"Are you a seasoned professional with business operations, finance, human resources, legal affairs and cooperative management expertise?"

Do you have a passion for driving positive change in a worker-owned cooperative environment? We seek a dedicated and visionary Board Chair to lead our Board of Directors and help guide the strategic direction of our workers' cooperative nonprofit organisation.

The Board of Directors meets bi-monthly on a Tuesday evening.

Role Key Responsibilities

• As Chair of the Board, you will provide strategic leadership, guiding the organisation’s mission and values in a cooperative governance model.
• Lead the Board of Directors, ensuring strong collaboration and communication between the board, executive team, and cooperative members.
• Support the cooperative model by promoting inclusive decision-making, shared ownership, and democratic governance.
• Provide oversight in business operations, finance, legal matters, and cooperative management to ensure the organisation’s sustainability.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to develop and implement cooperative strategies, set goals, and assess performance.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and financial obligations, promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical practices within a cooperative framework.
• Guide the development of HR policies that reflect the cooperative’s values, fostering an inclusive and positive workplace culture.
• Serve as a public representative and advocate for the organisation’s mission, goals, and co-operative principles.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven leadership experience in business operations, finance and legal affairs, and cooperative management, preferably within the nonprofit sector.
• Strong understanding of cooperative governance, financial oversight, and strategic planning in a worker-owned environment.
• Demonstrated experience as a Board member or Chair, with expertise in cooperative principles and practices (preferable but not limited)
• Excellent communication, leadership, and decision-making skills, with the ability to build consensus and foster collaboration among cooperative members.
• Passionate about nonprofit work, cooperative values, and a commitment to ethical leadership and community service.
• Ability to inspire, guide, and mentor board members and cooperative staff.

Why Join Us?

• Lead a dedicated team in a worker-owned cooperative committed to making a meaningful impact.
• Shape an organisation's future driven by cooperative principles and positive community outcomes.
• Collaborate with a diverse, mission-driven board and cooperative members to drive real change.
• Contribute your leadership to a cause that makes a lasting difference in the community.

THE ORGANISATION

Since our formation in 2013 our mission has been to provide high quality, person-centred care for older people and people living with disability. As an employee-owned co-operative, our aim is to provide sustainable, person-centred employment for our employees and members.

We are dedicated to working with vulnerable people and making sure that they don’t slip through the cracks. The Co-operative Life (TCL) supports individuals living with disability, and the ageing community to lead meaningful lives through capacity building, employing experienced staff, and by responding to their goals and needs.

We operate in Greater Sydney and New England Regions with approximately 140 employees. We are a registered NDIS Service Provider and Aged Care provider.

OJECTIVES

The objectives of TCL are to provide frail or aged people and people living with physical, developmental or psycho-social disability with best-practice in-home care and community services; and access to other care, therapeutic and allied cultural or social services. The co-operative will also undertake activities that are incidental or ancillary to its objects including providing a secure and supportive workplace and training opportunities for workers engaged in the delivery of the co-operative’s services.

GOALS

• A better workplace for all with quality training, committees, self-directed teams, improved communications, and member benefits
• To sustainably grow by expanding our networks with community, government, and service providers, and improving our marketing and communications
• Increased customer satisfaction with deeper relationships, greater customer capacity and improved and expanded service delivery
• A best-practice compliance and policy framework with strong, safe, and effective practice. In all our activities, we will nurture and strengthen our caring and supportive co-operative culture

CORE VALUES

• Self-help
• Self-responsibility
• Democracy
• Equality
• Equity
• Solidarity

COMMITMENT REQUIRED

The Board currently meets via online (digitally) every second month, on Tuesday evenings. The minimum time commitment of up to 5 hours per month, which includes preparation for and attendance at Board meetings, and providing legal advice/assistance for the Board Directors.

Board members are expected to demonstrate their commitment to the organisation by attending all meetings.

Our volunteer Board plays a crucial governance role in the organisation and Directors are appointed for a minimum of one year.

Successful applicants for positions at The Co-operative Life are subject to NDIS Check.

Applicants are asked to apply by clicking "Apply Now". TCL welcomes applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from diverse cultural background and people who are LGBTIQA+.