- Join the senior leadership team of a highly respected, purpose-driven organisation supporting women and children impacted by domestic and family violence.
- Lead the operational foundations of a growing organisation across finance, people and culture, risk, governance, technology and organisational systems.
- Full-time, fully on-site senior leadership opportunity based in North Sydney, with salary packaging and above-Award employee benefits.

Impact of the Organisation

Mary’s House Services provides quality services for women and children who have experienced domestic or family violence or abuse.

Established in 2016 as a not-for-profit, Mary’s House Services innovates to provide support services in response to community needs. Primarily funded by the community, through refuges, casework services, community programs and housing coordination, Mary’s House offers trauma-informed support to women and their children while they navigate options before, during and after leaving an abusive relationship.

This is an important period of growth for Mary’s House. Guided by an ambitious 2024–2028 strategy, the organisation is expanding its services and preparing to operate a second refuge, increasing its capacity to support more women and children across the community.

Mary’s House Services is now looking for an experienced Operations Director to strengthen the organisational foundations that will support its continued growth and impact.

Impact of the Role

Reporting directly to the CEO and forming part of a senior leadership team of three Directors, the Operations Director will provide leadership across the core operational functions that enable Mary’s House Services to deliver safe, sustainable and high-quality services.

This is a broad senior leadership role spanning finance, people and culture, risk and compliance, governance, technology, systems, premises and organisational infrastructure.

Working closely with the CEO, Board, Directors and managers across the organisation, you will translate strategy into practical operational plans, strengthen organisational systems and processes, and ensure Mary’s House Services has the infrastructure and capability required for its next stage of growth.

With the Finance Manager and Technology, Risk & Compliance Manager reporting directly to you, you will provide leadership and oversight across these functions, while also taking a hands-on role in people and culture as Mary’s House continues to grow.

This is a fully on-site role based at Mary’s House Services’ North Sydney office. As a senior leader, you will be visible and accessible to staff and work closely with teams across the organisation, with the ability to attend refuges and other sites as required.

In this role, you will:

- Lead the development and implementation of annual operational plans aligned with Mary’s House Services’ organisational strategy.




- Partner closely with the CEO and senior leadership team to translate strategic priorities into practical organisational initiatives.
- Provide oversight of budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, financial reporting and financial governance, working closely with the Finance Manager.
- Provide meaningful financial analysis and insights to support CEO, Board and committee decision-making.
- Lead organisational risk, compliance, governance and WHS frameworks, supported by the Technology, Risk & Compliance Manager.
- Strengthen organisational systems, policies and processes to support consistency, efficiency and future growth.
- Lead people and culture operations, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee relations and workforce planning.
- Support leaders to navigate employment obligations, performance and staff wellbeing within a trauma-exposed environment.
- Provide strategic leadership across technology, information security, cyber security, data and digital capability.
- Identify opportunities to use technology, automation and emerging tools to improve organisational efficiency and service delivery.
- Oversee premises, facilities, procurement, contractors and operational infrastructure across the organisation.
- Play a key operational role in supporting the establishment and opening of Mary’s House Services’ second refuge.
- Provide clear and insightful reporting across operational, financial, governance and risk matters to the CEO, Board and relevant Committees.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen organisational effectiveness, sustainability and scalability.

About You

You’re an experienced operations or corporate services leader who enjoys working across a broad portfolio and balancing strategic leadership with hands-on delivery. You’re financially confident, comfortable working across people, risk, governance, technology and systems, and motivated by the opportunity to strengthen a growing, purpose-led organisation.

You will bring:

- Tertiary qualifications in finance, business, management, accounting, law or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated senior leadership experience across operations, corporate services, finance or a similarly broad organisational portfolio.
- Experience leading multiple operational functions, ideally including finance, people and culture, risk, compliance, governance, technology and/or facilities.
- Strong financial literacy and the confidence to interpret financial reports, budgets, forecasts and balance sheets and provide meaningful insights to senior leaders.
- Experience developing and implementing organisational strategy, operational plans and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong knowledge of organisational risk,



compliance and governance frameworks.
- Practical people and culture experience, with the confidence to support recruitment, performance management, employee relations and workforce matters.
- Experience supporting a CEO, Board and/or Board Committees with high-quality reporting, advice and organisational insights.
- Strong systems and technology capability, with experience improving processes, implementing systems or supporting digital transformation.
- A collaborative and people-centred leadership style, with excellent communication, judgement and stakeholder management skills.
- The ability to move comfortably between strategic priorities and practical operational delivery.
- A genuine commitment to the purpose and values of Mary’s House Services and supporting women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.
- Willing to undergo a Working with Children Check and a National Police Records Check as a requirement of ongoing employment with Mary’s House Services.

Experience within the not-for-profit, community services or social purpose sector will be highly regarded, as will CA or CPA qualifications.

This position is open to women only. Mary’s House Services considers being a woman to be a genuine occupational qualification for this position under section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

Benefits of Working with Mary’s House Services

- Make a meaningful contribution to addressing domestic and family violence.
- Work with colleagues who champion gender equality, diversity and everyone’s right to safety.
- Join a culture grounded in respect, empathy, kindness and client choice.
- Have your wellbeing prioritised.
- Receive fair pay, above-Award leave benefits and salary packaging.

How to apply

Upload your resume and a response of up to 2 pages outlining:

- How your experience and capabilities align with the requirements of the role.
- Why you are interested in the Operations Director chance and why you would like to work with Mary’s House Services.

Your cover letter should be written by you, reflecting your genuine writing style, your unique motivation for securing this role and your individual reasons for commitment to the organisation’s purpose.

If you have any questions or would like a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Chloe Barton at [email protected]

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with conversations progressing with suitable candidates throughout the recruitment process. Interviews may commence prior to the closing date, so we encourage early applications.

Mary’s House Services is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply. People who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community are strongly encouraged to apply. If you have a disability and fulfil the essential skills and experience requirements, you are strongly encouraged to apply.

📌 Operations Director - Mary's House Services (Sydney)
🏢 Impact Advising
📍 Sydney