Director, Growth & Partnerships

People for Purpose; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Lifestart Disability Services, based in Sydney, seeks a Director - Growth & Partnerships to drive its Growth and Diversification Strategy. You will identify opportunities, build investment-ready proposals, and cultivate long-term relationships with philanthropy, corporate partners, government, universities and communities.

The role requires strong commercial acumen and proven success in securing philanthropic, corporate and government investment.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading growth strategy and partnerships.
• Experience engaging funders, partners, and government bodies.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with revenue diversification.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of growth and diversification strategy.
• Identify community needs and market opportunities; build business cases.
• Foster relationships across philanthropy, corporate Australia, government, universities, and community partners.
• Provide Board-level communications and advocacy to inform growth decisions.

Skills

Executive leadership

Growth & partnerships

Stakeholder engagement

Fundraising

Government engagement

Job description

The organisation

Founded almost 30 years ago by eight parents whose children attended an early intervention program at Macquarie University, Lifestart Disability Services has grown from a single classroom into one of NSW’s most trusted providers of therapy, early childhood support and inclusion services for children and young people with disability and developmental delay.

Today, Lifestart supports more than 13,000 children, young people and families each year across eight locations in New South Wales, with a team of more than 180 staff including allied health professionals and early childhood educators. Lifestart is a registered NDIS provider and an official NDIS Partner in the Community, delivering tailored, strengths-based therapy, early childhood support, school and childcare partnerships, and inclusion training – always in partnership with families and communities.

Under CEO Birgitte Maibom, Lifestart has spent the past year rebuilding a confident, positive and connected culture, regaining its position as a trusted, thought-leading provider while remaining financially stable. Having just signed off a new five-year strategy, Lifestart is entering a pivotal next chapter – broadening its client base, deepening its service offering and positioning itself for significant growth, so that even more children, young people and families can benefit from its support.

The role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and joining the Executive Leadership Team, the Director - Growth & Partnerships will lead implementation of Lifestart's Growth and Diversification Strategy. This new, hands-on executive role brings together strategic growth, partnerships, philanthropy, government engagement, brand, marketing, communications and advocacy into a cohesive growth strategy.

You will identify emerging community need and market opportunities, develop business cases and investment-ready proposals, build long‑term relationships across philanthropy, corporate Australia, government, universities, research organisations and community partners, and support diversification of revenue. You will combine strategic leadership with active engagement with funders and partners, ensuring growth decisions are informed by evidence and community voice.

Lifestart is seeking an ambitious executive with an entrepreneurial mindset, extensive executive leadership experience and demonstrated success in growth, partnerships or external engagement. You will bring strong commercial and financial acumen, success securing philanthropic, corporate and government investment, and outstanding stakeholder engagement and Board‑level communication. Experience in disability, early intervention, education or community services is highly desirable.

This is a full-time, Sydney‑based role.

Applications close at 5pm (AEDT) on Sunday, 11 October 2026.