Head of Government & Corporate Affairs – Manildra Group

Manildra Group is one of Australia’s largest privately‑owned manufacturing companies, with a national footprint spanning agriculture, food, biofuels, energy, transport and logistics, and regional manufacturing. Family‑owned and proudly Australian, the Group has built its reputation over decades on long‑term investment, regional job creation and close relationships with the communities and governments it operates alongside.

The Role

We’re looking for a Head of Government & Corporate Affairs to join the Executive Leadership Team and act as a key strategic advisor to the Chairman, Managing Director and Board on all matters of government relations and corporate affairs.

This is a hands‑on, high‑tempo role. You’ll be working across a large and genuinely diverse range of issues – from Federal and State policy and legislation through to local council matters, regulatory approvals, major projects and community engagement – often several at once. Government relations sits at the heart of the role: you’ll be the Group’s lead voice and strategist in dealing with Ministers, MPs, departments, regulators and industry bodies, shaping the positions the business takes and the way it’s represented. Corporate affairs, media and communications, stakeholder engagement, sponsorships and community investment also sit within your remit, but it’s the depth and credibility you bring in government relations that will define success in this role.

You’ll need to move quickly across issues, learn new subject matter fast, and turn complexity into explicit,



commercially grounded advice that the Chairman, MD and Board can act on. Good judgment, discretion and the ability to read a political or commercial situation accurately are essential, as is the ability to advise decisively.

What You’ll Need

- Significant, demonstrated depth in government relations (Federal, State and Local) including real credibility engaging with Ministers, parliamentarians, senior officials, regulators and councils. This is the critical requirement for the role.
- Strong corporate affairs, media and communications experience, ideally alongside the government relations background above.
- Outstanding written communication skills – this role runs on ministerial briefings, submissions, board papers and correspondence, and the quality of your writing needs to be exceptional.
- A track record of advising a Chairman, Board or senior executive team, with the commercial nous to connect policy and political issues to business outcomes.
- Experience in a manufacturing, industrial, agriculture or similarly complex, multi‑site operating environment would be highly regarded.
- Strong stakeholder management skills across government, industry bodies, unions, communities and corporate partners.
- A quick learner who is strategic, proactive, politically astute and comfortable operating at pace across a wide range of issues.

This is a rare opportunity to operate at the most senior level of a major Australian manufacturer, shaping how the business engages with government and the public on issues that genuinely matter to its future.

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📌 Head of Government Relations (City of Sydney)
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