Executive Director

Partale Talent; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Partale Talent is seeking an Executive Director to lead a peak body serving the removals and storage industry in Australia. This governance-rich role combines strategic leadership, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement across national and international divisions.

You will manage a small team, steward budgets, and represent the organisation to government, regulators and members, while driving growth and accreditation.

Qualifications

• Proven executive or senior leadership experience in an association or not-for-profit.
• Strong financial acumen with budget and governance experience.
• Ability to translate regulation into practical guidance for a diverse membership.
• Excellent relationship-building, comfortable with one-on-one and public speaking.
• Strategic agility with the ability to execute Council direction.
• Resilience and interpersonal savviness to navigate a complex Council.
• Industry exposure in transport/logistics or removals is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic direction and day-to-day management across related entities.
• Act as principal governance adviser to Council and Boards.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory bodies and reporting requirements.
• Oversee budget, investments and financial sustainability.
• Lead membership strategy, growth and accreditation.
• Manage a small administration team and plan events.
• Turn regulation into practical guidance for members.

Skills

Executive leadership

Financial acumen

Regulatory interpretation

Relationship-building

Strategic agility

Resilience

Industry exposure (transport/logistics

Job description

For over three decades, our client has been the peak body for excellence, professionalism and consumer confidence in the removals and storage industry. Our client's approximately 220 accredited members represent more than half of the industry's national revenue, and its reach extends internationally through its affiliated international movers association, the peak body for cross-border moves.

Our client is entering a pivotal chapter, transitioning from an incorporated association to a modern company structure ahead of anticipated regulatory change. This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation with genuine industry influence, financial substance, and a clear mandate for the next phase of its evolution.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Reporting to the Council, the Executive Director is the professional face and operational leader of our client and its related entities, including its international division, an international industry affiliate, and its industry foundation. The role carries a suite of statutory appointments (Public Officer, Company Secretary, Board Member) across these entities, making this a governance-rich role as much as an executive one.

You’ll be stepping into an organisation with a strong foundation: a proud member-first culture, a well-run international division with deep institutional knowledge, and a Council that knows exactly what it needs from its next leader. This is not a role for someone looking to set unilateral strategy from day one; it's a role for a trusted operator who can execute Council direction with judgement, credibility and care.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROLE DISTINCTIVE

• A seat at the table on multiple boards: Company Secretary and Director responsibilities across our client, its Foundation and its international division provide real governance authority, not just an operational mandate.
• A meaningful social purpose: leadership of our client's Foundation and Support Fund, established to support families affected by tragedy within the industry. Empathy and genuine care are part of the job here, not just the culture deck.
• A hands-on, member-facing culture: this is a role for someone who stays close to the detail and enjoys direct engagement with members, rather than someone who has moved too far from the coalface.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE

Lead the strategic direction and day-to-day management of our client and its related entities. Act as principal governance adviser to Council and Boards. Ensure compliance across multiple legal structures, including reporting to ASIC, NSW Fair Trading and the ACNC.

FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP

Own the budget, monitor performance, oversee investments and reserves, and ensure the financial sustainability of every entity under our client's umbrella, including signatory responsibility over significant international rebate disbursements.

MEMBERSHIP & INDUSTRY ADVOCACY

Lead membership strategy, growth and accreditation. Represent our client to government, regulators and media. Build and protect relationships with peak bodies and key commercial partners.

TEAM & OFFICE LEADERSHIP

Manage a small, close-knit administration team, own the annual conference and Council meetings, and keep the organisation running efficiently day to day.

COMPLIANCE, TRANSLATED

Turn complex and shifting regulation, from consumer law to the incoming Heavy Vehicle National Law changes, into clear, practical guidance members can actually act on.

WHAT OUR CLIENT IS LOOKING FOR

Our client is not looking for a technical compliance specialist or an international logistics expert; its experienced committees and long-tenured staff provide that depth. What the Council needs is a leader who brings:

• Proven executive or senior leadership experience, ideally within an association, membership body, or not-for-profit environment
• Strong financial acumen and demonstrated budget and governance experience
• The ability to translate regulation and policy into practical guidance for a diverse membership base
• Genuine relationship-building skill, comfortable one-on-one, in small groups, and occasionally on stage
• Strategic agility balanced with a willingness to execute Council-set direction rather than set it independently
• Resilience and interpersonal savviness to navigate a competitive Council made up of industry operators
• Transport, logistics or removals industry exposure is a plus, but not a prerequisite; our client's history shows this role has been led successfully by talented outsiders

THE DETAILS

• LOCATION Office-based (Sydney)
• REPORTING LINE National Council
• DIRECT REPORTS Small administration team (up to four staff)

Our client is committed to finding the right leader for its next chapter, not simply the next available candidate. If you're an experienced association or membership executive looking for a role with real scope, genuine governance responsibility, and a meaningful sense of purpose, we'd like to hear from you.