Manager Council & Executive Services

City-of-Greater-Geelong; Geelong; On-site; AUD 138,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Geelong is seeking a Chief Governance & Risk Officer to act as the critical conduit between Councillors and the CEO’s Office. You will manage complex enquiries, coordinate public question time processes and support Executive Leadership team meetings and briefings.

You will lead the planning and delivery of civic events, oversee executive support services, and provide dedicated support to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, ensuring compliance with the Local Government Act and strong

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in a relevant field and extensive senior leadership experience.
• Ability to lead in dynamic, high-profile environments with productive teams.
• Strong political acumen to navigate complex political environments with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Provide the Mayor and Councillors with support to perform duties and maintain community reputation.
• Anticipate needs of the Mayor, Councillors and internal customers; advise on issues, risks and opportunities.
• Lead the department with an inclusive, customer-focused and accountable culture.
• Lead change initiatives and promote collaboration across functions.
• Coordinate civic events; ensure compliance with the Local Government Act; attend as required.

Skills

Senior leadership

Political acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Program coordination

Education

Tertiary qualification in a relevant field

Job description

Job no: 500847
Work type: Permanent Full Time
Classification: SPL
Categories: Management

About the role

In this role, you will act as the critical conduit between Councillors and the CEO’s Office, managing complex enquiries, coordinating public question time processes and supporting Executive Leadership team meetings and briefings. You will provide dedicated support to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, oversee executive support services, and lead the planning and delivery of civic and community events that enable elected representatives to effectively fulfil their responsibilities.

Work type: Permanent full time
Classification: SPL role at $153,057 pa plus super pro rata

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide the Mayor and Councillors with the support required to enable them to perform their duties and maintain a positive reputation in the community.
• Anticipate the needs of the Mayor, Councillors, and internal customers, by providing advice about emerging issues, areas of risk, and opportunities for improvement.
• Motivate and provide strong operational leadership to the department by fostering an inclusive, customer focused and accountable culture.
• Lead change initiatives and act as a role model by demonstrating self-awareness, resilience, inclusion, and by encouraging cross-functional teamwork and collaboration.
• Supervise the effective coordination of a range of civic events, ceremonies and functions for the Mayor and Councillors office, ensuring all activities are compliant with the Local Government Act, and attending as required.
• Manage resources and budget planning to support effective operations, regularly tracking and reporting on performance against departmental goals.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have a tertiary qualification in a relevant specialist field, along with significant professional experience, including demonstrated senior leadership experience.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and lead others within a dynamic and high-profile environment, enabling high-functioning, productive and engaged teams to operate.
• Demonstrated political acumen and the ability to navigate complex political environments with sensitivity, discretion, and sound judgement, including working effectively with elected representatives and senior executives.
• Experience coordinating programs and working effectively across multiple teams and large‑scale initiatives.
• The ability to anticipate issues and develop sound issues management mitigation

Preferred candidates will be required to undergo a National Police Check (funded by the City) and obtain a current Working with Children’s Check.

Child Safety Responsibilities

We are committed to being a child‑safe organisation and have zero‑tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy .

Diversity and Inclusion

At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.

We are the City

From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

Applications and Enquiries

Enquiries: Alana Martin | Chief Governance & Risk Officer

We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience. We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared.

We Acknowledge the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the Land, Waterways and Skies. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We Acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are part of our Greater Geelong community today.