Chief of Staff

• Provide strategic leadership across people and culture, legal, strategy, performance, and communications.
• Support the CEO and Executive Team to deliver the Council Plan and drive transformation.
• Build strong relationships with councillors, partners, and the community to achieve lasting outcomes.

Mornington Peninsula Shire is Victoria's premier destination municipality, celebrated for its vibrant townships, thriving agriculture, world-class landscapes, iconic tourist regions, and internationally significant conservation areas within a vital Green Wedge. As the state's fifth largest Local Government Area, the Shire delivers more than 100 essential services to a diverse and growing community of 170,000 residents. These services encompass infrastructure, community wellbeing, environmental stewardship, and cultural initiatives, all supporting prosperity and liveability across the region. Home to one of Australia's most dynamic tourism industries, the Mornington Peninsula attracts over 8 million visitors each year, generates $9.5 billion in economic output and sustains more than 62,000 jobs, underpinning its role as a cornerstone of Victoria's visitor economy.

To ensure it continues to meet the needs of its community and capitalise on future opportunities, the Shire is embarking on a new organisational structure designed to modernise service delivery, strengthen leadership, and enhance collaboration across all functions. This is an exciting period of change and renewal, and the Council is seeking candidates who thrive in dynamic environments, bring fresh ideas, and are committed to driving transformation. Successful leaders will embrace innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement, ensuring the organisation remains responsive, future-focused and equipped to deliver outstanding outcomes for its residents, businesses, and visitors.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief of Staff provides strategic oversight and executive leadership across the portfolios of People and Culture, Legal Services, Organisational Strategy & Performance, and Communications and Advocacy. This pivotal role ensures the organisation operates as a high-performing, values-driven and community-focused Council. The Chief of Staff supports the CEO in coordinating the Executive Leadership Team and driving delivery of the Council Plan whilst ensuring governance and organisational performance, and effective advocacy with state, federal and community partners. With a remit that spans internal capability and external influence, this position is uniquely placed to ensure the organisation delivers outcomes that matter for both its workforce and the diverse communities of the Mornington Peninsula.

The ideal candidate will bring significant executive leadership experience within complex organisations, ideally in local government or the broader public sector. With the remit of this role, you will demonstrate the capability to lead diverse functions while driving organisation-wide change and transformation. You will have expertise in organisational development, cultural transformation and governance. With exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, you will build trusted relationships across Council, with elected members, and with partners at state and federal levels. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, transparency and community focus, you will ensure the Mornington Peninsula Shire is well positioned to meet the needs of both its workforce and its community.

To view more information about the opportunities at Mornington Peninsula Council please view the microsite linked here:

To apply, please click 'apply now' and upload your CV and Cover Letter. For any questions not outlined in the PD and for a confidential discussion, please contact Kate Rowe at

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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