The opportunity

Benalla Rural City is a welcoming, creative regional community about two hours from Melbourne, known for its art gallery, street art and strong community spirit. Council is creating a new Director role as part of the CEO’s current executive team, bringing together the functions that keep Council sustainable, accountable and connected to its community.

Reporting to the CEO, you will lead a diverse directorate of around 80 staff and provide strategic and operational leadership across:

- Finance, rates and procurement: the annual Budget, long-term Financial Plan, Revenue and Rating Plan and procurement
- Governance: legislative compliance, audit and support for Council and committee meetings
- People and performance: recruitment, payroll, information management, learning and development, workplace culture, industrial relations, library, customer relations, risk and OHS
- Economic development and sustainability: business attraction and support, tourism, grants and partnerships, visitor information centre and cinema and environmental sustainability
- Community: family services and early years, maternal and child health, community development and recreation, youth development

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will be a trusted adviser to the CEO, Mayor and Councillors, and will deputise for the CEO as required. You will lead the financial advice that makes the Council Plan 2025–2029 achievable, secure State and Federal funding, and champion an integrated health and wellbeing agenda for a community with a growing share of older residents.

About you

You are a strategic, values-based executive with highly developed people leadership skills and the judgement to navigate politically sensitive situations. You communicate persuasively to Council and the community,



and you build trusted relationships with elected representatives. You combine strong financial and governance capability with a genuine interest in community wellbeing and regional economic development.

You will bring

- Tertiary qualifications in Accounting, Finance, Business, Community Services, Public Administration or a related discipline
- Significant senior management experience, ideally in local government or a comparable multi-functional corporate and community services environment
- Demonstrated experience leading diverse, multi-disciplinary teams and complex functions, including budgets and stakeholder relationships
- A current driver’s licence, and a satisfactory National Police Check and Working with Children Check

Professional accounting membership (CA/CPA/IPA) or postgraduate qualifications, experience presenting to Council, and experience leading governance, people and culture, economic development, finance or community wellbeing functions are highly regarded. What’s on offer An Executive / Senior Officer contract with a total remuneration package including base salary, superannuation and a full private use vehicle. You will lead in one of Victoria’s most creative regional communities and make a visible difference.

How to apply For a confidential discussion, contact Nick Kelly at GEM Executive on [0497 476 548](tel:0497 476 548).

Submit a detailed cover letter addressing the technical and behavioural skills in the Candidate Information Pack, together with your CV, to [email protected].

Applications close Monday 23 November.

Employment is subject to a satisfactory National Police Check, evidence of qualifications and proof of work eligibility. Benalla Rural City Council is an equal opportunity employer committed to a safe, harmonious and inclusive workplace, and is a child safe organisation with zero tolerance for child abuse.

📌 Director Corporate and Organisational Performance (Benalla)
🏢 Gem Executive
📍 Benalla