by a group of courageous community members who established the first gay and lesbian rights movement in Australia, called the Campaign Against Moral Persecution WA (CAMP WA). While lobbying to decriminalise homosexuality, CAMP WA established a telephone support line, called ‘Phone a Friend’. That initial phone service has grown into the organisation now known as Living Proud.

Today, Living Proud is one of the oldest organisations of its kind in the southern hemisphere, and the largest LGBTIQ+ organisation in WA, supporting the community across the state, wherever they live or work. 

Living Proud is the WA partner and founding member of the QLife national LGBTIQ+ telephone and web chat peer support and referral service. QLife provides anonymous, LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships. QLife operates as a partnership between LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) and the 4 partner organisations that deliver the services: Living Proud (WA), Diverse Voices (Qld), Switchboard (Vic) and Twenty10 (NSW), and has been operational since mid-2013. 

Living Proud also runs health and wellbeing initiatives, community capacity building programs, advocacy and awareness campaigns, delivers fee-for-service training programs and high-profile community projects such as Queer and Accessible. We strive to improve the health, wellbeing and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi+, transgender, intersex, queer and other diverse people. More information can be found on our website: www.livingproud.org.au/

POSITION

The Chief Executive Officer is newly created executive position, and is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for executing the strategic direction of the organisation, driving operational excellence and sustainable growth, supporting and inspiring our team members, and championing the LGBTIQ+ community.

In partnership with the Board and the management team, you will ensure Living Proud is positioned to be financially sustainable for the long-term and has an enviable reputation for providing impactful, integrated, community-centric services. You will be proactive in successfully identifying and managing organisational and operational risks while ensuring regulatory and legislative compliance at all times. 

As a natural leader, you will maintain a positive, inspiring, supportive, and respectful culture within the organisation and make timely and well-considered decisions. 

You will be an experienced, motivated, and strategic leader. You will have exceptional communication skills and be experienced in developing and maintaining a strong community sector and deep stakeholder relationships.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Leadership 

• Display strong, contemporary, dynamic, visionary, innovative, inclusive & collaborative leadership, with the ability to engage effectively with the Board, external stakeholders, and the community, to maintain confidence and trust.
• Role model professional, supportive, inspiring, and respectful behaviour to all team members and volunteers.
• Maintain a positive, safe, and cohesive team environment. 
• Represent Living Proud at external meetings, forums, engagements, or events. 
• Lead the resource planning, recruitment and management of all staff and volunteers.
• Engage with media, government, community, and other stakeholders to positively showcase Living Proud and advance our mission.

Staff Support

• Coach, mentor, inspire, and support staff and volunteers with a focus on personal development and making Living Proud a great place to work.
• Promote training and skill development, champion operational efficiencies and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Motivational and visionary in your approach to achieving the organisation’s strategic goals.
• Unrelenting in your commitment to the organisation’s purpose, values and principles.

Finance

• In partnership with the Treasurer, oversee the organisation's budget and financial performance, ensuring fiscal responsibility and sustainability.
• Identify and secure funding opportunities and grants to support our strategic goals, achieve our organisational purpose and meet community needs.
• Build additional revenue streams, including values-aligned collaborations, partnerships and sponsorships.
• Develop an integrated fundraising, philanthropy & event strategy, cultivate donor relations and create a compelling membership proposition.

Service Provision and Community

• Provide leadership to guide operational effectiveness, service development and continuous improvement.
• Develop community informed and co-designed services and propositions, aligned to whole-of-government principles, organisational goals, and community needs.
• Lead accreditation and quality improvement processes.
• Develop policies and procedures to guide best practice service delivery.
• Maintain a strong community focus, a community-first culture and strive to deepen our connection with community across WA.

Strategy and Governance

• Ensure robust governance and compliance, upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability.
• Identify, report and manage risks within the organisation, deploying risk mitigation strategies as appropriate.
• Develop and implement the organisation's strategic plan in collaboration with the Board and other stakeholders.
• Develop and report on organisational performance against the strategic plan and priority goals, identify challenges and opportunities, and advise the Board on appropriate action.
• Adhere to, implement, and ensure all staff and volunteers understand, and comply with, Living Proud’s policies and procedures including Workplace, Health and Safety.
• Oversee and monitor information and data management.

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Essential:

1. Minimum 5 years executive or senior leadership experience.
2. Exceptional leadership skills and proven experience in managing a wide range of people, teams and capabilities, with an innate ability to mentor, coach, nurture and develop team members.
3. An understanding of the contemporary health service management environment and the challenges faced by the LBGTIQ+ community.
4. Strong financial acumen, with demonstrated experience in developing and managing organisational budgets, including successful financial planning and oversight.
5. Experience in developing and monitoring organisational and operational key performance metrics, quality, and other reporting or performance related requirements.
6. Strong proficiency in using common software and workflow tools including Microsoft Office Suite.
7. Demonstrated strength and experience in the development and implementation of strategic and operational plans to drive successful organisational growth.
8. Proven track record as a strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen balanced with a strong community-centric ethos.
9. Experience in developing and maintaining partnership, sponsorship or marketing opportunities with service providers, government, and other internal/external stakeholders, to enhance service delivery and build sector capacity.
10. Excellent relationship management skills across a range of stakeholders including directors, government officials and departments, partners, peers and our wonderfully diverse community.
11. A profound commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
12. Excellent organisational and time management skills.
13. Outstanding verbal & non-verbal communication skills. Confident public speaker.

Desirable:

• Lived experience as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, intersex (LGBTIQ+) community.
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field.
• Experience working within a not-for-profit organisation.
• Experience in managing volunteer teams.
• Experience in fundraising, donor relations, and navigating government grants. 

HOURS OF WORK

• This is a full-time position (38 hours per week/76-hour fortnight) Monday - Friday.
• Based in West Perth, flexible working arrangements can be considered.
• There will be occasional work outside of regular office hours and occasional domestic travel, including interstate.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 

• You must be eligible to work in Australia.
• You will be required to complete a National Police Check.
• You must hold a current Employee Working with Children’s Check (WWCC).
• You must hold a current WA Driver’s Licence.

APPLICATION 

1. Submit a covering letter, including all contact details, that addresses all of the “Selection Criteria” as outlined in the position description. You should use statements with examples that clearly demonstrate your competency in a particular area.
2. The covering letter should be a maximum of three pages.
3. Attach a current copy of your Resume, including the contact details of two recent professional referees.

NOTE: Applications and interviews are assessed against the selection criteria and appropriate referee checks. Applications that do not address the Essential Selection Criteria will not be considered.

If you have any questions, please contact Barry Cosker via email: ***********@livingproud.org.au (Please include the word “Confidential” in the header)