Special Initiatives Lead - Business Development and Innovation

- Full time or Part-time consideration (4 days pw) plus WFH flexibility
- Identify and develop innovative opportunities to strengthen Council's financial sustainability while delivering community impact
- Work directly with the GM of Infrastructure & Operations, and act as a strategic advisor

- Full time or Part-time consideration (4 days pw) plus WFH flexibility
- Identify and develop innovative opportunities to strengthen Council's financial sustainability while delivering community impact
- Work directly with the GM of Infrastructure & Operations, and act as a strategic advisor

Ready to turn ideas into impact? Shape new business opportunities, advise the GM and drive financial sustainability while delivering community impact.

About the role:
At Darebin City Council, we are exploring new ways to strengthen our financial sustainability, make better use of our resources and deliver lasting value for our community.

As our Special Initiatives Lead you will focus on business development and innovation. You will play a key role in identifying, investigating and developing new opportunities that support Council’s financial position while maintaining our strong community focus.

Working closely with the General Manager Infrastructure & Operations, you will act as a strategic advisor, helping identify current opportunities, shape emerging initiatives and inform decisions. You will take an entrepreneurial and commercially minded approach to exploring ideas, testing assumptions and determining which opportunities are worth pursuing.

This is a unique,



hands‑on development role suited to someone who enjoys connecting with people and turning ideas into practical initiatives that are financially sustainable and impactful. You will undertake preliminary research, engage with potential partners and suppliers, assess market demand and contribute to business cases that inform investment and implementation decisions.

You will help progress initiatives from initial exploration and testing through to business case development or pilot stages, before handing them over for further implementation or delivery.

This is an opportunity to bring fresh thinking, commercial curiosity and a proactive approach to work that supports Council’s long‑term financial sustainability and broader community objectives.

You will:

Identify and develop new opportunities
Explore innovative ways to generate revenue, improve services and make better use of Council’s existing resources. Identify potential partnerships, investigate market opportunities and consider recent approaches to delivering value for the organisation and community.

Test ideas and assess financial viability
Take a hands‑on approach to exploring opportunities, testing assumptions and assess the practicality of potential opportunities before significant resources are committed. Consider demand, potential customers, suppliers, partners and other factors that influence an initiative’s viability.





Develop business case and financial assessment
Apply your analytical and commercial skills to work with numbers, assess potential costs and benefits, and contribute to preliminary financial models.

Turn ideas into action
Progress opportunities through early-stage development, from initial research and testing through to business case development or pilot stage. Work collaboratively to overcome challenges. Adapt your approach as you learn and keep promising initiatives moving forward.

Influence and engage stakeholders
Build relationships across Council and with external organisations, suppliers and potential partners. Confidently initiate conversations, communicate ideas, influence others to bring people along on the journey to explore new opportunities.

Balance commercial thinking with community outcomes
Connect commercial opportunities with Council's broader purpose. Consider how new initiatives can strengthen financial sustainability while continuing to deliver positive outcomes for the community

About you:
You bring an entrepreneurial mindset and a practical, outcomes-focused approach. Rather than waiting for a fully defined brief, you are comfortable taking initiative, engaging with others and working through ambiguity to progress an idea.

You are confident in building relationships, influencing stakeholders and exploring new possibilities.

You understand that not every idea will proceed, and you are comfortable testing concepts, leaning from results and adapting your approach as a new information emerges.

Your ability to connect commercial opportunities with Council's community purpose will b

📌 Special Initiatives Lead (Australia)
🏢 Darebin City Council
📍 Australia