Chief Executive Officer

McArthur; Northern Territory; Hybrid; AUD 261,000 - 319,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing

Vehicle allowance

Vehicle with private use

12% superannuation

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Nhulunbuy Corporation Limited seeks an experienced Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through a pivotal period in Nhulunbuy’s history. This role focuses on delivering municipal services, infrastructure, and Gove Airport operations while guiding governance and community confidence through transition.

The CEO will report to the Board, provide strategic and financial leadership, and work closely with Yolŋu organisations and regional partners.

Qualifications

• Experience reporting to a Board, council or elected body
• Strong financial governance capability
• Proven record leading through change and uncertainty
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder skills
• Ability to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations
• Willingness to live in Nhulunbuy and contribute to the community

Responsibilities

• Lead municipal services, infrastructure and airport operations
• Provide strategic, operational, financial and cultural leadership
• Ensure reliable day-to-day services while building organisational capability
• Oversee governance planning and community confidence during transition
• Engage with Board, stakeholders, and community during period of transition

Skills

Board reporting

Financial stewardship

Change leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Community leadership

Collaborative leadership

Education

Tertiary qualifications in governance or related fields

Job description

Seeking an experienced, community-minded CEO to lead the organisation through one of the most important periods in Nhulunbuy's history!

• Lead essential municipal services, infrastructure and Gove Airport operations
• Guide the organisation through a significant period of transition

Nhulunbuy Corporation Limited is seeking an experienced and community-minded Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through one of the most important periods in Nhulunbuy's history.

Operating under a distinctive corporate and lease-based governance model, the Corporation manages the township of Nhulunbuy, the nearby Industrial Estate and Gove Airport. It delivers essential municipal services, community infrastructure and regulatory functions for residents, businesses, ratepayers and visitors.

Reporting to the Board of Directors through the Chair, the Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic, operational, financial and cultural leadership across the Corporation. The CEO will maintain reliable day-to-day services while strengthening organisational capability, supporting future governance planning and building community confidence through a period of material transition and uncertainty.

This is a highly visible role requiring a leader who can move confidently between Board strategy, stakeholder engagement and operational delivery. The CEO will oversee a diverse portfolio encompassing municipal infrastructure and services, utilities, waste management, planning and development, community facilities, environmental responsibilities, emergency preparedness and Gove Airport operations.

A central priority will be helping guide Nhulunbuy through its longer-term transition beyond mining. The successful candidate will work constructively with the Board, Yol?u Traditional Owners and organisations, Rio Tinto, government agencies, regional councils, community organisations, residents and businesses to support a coordinated and sustainable future for the town.

About you

You will be a practical, credible and resilient executive with substantial senior leadership experience gained in local government, a statutory authority, municipal service provider, government-owned entity, not-for-profit organisation or another complex, community-facing environment.

You will demonstrate:

A strong record of leading multidisciplinary operations, people, budgets, assets, risk and service delivery

• Experience advising and reporting to a Board, council, elected body or comparable governing authority
• Sound financial stewardship, commercial judgement and governance capability
• Success leading through significant change, transition or uncertainty
• Highly developed communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills
• The ability to work respectfully and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations
• A genuine willingness to live in Nhulunbuy and become an active member of the community
• A calm, collaborative and hands‑on leadership style suited to a regional or remote environment.

Chief executive or senior executive experience in a small, regional or remote local government environment will be highly regarded, together with relevant tertiary qualifications and experience in areas such as utilities, infrastructure, waste, airport operations, regulatory services, grants or major asset programs.

This is an opportunity to make a visible and lasting contribution to a distinctive Northern Territory community while helping shape its future governance and service‑delivery model.

An executive remuneration package of approximately $290,000 is offered, inclusive of housing, vehicle allowance or provision of vehicle with private use, 12% super and relocation assistance.