City Of Melbourne Council
General Manager Business Excellence
Lead the transformation of one of Australia’s most globally recognised cities, shaping how Melbourne delivers performance, innovation and impact at scale.
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Reports to title: Chief Executive Officer
Desired background in: Leadership & People Management | Strategy
Salary band:
The Opportunity: Why City of Melbourne
This is a pivotal executive role at the centre of enterprise performance, governance and transformation within the City of Melbourne.
Leading the Business Excellence Division, you will oversee a broad portfolio spanning finance, enterprise technology, procurement, and strategic planning—enabling high-quality service delivery, strong governance, and data-driven decision making across the organisation.

Working closely with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, you will drive integrated frameworks, uplift organisational capability, and ensure the City delivers on its strategic and operational objectives for the community.
The Role:
As the GM Business Excellence, you will:
- Lead a diverse enterprise portfolio including Finance, Enterprise Technology, Procurement, and Planning & Insights
- Drive organisation-wide performance, governance, and strategic alignment
- Oversee financial stewardship and long-term sustainability of the City
- Enable data-driven decision making and integrated planning frameworks
- Deliver transformation, innovation, and operational efficiency at scale
- Contribute as a key member of the
Executive Leadership Team, shaping direction and culture
What Success Looks Like:
In the first 12–18 months, you will:
- Embed a high-performing, values-led culture across the division—strengthening leadership capability, accountability, and a safe, inclusive environment where people can perform at their best
- Establish integrated enterprise frameworks that align strategy, finance, technology and operations—enabling more effective, data-driven decision making across the organisation
- Strengthen financial sustainability and governance, ensuring robust stewardship of resources and long-term organisational resilience
- Deliver measurable improvements in organisational performance, using data and insights to identify opportunities, optimise processes, and drive efficiency at scale
- Elevate enterprise risk and opportunity management, ensuring frameworks, systems and processes support informed, proactive decision making
- Build strong, collaborative partnerships across the Executive Leadership Team and broader organisation—driving alignment, shared accountability, and integrated delivery of Council priorities
- Lead strategic initiatives and special projects, including investment opportunities and complex organisational programs, supporting the CEO and Council to deliver long-term value for the community
About you
You are an accomplished executive leader with a track record of operating at scale within complex organisations, bringing a strong commitment to values-led leadership and positive culture.
You will bring:
- Executive leadership experience leading diverse, multidisciplinary teams and shaping high-performing, values-driven cultures
- Strong people and culture capability, with the ability to inspire, coach and develop senior leaders, build cohesive teams, and navigate performance and organisational dynamics
- Highly developed strategic thinking, with the ability to anticipate challenges, drive enterprise-wide transformation, and deliver innovative solutions in complex, evolving environments
- Exceptional influencing and stakeholder skills, with sound judgement and the ability to operate effectively in politically sensitive, high-stakes settings
- Commercial and financial acumen, including experience in enterprise planning, financial stewardship, and oversight of business performance, budgets and long-term strategy
- Proven ability to resolve complex, organisation-wide challenges, balancing operational, strategic and stakeholder considerations
- Experience designing and executing enterprise strategy, including operating model design and identifying growth or optimisation opportunities
- Expertise in strategic planning and performance frameworks that drive organisational effectiveness and innovation
- Strong external engagement capability, building trusted relationships with industry, regulators and key stakeholders
- Relevant tertiary qualifications, supported by significant senior executive experience
Why Melbourne?
Melbourne is one of the great multicultural cities of the world and is a significant meeting place.
For the Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung, Taungurong, Dja Dja Wurrung and Wathaurung which make up the Kulin Nation, Melbourne has always been an important meeting place and location for events of social, educational, sporting and cultural significance.
Since its European settlement in 1835, different nationalities have migrated to Melbourne at various stages of its history and have contributed significantly to the city's growing identity.
How to apply
Davidson is a trusted partner in executive search, with deep experience placing senior leaders across government and complex organisations. We are pleased to be partnering with City of Melbourne Council with the recruitment of the role listed above.
All applications and enquiries should be directed to Davidson.
You can make an application by uploading a current resume together with a covering letter via the button below.
Applications must be limited to a one-page summary sheet and detailed resume.
Applications close XXX
The City of Melbourne values diversity. The City of Melbourne encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments.
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