ABOUT FCA

Farmers for Climate Action is a movement of farmers, agricultural leaders and rural Australians working to ensure farmers are a key part of the solution to climate change. We've opened applications for an Operations and Impact Director (OID) to ensure fit for purpose financial and business management, internal policies, governance practices and income generation across philanthropic, grants and commercial partnerships are in place to ensure FCA delivers its vision and strategic plan.

We seek an experienced operations and governance professional who brings both seniority and an understanding that this is an active operational delivery role. The right person will roll up their sleeves to immediately contribute on day one. We are a nimble, impactful organisation that delivers outcomes on one of the defining issues of our lifetimes. The OID is a critical internal enabler to ensure the funding and effectiveness of FCA’s external strategic policy and advocacy work.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Operations and Impact Director (OID) at Farmers for Climate Action works closely with the CEO to lead the operational and governance aspects of FCA’s work, bringing to life our strategic year plan through budgets, fundraising, governance, project management and reporting.

The Operations and Impact Director is the internal lead for governance and risk management (with access to external contractor support) and routinely considers the coherence and planning of our farmer member and network value proposition, internal and external communications, our budgeting and financial management, and people and culture. This means you will need to have a keen eye for both detail and board relationships and needs but also understand the broader commercial marketplace as we aim to grow income to meet our organisational goals. You'll be able to easily trip between the two worlds of governance and partnership development, supported by team members — a true 'utility worker', happy in both execution and strategy, noting the role is 80% execution of strategy, with 20% strategic operational development (such as identifying and proposing business improvements). There is a KPI around partnership income development in this role so that the functions and team day-to-day operations are funded and able to deliver on the promise of our mission and purpose.

The OID role is both accountable and responsible for ensuring the business management, internal policies, and governance are in place to ensure FCA delivers its vision and strategic plan and realise our goal of advocating on behalf of, and with, Australian farmers to influence the sector and government to implement climate policies that reduce pollution and benefit rural communities.

ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES

You will be responsible for the following tasks, noting many KPI's involve drawing on external contractors and partners for financial, bookkeeping, human resource, governance, communications and other advice and/or implementation, and overseeing and guiding other team members as appropriate to ensure cross-functional operational delivery. You need to be equally happy doing the work as directing it, and able to easily and efficiently add value because of your experience.

Manage governance, financial management and risk - 60% or role

• Report on and contribute to the delivery of the Strategic Plan through the delivery/coordination of FCA governance processes such as Board and Committee Reporting, budget development, audit process, operations plans, the Annual General Meeting and the Annual Report.
• In partnership with the CEO and advisors as required, lead the management of risk and our legal, financial and audit responsibilities through developing and /or implementing and monitoring, appropriate internal policies and practices.
• Utilising our financial advisor, bookkeeper, and governance and operations officer, actively manage FCA's financial management, banking, and reporting in accordance with policies.

Ensure the smooth running of FCA operations and member engagement - 20% of the role.

• Promote cross-functional planning and processes for optimal effectiveness and efficiency, such as through internal project plans for campaigns, advocacy and other initiatives. Be prepared to 'step in and step back’ to both empower and guide the team as appropriate.
• Be solutions led and action orientated with an eye to the priorities organisationally and be able to measure our impact clearly.
• Oversight and continuous improvement of FCA's critical member and community supporters, considering how we engage with these core audiences and our value proposition, preparing a clear plan for CEO approval annually.
• Utilising the HR advisor and the Governance and Operations Officer as appropriate, maintain HR best practices, including policies, record keeping, onboarding/inductions, occupational health and safety, leave, compensation and contracting. Making this part of our 'one plan, one team' approach.
• With Board Chair and/or CEO input, organise a Board Planning Retreat, Staff Planning Retreat, professional development opportunities and day to day modelling of FCA's values and care for team members.
• Considering whether new projects are aligned with FCAs strategy and helping to establish a supportive, collaborative and productive team culture.

Fundraising, partnerships and external communications goals - 20% of role

• Lead on developing and delivering a partnership strategy for CEO approval (sometimes working with external resources) and other proposals and mechanisms material to help FCA resource our mission. Review how this is managed and delivered against existing priorities.
• Engaging with the team to discuss, identify, lead and/or support efforts to secure new, emerging fundraising opportunities and diversify revenue streams, creating a clear plan for action annually signed off by the CEO.
• As FCA's communications are multi-pronged, fast-paced and delivered by multiple team members, the OID plays the vital role of bringing a strategic lens to the overall picture of FCA's external and internal communications to ensure we are aligned with our strategic and operational goals, coordinated and maintaining high reputational standards and effectiveness.
• Pitch in (as required) on an ad-hoc basis to develop content, which may include reviewing and /or developing policies, submissions, letters, key messages and campaign strategies.
• Develop and be accountable to a clear strategy and process for communications and promotions material annually to help FCA resource its mission, supported by a communications manager as a resource for execution.

Contributing to organisational success

• At FCA every team member personally delivers a portfolio of work and has a connection to and respect for our farmer members and the need for climate action.
• Collaborative work across the small team as required. Working to their strengths and your own, we are keen that operationally, you can see all aspects of our work in a way that can add value to our delivery and impact.
• Working on the right things at the right time and identifying solutions and opportunities appropriate for our resource model.
• Identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, with a strong rationale for why.

ABOUT YOU

Required competencies and attributes

• Governance, financial and risk management guru. You will have a background in this area first and foremost, ideally in a not for profit, registered charity environment - you are comfortable with both details and process as well as the bigger picture.
• Fundraising and Partnerships experience - winning and managing complex relationships and needs is in your DNA. You understand the end funder and partner equally, and everything you do professionalises our approach, maintains partner confidence in FCA and delivers results.
• Enthusiastic, dynamic, self-starter and proactive person. You'll be a 'completer finisher' and happy to be responsible for your own success but equally able to take counsel and guidance.
• Highly professional and articulate with excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to high quality outcomes.
• Strong ability to manage multiple priorities and projects.
• Proven ability to work independently and within a team environment.
• Experience in stakeholder relations and inspirational people management.
• Passion for addressing climate change and/or connection to agriculture or regional Australia.

Work Experience

Minimum 5 + years of industry experience and/or relevant degree (business, management, environmental, social science)

Knowledge

Ability to use, or quickly learn to use, CRM software (Nationbuilder), Google Suite, Slack, Social media planning tools, channel awareness and WordPress. You follow the latest governance and reporting trends and are able to adapt and implement them easily.

HOW WE WORK

Farmers for Climate Action has grown rapidly since its inception in 2015, and our farmer-driven movement is supported by an active Board and our small team of dedicated staff.

• We are evidence-based and informed by the best available science.
• We are collaborative, inclusive and respectful.
• We respect and embrace the diversity and wisdom of farming communities.
• We are empowering our farmers to use their voices as leaders and for rural Australia to take action on climate change.
• We are sustainable and committed to being here for the long haul by being ecologically, financially, and socially responsible.
• We are a strategic, high-performance team working towards delivering tangible, long-term results.

Our small team is spread across Australia, and we provide the option for people to work from our co-working space in Melbourne or to work from their farm/ home. We use various digital collaboration tools to stay in touch and work effectively together and are committed to ensuring team members have everything they need to get the job done.

We offer four weeks' annual leave and personal and carers' leave provisions. We strive to maintain a culture of wellbeing. We are set up to support flexible working conditions and strive to ensure all staff have a healthy work-life balance.

CONTACT US

Please direct role inquiries and questions to [email protected] using the subject line: Operations and Impact Director - Remote / Flexible Location enquiry via EthicalJobs including your contact details and any specific questions you may have.