Program Director

Talent Nation; Mackay Regional; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Nation seeks an accomplished senior leader to oversee a diverse portfolio of programs and projects with a purpose-driven mandate. You will translate priorities into outcomes, ensuring delivery across governance, risk, budgets, and stakeholder engagement within a complex operating environment.

You will report to the CEO and sit on the Senior Leadership Team, guiding strategic direction, delivery assurance and capability development while balancing multiple priorities and funding

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading complex programs, portfolios or operational functions.
• Strong people leadership experience, coaching and mentoring multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, budgets, timelines and stakeholder requirements.
• Experience developing governance, risk management and performance reporting frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Experience preparing or evaluating business cases, funding submissions and strategic plans.
• Sound commercial, financial and operational management capability.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of programs and projects to achieve organisational objectives.
• Lead and support managers and multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Oversee project and program performance, including scope, budgets, schedules and reporting.
• Provide strategic advice to the Executive Leadership Team and Board.
• Drive governance, risk management and delivery assurance practices.
• Identify and pursue new funding, investment and partnership opportunities.
• Build relationships with government, funding bodies and industry partners.
• Foster collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Lead workforce planning and change initiatives.

Skills

Program leadership

Stakeholder management

Governance

Budget management

Strategic planning

People leadership

Risk management

Communication

Education

Project management qualification

Leadership qualification

Job description

Lead Strategy, Delivery and Stakeholder Outcomes

• Senior leadership role overseeing a diverse portfolio of programs and projects
• Drive organisational performance, governance and strategic delivery
• Lead high-performing teams and build trusted stakeholder partnerships

The Opportunity

This is an influential senior leadership role responsible for leading a diverse portfolio of programs, projects and strategic initiatives with a well-known purpose-driven organisation that works in partnership with government, industry, community groups, research institutions and other stakeholders to deliver projects and initiatives that create lasting social, economic and environmental value.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and forming part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strategic direction, portfolio oversight and delivery assurance across a complex and evolving operating environment. You will be responsible for translating organisational priorities into successful outcomes, ensuring programs are delivered safely, effectively, on time and within budget. The role combines strategic leadership, governance, people leadership, operational oversight, financial accountability and high-level stakeholder engagement.

This opportunity would suit an experienced program, project or operational leader who thrives in complex environments and enjoys balancing strategic thinking with delivery excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across a portfolio of programs and projects to achieve organisational objectives.
• Lead and support managers and multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Oversee project and program performance, including scope, budgets, schedules, resources, risks and reporting.
• Provide strategic advice and recommendations to the Executive Leadership Team and Board.
• Drive strong governance, compliance, risk management and delivery assurance practices.
• Identify and pursue new funding, investment and partnership opportunities that align with organisational priorities.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with government, funding bodies, industry partners, community organisations and other key stakeholders.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Lead organisational capability development, workforce planning and change initiatives.

About You

You are a proven senior leader with experience overseeing complex portfolios, programs or business functions. You can operate strategically while maintaining clear oversight of operational delivery and performance. You are recognised for your ability to bring people together, build trusted relationships and deliver outcomes in environments involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. You combine strong commercial and operational acumen with excellent judgement, communication and influencing skills.

Most importantly, you are an engaging people leader who develops capability in others, empowers teams and creates a positive, high-performing culture.

Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated experience leading complex programs, portfolios, business units or operational functions.
• Strong people leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, budgets, timelines and stakeholder requirements simultaneously.
• Experience developing and implementing governance, risk management and performance reporting frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, relationship management and influencing skills.
• Experience preparing or evaluating business cases, funding submissions, strategic plans, budgets or investment proposals.
• Sound commercial, financial and operational management capability.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and decision-making skills.
• Relevant qualifications in project management, business, leadership, governance, finance, engineering, public administration, environmental management or a related discipline are desirable.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join a purpose-driven organisation and play a key role in shaping strategic priorities, strengthening organisational capability and delivering meaningful outcomes for communities and stakeholders.

You will join a collaborative and values-driven leadership team where partnership, innovation and continuous improvement are encouraged. The role offers the opportunity to influence strategic direction, lead talented teams and leave a lasting impact through your leadership.

To be eligible to apply, you must have unrestricted rights to work in Australia.

Talent Nation encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people of all cultures, abilities, sex, and genders. Applicants can request a reasonable adjustment at any stage during the recruitment process, please contact us so we can provide adjustments for you.