Help shape the next chapter of Youth Projects.
Lead with heart. Scale with discipline. Grow impact.
➤ Executive leadership role in one of Victoria's most respected youth organisations
➤ Flexible working, PD and continued learning, hybrid model
Your Impact
Influence how young people experiencing disadvantage access meaningful support and opportunity at scale. This role will support and shape the operational foundations that drive sustainable impact across diverse communities.
The Organisation
Youth Projects exists to walk alongside young people and individuals experiencing disadvantage — without judgement, and with unwavering belief in their potential.
As they continue to grow across services, partnerships and locations, Youth Projects are seeking a Chief Operating Officer who can help scale impact while protecting what makes Youth Projects who they are. www.youthprojects.org.au
The Role
This is not a typical COO role, acting as the CEO's primary partner in translating strategy into operational reality, this role will steward organisational maturity and ensuring the foundations of the organisation are fit for scale.
You will join a strong Executive Leadership Team and help carry the organisational load — strengthening performance by nurturing leaders and ensuring services remain safe, consistent and financially sustainable. This is shared leadership at its best. You will...
* Build on and support high-performing senior leaders, fostering a safe, values-aligned culture within a trauma-informed workforce.
* Lead end-to-end operational performance across multi-site youth services and social enterprise, ensuring consistency, quality and sustainability at scale.
* Integrate diverse service streams into a cohesive, high-performing operating model that strengthens outcomes, accountability and complex contract delivery.
* Translate strategic priorities into operational delivery, strengthening systems, capability and performance frameworks to enable sustainable growth.
About You
You are an executive leader with experience operating at scale in complex service environments. You have strategic clarity, operational discipline and a strong values base — with the ability to strengthen performance, integrate services and build leadership capability.
You bring:
* Executive operational leadership across multi-site settings, ensuring consistent quality, performance and culture.
* Experience integrating diverse services, including publicly funded programs and social enterprise or commercial operations.
* Strong financial and commercial acumen, with budget ownership and P&L accountability.
* Capability in building high-performing leaders and culture, fostering psychologically safe and values-aligned teams.
* Proven strategy execution, including contract performance, compliance and sustainable growth.
How to apply
If you are someone who can hold complexity, build clarity and lead change with compassion, predictability and care, please apply by submitting a cover letter and resume. A position description is available by emailing
Key Selection Criteria
Applicants will be asked to respond to the following Key Selection Criteria:
* Executive operational leadership at scale
* Commercial and financial leadership
* Building high-performing leaders and culture
* Contract performance, compliance and risk management
* Strategy execution and innovation
Social Compass Group is partnering with Youth Projects on this appointment.
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