About the Role
Reporting to the Assistant Director-General, Management and Operations, the Executive Director leads one of Queensland's most significant environmental and operational portfolios. Responsible for a workforce of more than 300 staff and a budget of approximately $50 million, the role oversees marine parks, coastal and island operations, and key protected area assets of national and international significance.

This executive leadership position is responsible for delivering complex conservation, visitor management, infrastructure, environmental protection and disaster recovery programs, while balancing conservation outcomes, community expectations and sustainable use of Queensland's natural assets. The role provides strategic advice to government and senior leaders and works closely with First Nations peoples, communities, industry and key stakeholders to deliver lasting environmental and public value outcomes.

As Executive Director, you will:
Lead Queensland's Great Barrier Reef, marine parks, coastal and island operations portfolio.
Manage protected areas, balancing conservation outcomes with sustainable visitor experiences.
Drive strategic and operational planning to deliver government and organisational priorities.
Oversee major conservation, infrastructure, pest, fire and disaster recovery programs.
Provide expert advice on environmental, operational and legislative matters.
Build partnerships across First Nations communities, industry and government.
Lead a large, geographically dispersed workforce and ensure strong governance, compliance and performance outcomes.

What We're Looking For
We are seeking an accomplished executive leader with the strategic, operational and leadership capability to succeed in a complex and high-profile environment. You will bring significant experience leading large-scale operations,



programs or service delivery functions, with a strong track record of delivering results, managing risk and leading through change.

You have successfully led large and diverse workforces, driving performance through strategic planning, operational excellence and strong governance. An influential and collaborative leader, you build trusted relationships across government, communities, industry and partner organisations, and provide sound judgement and advice in complex environments.

This role requires the delivery of services to, and/or significant engagement with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and community-controlled organisations. As such, you will be expected to demonstrate solid cultural capability through your professional experience, knowledge, and ability to engage respectfully and effectively in these contexts.

Importantly, you are a values-driven leader who inspires high performance, fosters inclusive workplace cultures and is committed to positive outcomes for people, communities and the environment.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future management of Queensland's globally significant marine, coastal and protected areas while leading one of Australia's most important conservation and visitor management portfolios.

Ready to Apply?
We have partnered with Luminary in the search and selection of talent for this process, please visit the candidate page for further information: Luminary Partners

We offer priority consideration to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people living with disability who meet the minimum requirements. For a confidential discussion, or if you need support or adjustments during the recruitment contact Elena Ryan on 0422 584 231.

Applications to remain current for 12 months.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia License.

📌 Executive Director (Queensland)
🏢 Queensland Government
📍 Queensland