Head of Operations

About the role
- Drive Wildlife Emergency Response Service
- Lead people, growth and relationships
- Abbotsford location

Wildlife Victoria has provided the community with a Wildlife Emergency Response service for 35 years. Their mission is to help and protect wildlife through their rescue, education, and advocacy activities. Every year thousands of native animals in Victoria become sick, injured or orphaned, often as a direct result of human activity. If left unassisted, these animals may suffer and die in pain or of starvation. The Wildlife Victoria Emergency Response Service receives notifications from members of the public via its emergency phone and online reporting system, receiving over 100,000 requests for help annually, and helping over 80,000 animals. The rescue service relies on an extensive state-wide network of rescue and transport volunteers, veterinarians and the licenced wildlife carers and shelters who accept animals into their care for rehabilitation and release.

The Head of Operations is the key executive accountable for leading and developing Wildlife Victoria’s Operations, including the phone-based Wildlife Emergency Response Service and in-field mobile Wildlife Travelling Veterinary Response Service. This role will be responsible for the operational delivery of the Emergency Response Service call centre, and implementation of best practice systems to improve the efficiency of operations. You will be an outstanding leader who can foster a positive culture through coaching, mentoring and continuous improvement to ensure Wildlife Victoria can effectively respond to community reports of distressed wildlife and facilitate the care needed. You will be adaptable in your leadership, in order to effectively direct the team’s diverse working styles.

Reporting to the CEO, and being an integral member of the leadership team, you will liaise on operational matters with government and non-government organisations. You will continuously improve and report on all activities end to end to ensure sustainable, professional and effective service. You will bring management experience in a contact centre setting, a growth mindset, excellent communication and relationship-building skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage risk and multiple priorities is required. A shared interest and passion in wildlife management and rescue is vital, along with previous experience working with animals or in an animal welfare based organisation.

About YOU:

- Minimum 10 years senior experience in operations management and across a broad range of specialist areas
- Strong stakeholder engagement, collaborative working style and commitment to continuous improvement
- Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, with an empathetic and engaging leadership style
- An adaptive and constructive approach to work with capability to work effectively and calmly under pressure
- Previous experience in developing and improving metrics across all aspects of a high performing team to deliver
on key targets and plans, able to be a caring, supportive leader who motivates and can lead through adversity
- Experience working across the wildlife or not-for-profit sector and engaging with professional specialists, an
understanding of wildlife rescue and operational considerations, preferably from practical experience is desirable
- Tertiary qualifications in business management or related discipline

if you are an innovative leader with a track record of operations management and developing high performing teams, plus a genuine interest in wildlife and commitment to Wildlife Victoria’s values - Compassion, Collaboration, Respect, Leadership and Integrity#PBA2

Profession: #CEO_and_Senior_Management, #Operations_Management, #Project_Management

Sector: #Animals