• Drive the operational success of established and growing organisation
• Convenient CBD office in Sydney’s vibrant Barangaroo
• Flexible working with additional ‘Play Days’ throughout the year

About The Company

Playgroup NSW has evolved over its 50 years, to collaboratively deliver social impact - for children, families and communities, including older Australians. The organisation is focused on collective impact - through program innovation, strategic partnerships and co-design of programs and services.

Playgroup NSW supports and delivers a range of strengths-based programs and services to its 54,000 member families, including but not limited to: Universal community volunteer led programs; Targeted early intervention and preventative programs specifically for children and families experiencing vulnerabilities, and for children with a disability and their carers; Programs and services with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse families; Perinatal mental and parent/child mental health programs; Intergenerational programs including older Australians; and a range of digital and face to face events and engagements.

At Playgroup NSW (PGNSW) our people are at the heart of what we do. We pride ourselves on our inclusive and engaged organisational culture. We are driven by our values, demonstrate them in our work and in our relationships and encourage them across our membership and in all our activities.

Our Values are to:

Be child centric: Children are at the heart of our work.

Lead change: Seek and encourage learning, innovation, and greater positive impact.

Act with integrity: Be honest, accountable and show respect.

Work smart, play often: Be goal focused, mindful of people's wellbeing and enjoy work.

About The Role

Reporting to and partnering with the CEO, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be responsible for driving and optimising the organisation's operational capabilities and effective implementation of the Strategic Plan. This role will support the organisation's growth and program expansion, and influence outcomes in all areas of operations, including strategy, human resources, finance, IT, customer experience, risk, compliance and governance.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategy and Planning

• Partner with the CEO on all operational and strategic issues as they arise; provide strategic recommendations to the CEO based on financial analysis and projections, cost identification, allocation and analysis.
• Participate in the ongoing strategic planning process as an integral member of the leadership team and oversee long-term budgetary, business planning and cost management in alignment with Playgroup NSW' strategic plan.
• Engage with the leadership team and Program Leads to align financial management with short- and long-term planning and projections.

Financial and Operational Management

• Oversee the finance function (internal and external resources) including the delivery of finance, accounting, payroll and audit activities and reporting.
• Oversee budgeting, and the implementation of budgets, so as to monitor progress and present operational metrics both internally and externally.
• Ensure that all employees, including the leadership team, maintain good governance and appropriate record systems in accordance with company policies, and monitor the use of all funds.
• Participate in the preparation and approval of all financial reporting materials and metrics for board reporting, regulatory reporting, and financial reporting.
• Review all formal finance, HR, IT and other related procedures, processes, and administration, recommending improvements to the systems in place and managing systems going forward.
• Set comprehensive goals for performance and growth and evaluate performance by analysing and interpreting data and metrics.

Governance & Compliance

• Manage PGNSW’s compliance, risk management, policy review frameworks, processes, systems, and business continuity planning, ensuring alignment to best practice and meeting the organisation’s strategic, legislative, and funding requirements.
• Manage and maintain PGNSW Risk Register, Risk Management Framework, Compliance Calendars and related processes and documentation.
• Provide appropriate reporting to the Leadership Team, Finance Audit and Risk Committee and Board on the status of the compliance, risk management, governance and policy frameworks, and any significant risk management and compliance matters.
• Work with and across departments to ensure that compliance, risk, and quality mechanisms are coordinated, integrated and foster innovation and managed risk taking.
• Oversee adherence to all relevant financial and governance reporting requirements (e.g., ATO/ ACNC/ASIC/Worker's Compensation).
• Ensure PGNSW maintains adequate insurance levels and oversee the annual review cycle of policies - establishing policies that promote company culture and vision.
• Write and submit reports to the CEO in all matters of importance.

Information Technology

• Oversee employees and contractors to deliver on the business' digital transformation path.
• Periodically review the performance of overall IT systems and processes with contractors, to ensure the organisation continues to enhance programs and services through advancing technologies.

Customer Experience

• Oversee the customer experience function to deliver exceptional service for all customer stakeholders.
• Responsible for the assessment and delivery of systems and processes that support customer experience, and periodic reporting.

Team Management

• Develop, manage and motivate direct reports and outsourced providers, as well as guide larger multidisciplinary teams outside of direct span of departments.
• Engage other members of the leadership team to facilitate cross-department collaboration that ensures that all financial, IT, and HR solutions positively support PGNSW' evolving strategy, operational delivery, and data collection needs.
• Establish policies and procedures that promote Playgroup NSW' culture and vision through its operations so as to enhance teamwork, engagement, well-being and productivity.

About You

The COO will be a seasoned and mature leader with at least 12-15 years of senior experience at an operational level, making actionable recommendations to senior leadership. You will ideally have some degree of experience managing finance, HR, and IT for a mid-sized organisation.

Selection Criteria Includes:

• MBA or bachelor’s degree in business administration or equivalent experience (Master’s degree preferred and Australian Institute of Company Directors, Company Directors Course highly regarded).
• At least 10 years' experience in a COO or similar role managing a team is a must, including examples of demonstrable excellence, transformation and growth in the workplace.
• Demonstrated excellence in managing operations, finance, accounting, budgeting, control, and reporting.
• NFP experience as well as commercial experience preferred.
• PGNSW is transitioning to a Company Limited by Guarantee from an Incorporated Association due to growth. Relevant experience preferred.
• A hands-on manager with integrity and a desire to work in a dynamic, purpose-driven environment.
• An effective communicator, with strong verbal and written skills.
• Strong computer literacy with high level of proficiency in accounting software, Office 365 including PP, Word, Excel, Teams, Sharepoint.
• Experience in overseeing strategic business planning and refining periodic management plans and associated reports.
• Demonstrated experience in compliance management, risk management and policy management frameworks, business processes and systems.
• Highly developed experience managing, developing and motivating a team of direct reports.
• Working with Children Check verification letter to present on commencement (essential).
• Background checks and Police Check mandatory.
• Evidence of COVID-19 Vaccination mandatory.

If you share our vision and want to help make a positive difference to children in NSW, we would love to hear from you.

You will be required to attach a cover letter addressing how you fulfill the selection criteria outlined above and a copy of your resume.

Please note, we encourage applications from people with lived experience of disability, and from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.