Chief Executive Officer Local Government jobs

About the organisation

Zoos Victoria is a world-leading conservation organisation and Victorian Government statutory authority operating Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Kyabram Fauna Park. Welcoming more than three million visitors annually, a paid membership base of over 390,000 and caring for over 5,500 animals, the organisation combines a powerful conservation mission with significant commercial scale and community impact. With ambitious plans for growth and a commitment to creating a future rich in wildlife, Zoos Victoria is enhancing its conservation outcomes, visitor experiences and long-term sustainability.

About the role

The Chief Executive Officer will lead a highly regarded organisation at a pivotal moment in its evolution. Responsible for a workforce of approximately 1,000 staff and 800 volunteers across four sites, the CEO will build on recent organisational transformation while delivering an ambitious growth agenda that strengthens conservation impact, visitor engagement and financial sustainability. The CEO will lead major capital development projects, expand revenue and philanthropic support, and foster strong partnerships across government, research, business and the community. As the public face of Zoos Victoria, the CEO will champion the organisation's mission and help shape its future influence and reputation in Australia and internationally.

About you

You are an accomplished CEO or senior executive with experience leading a complex organisation of significant scale. You bring proven strategic leadership, commercial performance and organisational change capabilities, together with the ability to build trusted relationships across government, philanthropy, business and the broader community. With an inclusive and empowering leadership style, you have sound judgement and an ability to translate vision into results. Above all, you have a genuine commitment to impactful public purpose and be inspired by the opportunity to lead an organisation making a lasting contribution to wildlife conservation for future generations.

How to apply

Please download the Candidate Brief for more information. Click ‘apply now’ above to lodge your CV and concise cover letter. After reviewing the details, for a confidential discussion contact matthew.belleghem@shk.com.au or penny.wilson@shk.com.au. Applications close at 8:00am on the 3 August 2026