Chief Executive Officer

Orchard Talent Group; Hornsby; On-site; AUD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Studio ARTES invites a seasoned Chief Executive Officer to guide its next growth phase. Reporting to the Board, the CEO will balance financial sustainability with the organisation's creative purpose, strengthening operations, leadership, and partnerships to extend impact for adults with disability.

The role requires decisive, values-led leadership, a strong track record in disability or human services, and the ability to align commercial acumen with social outcomes.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated executive leadership within disability services or similarly complex, purpose-driven organisations.
• Strong understanding of the NDIS operating environment, funding, service delivery and compliance.
• Proven ability to drive sustainable performance, identify growth opportunities and balance commercial outcomes with social impact.
• Track record coaching and developing leaders and building high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and commercial leadership to steer the organisation’s next growth phase.
• Ensure operational excellence and financial sustainability while preserving creative mission.
• Lead people and culture; strengthen leadership capability and accountability.
• Forge partnerships and growth opportunities to expand impact and reach.

Skills

Executive leadership

NDIS / disability services knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Financial & commercial acumen

People development

Change management

Strategic thinking

Governance & compliance

Job description

The Organisation

For over 26 years, Studio ARTES has been empowering adults with disability to explore their creativity, develop independence and connect with their communities. Established in 2000, Studio ARTES is a registered NDIS provider supporting more than 250 adults with disability through its studios in Hornsby and Sydenham, Sydney. Its distinctive model combines visual arts, performing arts, life skills and community access programs, creating opportunities for members to develop confidence, build skills and express themselves. Guided by its values of equity, respect and inclusion, Studio ARTES has established a strong reputation for delivering creative, person-centred programs that enrich the lives of its members.

The Opportunity

Studio ARTES is seeking an experienced and commercially astute Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through its next phase of development. Reporting to the Board, the CEO will balance financial sustainability with the organisation's creative purpose, strengthening operational performance, developing leadership capability and identifying opportunities for growth. This is an opportunity for a decisive, values-led leader who can bring clarity, accountability and direction to the organisation while preserving the creativity and community connection that make Studio ARTES unique.

• Strategic and commercial leadership
• Operational excellence
• People and culture
• Partnerships and growth

About You

You are an accomplished, purpose-driven leader who combines strong commercial judgement with the ability to inspire people, navigate complexity and deliver meaningful organisational outcomes.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated executive leadership experience within disability services, the broader human services sector or a similarly complex, purpose-driven organisation.
• Sound understanding of the NDIS operating environment, including funding, service delivery, quality and compliance requirements.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with experience driving sustainable performance, identifying growth opportunities and balancing commercial outcomes with social impact.
• Proven ability to coach and develop leaders, strengthen organisational culture and establish clear accountability across teams.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build partnerships, influence diverse audiences and identify new business opportunities.
• A pragmatic, resilient, agile and decisive leadership style, with the ability to navigate competing priorities, lead change and maintain focus on outcomes.

While an arts background is not essential, you will appreciate the important role creativity plays in building confidence, independence and community inclusion for people with disability.

What's on Offer

• Opportunity to lead a well-established, purpose-driven organisation with a distinctive creative service model.
• Genuine scope to shape strategy, strengthen commercial sustainability and influence the organisation's future direction.
• Lead an organisation with an established financial reserve and a platform for future development.
• Work alongside a committed Board with expertise spanning governance, finance, disability and community services.
• Build leadership capability and foster a positive culture that empowers staff and members.
• Make a tangible difference to the lives of adults with disability through creativity, connection and inclusion.

Applications close: 29 November 2026

The Orchard Talent Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.