- Executive leadership role shaping Council’s core corporate services
- Influence strategic transformation and organisational culture at scale
- Live and lead in one of Australia’s most iconic lifestyle destinations
The Organisation
Cairns Regional Council is a vibrant local government authority proudly serving a diverse and fast-growing community of over 170,000 residents in Far North Queensland. The region is globally renowned for its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, World Heritage rainforest, and rich First Nations cultures. With a strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community engagement, Cairns Regional Council is dedicated to enhancing quality of life for all Cairns residents, while preserving the natural beauty of the region.
Council’s People & Organisational Performance directorate plays a central role in enabling the organisation’s strategic goals. With a broad remit, this function is a critical enabler of high performance and transformation. Due to a valued executive retiring, an outstanding opportunity now exists to lead this portfolio.
The Opportunity
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and as a member of Council’s Executive Leadership Team, the Director People & Organisational Performance will lead a diverse team of 100 staff across human resources, industrial relations, payroll, governance, safety and wellbeing, learning and development, and disaster management.
This is a senior strategic role that will shape culture, uplift workforce capability, and influence enterprise-wide planning and transformation initiatives for a workforce of approximately 1300. Key projects this role will lead include:
- Ongoing enterprise bargaining negotiations;
- Shaping and embedding a compelling EVP (employee value proposition), ensuring Council’s ability to attract, engage and retain top talent; and
- Planning and delivery of various workplace improvement, learning and wellbeing programs
The Director will lead the development of contemporary people and service strategies aligned to Council’s Corporate and Operational Plans, while ensuring robust governance and risk frameworks are in place to support safe, high-performing outcomes. The role holds significant influence across the organisation and will work closely with the Mayor, Councillors and executive leaders to support organisational effectiveness, people engagement, and customer-centric services.
Our Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a strategic and influential people leader with proven experience as a trusted member of an Executive Leadership Team, either in a local government or similarly large and complex organisation. You will have extensive experience with and knowledge of strategic HR/IR matters (ideally industrial reform within Queensland’s legislative framework), coupled with a proven track record in workforce strategy, organisational performance and cultural uplift. Recognised for your collaborative leadership style, EQ and personal integrity, you’ll bring strong stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to translate vision into action.
Why This Role?
This is a career-defining leadership opportunity to influence the organisational future of a regionally iconic Council. You’ll lead a high-performing team, contribute at the executive level, and make a lasting difference to the lives of community members and Council’s internal workforce. All while enjoying the unbeatable lifestyle Cairns has to offer.
To view the Success Profile for this opportunity, please copy and paste this link: https://bit.ly/4kIaOQm
To apply, please click ‘Apply Now’ and upload your resume and cover letter. For a confidential discussion, please contact Ashleigh Stewart on 0408 856 689 or Emma Wallace on 0432 060 301.
Davidson acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and live. We are committed to equal opportunity and to promoting diversity, inclusion, flexibility and accessibility in all that we do. If you require adjustments to fully participate in the recruitment process, please let us know.
Applications close Sunday 6 July 2025.
