Executive Manager Governance

McArthur; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Senior officer remuneration package

Five weeks' annual leave

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Cairns Regional Council seeks an accomplished governance leader to guide governance, integrity, legislative compliance, enterprise risk and assurance across the organisation.

You will report to the Director People & Organisational Performance and shape practical frameworks that ensure transparency, accountability and sound decision-making, while delivering accessible governance services council-wide.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience across governance, legal services, risk, legislative compliance, assurance, records management or related corporate functions.
• Strong knowledge of legislative obligations, governance integrity, policy frameworks and sound decision-making processes.
• The capacity to advise elected members, senior executives and other stakeholders on policy and legislative matters.
• Demonstrated experience strengthening enterprise risk, planning, reporting and organisational assurance.
• Highly developed strategic thinking, communication, influencing, policy and report-writing capabilities.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing professional teams.
• The discretion, integrity and composure to work impartially within a complex environment.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in law, governance, business, commerce, public administration or a related discipline, and/or substantial equivalent experience, are required.
• Direct relevant local government experience is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve Council's governance, integrity, policy and legislative compliance frameworks.
• Provide governance, legislative and procedural advice that promotes accountability, transparency and sound decision-making.
• Oversee enterprise risk management, organisational assurance, internal audit, business continuity, insurance and claims management.
• Support the management of complex integrity and legislative compliance matters, including investigations, Public Interest Disclosures and governance-related complaints.
• Strengthen integrated planning, reporting and organisational performance arrangements.
• Lead corporate planning and reporting, driving an integrated planning approach that connects service, workforce, asset, financial and long-term resource planning.
• Build governance and risk capability through clear guidance, education, coaching and professional support.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary professional team, promoting accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Manage branch planning, budget, procurement, contracts, performance measures and service delivery.

Skills

Senior leadership

Governance

Risk management

Legislative compliance

Policy frameworks

Executive briefing

Education

Law degree

Public administration

Job description

Cairns Regional Council seeks an accomplished leader to guide governance, integrity, legislative compliance, enterprise risk, assurance, information governance, integrated planning and performance.

Reporting to the Director People & Organisational Performance, shaping a contemporary, service-oriented governance function that strengthens organisational capability, accountability and confident decision-making.

The opportunity

This role provides the opportunity to elevate governance as an organisation-wide capability. You will lead the continued development of practical frameworks that support transparency, accountability, legislative compliance and sound decision-making, while ensuring governance services remain responsive and accessible to the organisation.

The portfolio extends across Council governance and meeting practices, policy frameworks and legislative compliance, integrity and probity, enterprise risk, internal audit, business continuity, privacy, right to information, records and data governance. It also provides expert governance, policy, and legislative advice, and builds governance capability through training, guidance, and support across the organisation.

Council is looking for a leader who can build on existing systems and improvements rather than pursue change for its own sake. You will work collaboratively across organisational boundaries, clarify responsibilities, strengthen risk ownership and provide practical advice that helps leaders navigate complex governance obligations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve Council's governance, integrity, policy and legislative compliance frameworks.
• Provide governance, legislative and procedural advice that promotes accountability, transparency and sound decision-making.
• Oversee enterprise risk management, organisational assurance, internal audit, business continuity, insurance and claims management.
• Support the management of complex integrity and legislative compliance matters, including investigations, Public Interest Disclosures and governance-related complaints.
• Strengthen integrated planning, reporting and organisational performance arrangements.
• Lead corporate planning and reporting, driving an integrated planning approach that connects service, workforce, asset, financial and long-term resource planning.
• Build governance and risk capability through clear guidance, education, coaching and professional support.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary professional team, promoting accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Manage branch planning, budget, procurement, contracts, performance measures and service delivery.

About you

You will be a credible and experienced governance professional with the judgement, political awareness and executive presence required to operate effectively in a complex local government environment.

Your approach will be collaborative, enabling and service-oriented. You will be confident providing clear advice and maintaining professional independence, but equally comfortable listening, facilitating discussion and identifying solutions that are proportionate and practical.

• Senior leadership experience across governance, legal services, risk, legislative compliance, assurance, records management or related corporate functions.
• Strong knowledge of legislative obligations, governance integrity, policy frameworks and sound decision-making processes.
• The capacity to advise elected members, senior executives and other stakeholders on policy and legislative matters.
• Demonstrated experience strengthening enterprise risk, planning, reporting and organisational assurance.
• Highly developed strategic thinking, communication, influencing, policy and report-writing capabilities.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing professional teams.
• The discretion, integrity and composure to work impartially within a complex environment.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in law, governance, business, commerce, public administration or a related discipline, and/or substantial equivalent experience, are required.
• Direct relevant local government experience is highly regarded.

Why Cairns Regional Council?

This is an opportunity to join Council at a point where governance is being positioned as a strategic partner to the organisation. You will have visible access to executive decision-making and the opportunity to strengthen policy frameworks, risk ownership, integrated planning, business continuity and governance capability across Council.

The role offers meaningful organisational influence, a broad professional portfolio and the opportunity to contribute to the effective governance of one of Queensland's most distinctive regional communities.

An attractive senior officer remuneration package will be offered, together with five weeks' annual leave and relocation assistance subject to applicable conditions.

Applications close COB 23 November 2026 and should include a current résumé and a covering letter outlining your relevant leadership experience and alignment with the selection criteria contained in the Pack.