Director Operations – Local Government

Director Operations | Executive Leadership Role | Central Queensland

Alchemy Recruitment is partnering with a local government client in Central Queensland to support them in recruiting for a Director Operations to join their Executive Leadership Team.

This is a permanent executive appointment offering an attractive remuneration package commensurate with the seniority of the role.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Operations sits on the Executive Leadership Team and holds overall accountability for one of the organisation’s largest and most complex directorates. The role provides strategic and operational leadership across five core functional areas, each led by its own management team:

• Infrastructure, covering road construction and maintenance, corridor management, quarry operations, fleet, and workshops
• Strategic Program Delivery and Asset Management, covering strategic asset management, capital project management, project costing, and major project delivery
• Water Utilities, covering water treatment and network operations
• Emergency Management and Community Safety, covering disaster management operations and flood warning and risk mitigation
• Parks and Open Spaces, including depot operations

This is a genuine executive mandate. The successful candidate will shape corporate strategy alongside the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, own multi-million dollar budgets and capital works programs, and represent the organisation externally with government agencies, contractors, and community stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Hold overall responsibility for the successful delivery and operation of the Operations Directorate
• Develop and implement strategic and operational plans across the directorate in line with corporate objectives
• Prepare and manage large-scale budgets and annual operational plans
• Oversee delivery of capital works and infrastructure projects on time and on budget, in a complex, multi-stakeholder operating environment
• Develop and implement operational policy, governance, and risk frameworks across the directorate
• Lead, develop, and empower a team of Managers across multi-disciplinary operational teams
• Drive a positive safety culture and demonstrate visible leadership of safety values and behaviours
• Represent the organisation on advisory committees and with industry bodies, contractors, and community stakeholders
• Report regularly on financial and operational performance, including contribution to statutory reporting obligations

Preferred Requirements

• Proven executive or senior leadership experience managing large, multi-disciplinary operational teams across infrastructure, works, or asset services
• Strong strategic and operational planning skills, with a track record of translating organisational goals into measurable outcomes
• Comprehensive knowledge across infrastructure, asset management, fleet, parks, water utilities, or emergency operations
• Demonstrated experience managing large budgets, contracts, and capital works programs
• Excellent stakeholder management skills across government, contractors, and community
• Proven track record leading process improvement, workforce planning, and performance management
• Strong change management capability and a track record of driving cultural and operational excellence

Preferred Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Civil Engineering, Business, or a related discipline, or significant demonstrated management experience leading a multi-discipline directorate including infrastructure and/or utilities
• Understanding of Queensland local government legislation, policy, and operational standards highly regarded
• Postgraduate or Project Management qualifications highly regarded
• Current QLD C class driver’s licence required

This is a rare opportunity to step into a genuine executive mandate, with a broad and varied portfolio, strong regional lifestyle benefits, and a package reflective of the seniority of the role.

How to Apply

Please apply with your resume and a cover letter addressing your suitability for the role, including how your experience aligns with the key requirements outlined above.

For a confidential discussion, reach out to Jessicah Cullen  on ******************************