Chief Operating Officer

People for Purpose; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Social Traders is seeking a Chief Operations Officer to lead operational excellence, aligning people, processes and technology with the organisation's strategy in Melbourne. The role reports to the CEO and works with the CFO to drive performance and accountability across functions.

You will oversee service delivery, customer relationships, and digital platforms while strengthening partnerships and external representation at industry events. Flexible 0.8–1.0 FTE options are available.

Qualifications

• An accomplished senior leader with broad experience across operations, commercial management and people leadership.
• Demonstrates judgement to navigate complexity and deliver results.
• Grounded, personable leadership with collaborative, hands-on style.
• Curiosity, adaptability and a genuine connection to Social Traders' mission.

Responsibilities

• Translate Social Traders' strategy into action by aligning people, systems and priorities to drive performance.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing executive team while ensuring clear accountability and delivery of commitments.
• Oversee service delivery, customer relationships, digital platforms and data to extend the value of partnerships.
• Represent the organisation at industry events and stakeholder engagements, with potential to act as CEO when required.

Job description

Lead operational excellence at Social Traders, helping build a social performance economy with social enterprise at its heart.

• Provide whole-of-organisation leadership and strategic execution
• Empower talented leaders and strengthen organisational performance
• Engage across corporate, government and social sectors

Organisation: Social Traders

Position: Chief Operations Officer

Type: Permanent, 0.8–1.0 FTE

Location: Melbourne, VIC

Employees: 11 - 50 employees

Lead operational excellence at Social Traders, helping build a social performance economy with social enterprise at its heart.

• Provide whole-of-organisation leadership and strategic execution
• Empower talented leaders and strengthen organisational performance
• Engage across corporate, government and social sectors

The organisation

Social Traders is Australia's industry body for social enterprise and social performance, working to build a more inclusive and equitable Australia by unlocking the power of business for good.

Through certification, social procurement, advisory services and impact measurement, Social Traders helps social enterprises grow and supports businesses to create, measure and demonstrate their social value.

Social Traders' new strategy aims to build a thriving social enterprise sector at the heart of an economy where social performance is business as usual. With a goal to catalyse $8 billion in social value for the social enterprise sector by 2035, the organisation is entering an ambitious new chapter.

Central to this ambition is the belief that businesses can make a profit while supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. Social enterprises demonstrate this every day. Working alongside some of Australia's largest corporates, engaging with government and policymakers, and collaborating with philanthropy, Social Traders is helping corporate and government buyers put this belief into practice at scale.

The role

Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Operations Officer (COO) will play a pivotal role in translating Social Traders' strategy into action, bringing together people, systems and priorities to drive organisational performance.

Working closely with the CEO and CFO, you will lead a talented and highly engaged team, building on its collaborative culture and creating the conditions for people and innovation to flourish. Central to the role will be strengthening systems and processes, coordinating priorities across functions and providing the clarity and accountability needed to deliver results.

You will oversee key areas of operational delivery, including service delivery, customer relationships, digital platforms and data. With a credible external presence, you will support important customer engagements, ensure commitments are met and identify opportunities to extend the value of existing partnerships.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will contribute to strategic decision‑making, financial performance and Board reporting. You will represent Social Traders at industry events, conferences and senior stakeholder engagements, with the capacity to act as CEO when required.

About you

An accomplished senior leader, you will bring broad experience across operations, commercial management and people leadership, with the judgement to navigate complexity and deliver results.

A grounded and personable leader, you will combine executive maturity and sound judgement with a collaborative, hands‑on approach. You will bring out the best in capable people, engage with credibility at the highest levels and balance strategic thinking with practical execution.

You will thrive in a fast‑paced environment, bringing experience in operational improvement and change management, alongside an appreciation of digitally enabled services. Your background may span commercial, consulting, membership or for‑purpose organisations. Above all, curiosity, adaptability and a genuine connection to Social Traders' mission will underpin your approach.

This is an opportunity to join Social Traders at an exciting stage, with an ambitious strategy and genuine scope to shape its future. Working alongside people who care deeply about what they do, you will help advance the organisation's vision for how business creates social value.

The position is preferably based in Melbourne, with exceptional Sydney-based candidates also considered. Flexible employment arrangements between 0.8 and 1.0 FTE are available.