Windermere Family & Child Services is seeking an exceptional leader to ensure sustainable development during a period of strategic consolidation and building. As a trusted leader in Victorian community and family services, Windermere supports 23,000+ people annually and is seeking a leader to strengthen strategic direction, organisational capability, and advance Windermere as a benchmark for not-for-profit excellence.
About Windermere Family & Child Services
Windermere Family & Child Services transforms the lives of vulnerable families, children, and individuals across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The organisation delivers integrated family wellbeing, disability support, early childhood development, victims assistance, and community strengthening services, employing circa 300 staff with a budget of $47m. Founded on genuine commitment to community care and social justice, Windermere is committed to consumer-centred service delivery and building inclusive, culturally responsive service responses and working environments.
The Role
This isn't a turnaround. It's a rare opportunity to build meaningfully on a solid foundation.
Reporting to a strong and settled Board, the Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic leadership ensuring Windermere's financial sustainability, organisational resilience, and effective governance during a significant leadership transition. This pivotal role follows a highly successful 13-year tenure and represents an opportunity to strengthen strategic direction while building on organisational strengths and capitalising on identified growth opportunities. You will lead a committed and talented executive team, providing strategic leadership across multiple service areas and complex funding environments.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide comprehensive financial and strategic oversight, ensuring transparency and accountability to government funding bodies, donors, regulators, and the Board
* Enhance organisational governance and work collaboratively with Board to strengthen financial sustainability and strategic direction
* Lead the embedding of the 'plus one year' strategic priorities: Technology & Possibilities, Business Insights, New Initiatives, Consumer Centricity, Capability Framework/Supervision Framework and Practice Governance
* Manage financial and operational risks in a planned and timely manner
* Ensure compliance with all regulatory standards, child protection frameworks, funding requirements, and accreditation commitments across Victoria
* Build and mentor a high-performing senior leadership team aligned with Windermere's values and purpose
* Drive continuous improvement and innovation, leveraging consumer voice and evidence-based practice to enhance service quality
* Strengthen stakeholder relationships with government, philanthropic, and community partners
* Drive broader opportunities to promote the work of Windermere and build on its successes
Who We're Seeking
We're seeking an experienced, strategic leader with proven success in community services and not-for-profit settings. You will bring strong financial and business acumen, strategic clarity, and genuine commitment to purpose-driven work, evidence-based practice and social justice.
Essential Capabilities
* Senior executive leadership experience within community services, health, or not-for-profit organisations, ideally as CEO or Deputy CEO
* Tertiary qualification in human services, management, business, or related discipline
* Deep understanding of government funding models, NDIS, and not-for-profit compliance requirements
* Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Boards and executive teams to influence strategy and governance
* Proven strategic thinking and capacity to set direction, see patterns, and articulate compelling narratives
* Exceptional leadership capability in building and developing high-performance teams and fostering cultures of excellence and alignment
* Commitment to social justice
* Understanding of financial sustainability and business model diversification in not-for-profit settings
Desirable Capabilities
* Postgraduate qualification in management or business
* Experience managing mixed funding models (government contracts and fee-for-service operations including NDIS)
* Knowledge of accreditation and continuous improvement frameworks
* Experience with service consolidation or organisational integration
* Understanding of digital investment strategy and technology enablement
* Experience navigating political and economic uncertainty in the community services sector
* Track record of building sustainable revenue streams and partnerships
Why this Is an Exceptional Opportunity
This is a genuine opportunity to make meaningful impact on vulnerable families and individuals through leadership that directly enables service delivery to 23,000+ people annually. You'll lead organisational strengthening by consolidating services, embedding strategic frameworks, and positioning Windermere as a benchmark for community services excellence.
Beyond the day-to-day leadership, you'll work in an organisation with strong fundamentals—stable culture, healthy engagement, sound financial position, and strong stakeholder relationships. You'll represent Windermere externally, contributing to peak body engagement and building relationships with government and philanthropic partners as a thought leader in the sector.
Finally, you'll enjoy genuine flexibility through a hybrid arrangement with primary location in Southern Melbourne, all within a supportive culture that genuinely values work-life balance.
How To Apply
To learn more about this position and Windermere Family Services, download the comprehensive Candidate Briefing Pack and application instructions from:
For a confidential discussion and any questions, please contact: Michael Holdway, Managing Director, Searchlight Group
Phone:
Email:
Closing Date: 18th February 2026