EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEGAL & GOVERNANCE

• Newly created, greenfields executive role 
• Global reach across 52 countries
• Shaping governance for mental health literacy worldwide

About the organisation

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) International Ltd is a public company limited by guarantee and a registered health promotion charity, with a vision for a world where everyone has the skills and confidence to support people experiencing mental health problems. Operating as a social enterprise in Australia, MHFA International works with more than 3,000 licensed instructors to deliver training to over 140,000 people annually. Internationally, the organisation works with official partners delivering MHFA programs under licence across 52 countries - collectively training one million people each year. With around 65 head office staff, MHFA International is a mature, mission-driven organisation in an active phase of global expansion and structural transformation.

About the role

Reporting directly to the CEO and sitting on a six-member executive leadership team, the Executive Director Legal & Governance (EDLG) is a newly created position with a mandate that spans both day-to-day legal operations and long-term structural transformation. In the near term, the EDLG will establish a coherent internal legal function - including contract and compliance registers, legal templates, and efficient internal processes - transitioning responsibilities currently held across external providers and other members of the executive team. The EDLG will also assume the role of Company Secretary, with responsibility for board support, statutory compliance under the Corporations Act and ACNC Governance Standards, and corporate records management. Central to the role is leadership of MHFA International's Global Governance Transformation Program, which involves designing and implementing a new international governance structure - working closely with the CEO and board members. The EDLG will also oversee international partnership and licensing agreements across 52 jurisdictions, IP strategy and brand protection, government funding agreements, and employment law matters.

About you

You are an Australian-qualified lawyer with a current practising certificate and significant in-house legal leadership experience, ideally gained in Head of Legal or General Counsel roles. Your expertise spans commercial law, contracts, governance, regulatory compliance, and corporate advisory matters, enabling you to operate as both a strategic adviser and a hands-on practitioner. Experience supporting international operations, navigating cross-border legal frameworks, and advising on intellectual property, licensing, or franchise-style models will be highly regarded. You are a commercially astute and trusted adviser who communicates with confidence and credibility at Board and executive level, exercising sound judgement, discretion, and integrity in managing sensitive and complex matters. Comfortable working autonomously in a lean, evolving environment, you are adept at creating structure, systems, and processes where they do not yet exist and thrive in situations requiring initiative and adaptability. Most importantly, you are motivated by MHFA International’s purpose and global impact and are excited by the opportunity to contribute to its mission within a not-for-profit context. Company secretarial experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

How to apply

Click ‘Apply’ and submit your CV along with a covering letter. For more information prior to application, please contact Andrew Richards at SHK on 0422 279 039 or via email at andrew.richards@shk.com.au, quoting reference 3612084. Direct and third-party applications will be forwarded to SHK.