Director City Life – Wyndham City Council

• Lead community-centred services in Australia’s fastest growing city
• Executive influence across sport, recreation, libraries, community support and inclusion
• Shape social infrastructure and service delivery aligned to Wyndham’s 2050 Vision

Located just 30 kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD, Wyndham is Australia’s fastest-growing municipality. Home to more than 342,000 residents today and projected to exceed 500,000 by 2040, Wyndham is undergoing transformative growth through large-scale development and nationally recognised projects. This rapid change presents both challenge and opportunity, and Council is seeking an exceptional executive to lead one of its most significant community-focused portfolios at a defining time in the City’s evolution.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Director City Life is responsible for the strategic direction, planning and delivery of community-centred services that support health, wellbeing, inclusion and participation across the municipality. You will provide strategic advice to the CEO and Councillors and act as a trusted advocate for Wyndham City Council with government, industry and community stakeholders.

The City Life portfolio spans sport and recreation, libraries and neighbourhood hubs, maternal and child health, early education, youth and family services, community development, social inclusion and First Nations engagement. It also leads strategic service planning, innovation and continuous improvement to ensure services remain responsive, sustainable and aligned to the needs of a rapidly growing community. Collectively, these functions support residents across all life stages and contribute to creating a vibrant, inclusive and healthy city. The breadth of services and scale of operations make this a significant leadership role. You will lead a Directorate that touches community life more directly than almost any other area of Council and navigate important decisions that shape services, investment and outcomes for Wyndham’s growing community.

Wyndham’s direction is shaped by the Wyndham 2050 Community Vision, which aspires to a thriving, inclusive and connected city that values First Nations culture, wellbeing, innovation and environmental stewardship. This role extends well beyond operational oversight. It carries responsibility for integrated service planning and community infrastructure planning at scale, strengthening partnerships across government and the community sector, fostering innovation and continuous improvement, and building a high-performance, community-first culture. You will also advocate strategically for Wyndham’s priorities and help shape policy and investment outcomes at State and Federal levels.

To be successful, you will be a strategic thinker and visible leader who thrives in complex, growth-oriented environments. You will bring senior executive experience leading large multidisciplinary teams, ideally within local government, community services or similarly complex public sector settings. We are seeking a highly experienced executive who understands the realities of operating in a fast-growth municipality and is comfortable working within politically nuanced and highly visible environments.

Strong leadership capability, political acumen and high-level business acumen are critical to success in this role. You will have demonstrated expertise in community-centred service delivery, strategic planning and stakeholder engagement, alongside the ability to interpret and apply relevant legislation and policy frameworks across community services and local government. As part of a small and collaborative Executive Leadership Team, you will bring discretion, organisational awareness and a willingness to work across portfolio boundaries where responsibilities intersect.

This is a rare executive opportunity to shape the wellbeing, participation and connectedness of one of Victoria’s most dynamic and future-focused cities. If you are driven by delivering lasting community impact and leading through complexity and growth, this role offers a significant platform for influence and contribution.

To view the Success Profile for this opportunity, please copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://tinyurl.com/27d2vjt8

To apply, please click ‘apply now’ and upload your CV and Cover Letter. For any questions or for a confidential discussion, please contact Vanessa Huxley on 0417 708 112.

Davidson acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and live. We are also committed to equal opportunity and strive to promote diversity, inclusion, belonging, flexibility, and accessibility in all that we do.

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