Executive Director, Strategy and Growth

South Australian Tourism Commission; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 240,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Purchased Leave Entitlements

Social club

Annual Wellness events

Mental Health First Aid Training

Ongoing Training and Development

Annual skin checks and flu vaccines

Casual Fridays

Staff recognition and service awards

Employee assistance program

Job summary

South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) is seeking an Executive Director, Strategy and Growth to join the Executive Leadership Team. You will shape South Australia’s visitor economy by leading insights, planning, performance and growth disciplines, guiding investment decisions and strengthening global competitiveness.

You will translate strategy into coordinated action, work with the CEO and Board, and identify emerging trends to set strategic priorities.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in strategy, growth, insights, transformation, tourism or related fields.
• Experience leading planning, performance, governance and organisational priorities.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing complex portfolios, investments or growth opportunities.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Strong experience in building and leading high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead SATC’s enterprise planning, prioritisation, performance reporting and benefits realisation frameworks.
• Oversee visitor research, intelligence, insights and measurement to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide strategic analysis and advice to the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Leadership Team and Board.
• Lead the strategic development and oversight of growth opportunities across events, aviation, cruise, tourism investment and infrastructure.
• Guide the development of business cases, investment proposals and recommendations.
• Monitor emerging trends, opportunities and risks affecting SATC and South Australia’s visitor economy.
• Build productive relationships with government, industry, regional, investor and commercial stakeholders.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective governance, risk management and accountability across the portfolio.

Education

Relevant tertiary qualifications

Job description

At the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), we’re passionate about South Australia and dedicated to making a positive impact on our tourism sector. We believe travel is about meaningful connections - not transactions - and that people crave experiences that enrich and inspire.

Our team champions the simple pleasures that make our state unique, working together to create authentic, memorable moments for visitors and locals alike. Guided by Aboriginal care for place and community, inspired by regenerative principles, and committed to diversity and belonging, we see tourism as a way to bring people closer - to each other, to our communities, and to the land we love.

At the SATC you’ll find a team that’s collaborative, creative, and always striving to do things differently. Here, every voice counts and every story matters - you’ll be respected and make a meaningful impact as we celebrate shared values, diverse experiences, and collective success. We’re proud to champion South Australia’s spirit - warm, generous, and down-to-earth - and we’re committed to making our state a place where every visitor feels at home.

About the role

The SATC is looking for a strategic leader to join our Executive Leadership Team as Executive Director, Strategy and Growth.

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of South Australia’s visitor economy. You will lead the insights, planning, performance and growth disciplines that guide how we prioritise investment, respond to emerging opportunities and strengthen South Australia’s competitiveness as a global tourism destination.

Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team, you will translate strategic direction into coordinated action, ensuring decisions are supported by robust evidence, market intelligence, clear accountability and effective governance.

The role will also help position the organisation for the future by identifying emerging visitor, market, technology, economic and industry trends and translating these into strategic priorities and practical action.

Key responsibilities

• Lead SATC’s enterprise planning, prioritisation, performance reporting and benefits realisation frameworks.
• Oversee visitor research, intelligence, insights and measurement to support evidence-based decision-making.
• Provide strategic analysis and advice to the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Leadership Team and Board.
• Lead the strategic development and oversight of growth opportunities across events, aviation, cruise, tourism investment and infrastructure.
• Guide the development of business cases, investment proposals and recommendations.
• Monitor emerging trends, opportunities and risks affecting SATC and South Australia’s visitor economy.
• Build productive relationships with government, industry, regional, investor and commercial stakeholders.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective governance, risk management and accountability across the portfolio.

About you

You are an accomplished executive leader with strong strategic, commercial and analytical capability. You thrive in complex environments, build trusted relationships and have a proven ability to translate insight into action.

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in strategy, growth, insights, transformation, tourism or related fields.
• Experience leading planning, performance, governance and organisational priorities.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing complex portfolios, investments or growth opportunities.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Strong experience in building and leading high-performing teams.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications and a passion for driving long-term economic and organisational outcomes.

This position is offered as a 3-year Executive Contract at an Executive classification.

A wide range of employee benefits are available at SATC including:

• Purchased Leave Entitlements
• Opportunity to join a fun and active social club
• Annual Calendar of Wellness events
• Mental Health First Aid Training
• Ongoing Training and Development opportunities
• Annual skin checks and flu vaccinations
• Casual Fridays
• Staff recognition and service awards
• Access to a free and confidential employee assistance program

As an organisation dedicated to reconciliation, involving and engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is essential. We believe that embracing a mix of ideas and experiences drives innovation, challenges assumptions, and helps us create bold solutions for South Australia’s tourism future. That is why, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, and experiences - including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, members of the LGBTIQ+ community, and those living with a disability - to join us in shaping a vibrant and inclusive tourism industry for South Australia.

The South Australian public sector promotes flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.