CEO - Growth, M&A & Operational Excellence

Foley Durham; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Foley Durham is seeking a hands-on CEO to provide strategic leadership and full financial and operational accountability for its Victorian operations and expansion across Australia’s Eastern Seaboard. The role focuses on executing the Board's strategy, improving margins, and leading high-performing teams with a safety-first mindset.

With decades of heritage and a vertically integrated platform across Australia, the privately owned SME operates in Victoria and Queensland, emphasising operational

Qualifications

• Proven executive leadership experience in recycling, manufacturing or related operational businesses.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to improve margins and operational performance.
• Demonstrated experience commissioning and operating industrial facilities.
• Strategic capability in acquisitions, business integration and expansion.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, Board reporting and people leadership skills.
• An entrepreneurial mindset, decisive problem-solving abilities, authenticity and execution focus.
• 15–20 years in key people leadership and operational roles with full P&L, OH&S, oversight of sales and business transformation responsibilities.
• Experience within a high-growth SME covering recycling, fleet management or industrial services.
• Ability to communicate and influence at all levels and a track record of scaling a business to $50m annually.
• Operationally focused at site (inner western suburb), leading the operations team in addition to head office in South Melbourne (1-2 days a week).

Responsibilities

• Execute the Board's strategy, identify acquisitions, partnerships and expansion opportunities
• Drive profitability, margins, cash flow, working capital and shareholder returns
• Optimise plant performance, production efficiency, throughput and cost management, with an immediate focus on improving the Victorian business
• Build high-performing teams with a strong focus on accountability, safety and continuous improvement
• Lead relationships with the Board, investors, financiers, customers and industry partners
• Ensure robust reporting, environmental compliance, risk management and operational safety

Skills

Executive leadership

Financial acumen

P&L management

Strategic acquisitions

Stakeholder engagement

People leadership

Entrepreneurial mindset

Decision making

Communication at all levels

Job description

Foley Durham is seeking a hands-on CEO to provide strategic leadership and full financial and operational accountability for its Victorian operations and expansion across Australia’s Eastern Seaboard. The role focuses on executing the Board's strategy, improving margins, and leading high-performing teams with a safety-first mindset.

With decades of heritage and a vertically integrated platform across Australia, the privately owned SME operates in Victoria and Queensland, emphasising operational