Chief Operating Officer

Position Summary

The COO is the CEO’s key advisor and right hand, responsible for operational leadership, governance, and commercial success. The role focuses heavily on people and culture, governance and compliance, financial acumen, project and events management, and continuous improvement, ensuring SPA operates efficiently, innovates, and delivers outstanding service to members.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Culture:

• Role model SPA’s values and member service mindset
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, creating engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement between teams
• Support team leaders in managing performance, building staff capability, and navigating tough conversations with empathy and clarity
• Maintain a positive, inclusive, and high-performing workplace culture.

Operations:

• Oversee day-to-day organisation operations, driving productivity, efficiency, and innovation across a small, agile team.
• Identify and implement process improvements, leveraging technology and best practice.
• Manage external supplier relationships (e.g. I.T) and ensure quality standards are met or exceeded.
• Financial tracking and management of projects against the organisations annual budget

Governance & Council:

• Ensure compliance with all legislative, regulatory, and governance requirements.
• Lead Council processes, including preparation of papers, reporting, and risk management.
• Maintain risk registers, manage insurance policies, and oversee employee and vendor contract management.

Marketing & Events Management:

• Oversee the Marketing, Communication and Events team, including the annual calendar of events.
• Lead complex projects and major events, from scoping and planning through to delivery and evaluation.
• Track project milestones, budgets, and outcomes, ensuring alignment with SPA’s strategic goals.
• Drive innovation in event delivery and member engagement.

Strategy & Planning:

• Partner with the CEO on annual strategic planning and business improvement initiatives.
• Translate strategy into actionable plans, ensuring all team members understand how their work impacts on SPA’s success.
• Monitor progress against strategic plan objectives and adapt plans as needed.
• Identifies and drives initiatives that improve member experience and commercial performance

People & Office Management:

• Oversee employee recruitment, compliance, and staff development, including providing role description clarity and measures of success.
• Ensure smooth office operations and IT and facilities management
• Maintain HR compliance, including policies, procedures and handbooks

Ideal Candidate

Experience:

• 8-12 years of progressive operations, strategy, or general management experience
• Minimum 3-5 years in senior leadership roles with direct P&L responsibility
• Broad operations experience, ideally in a small team environment.
• Understanding of, and passion for, the screens industry or a closely related field.
• Expertise in project management and large scale events.

Governance: Strong governance and Board/council management skills. Analytical and process-oriented with a sharp eye for compliance, risk, and regulatory matters.

Practicality: Hands-on and execution-focused, you get in, get it done, and deliver results

Leadership: Strong leadership skills with a track record of mentoring and developing staff, including performance management, training, and driving a positive, high-performing team culture.

Financial Acumen: Strong grasp of budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance metrics. Member organisation (retention & acquisition) experience highly desired.

Problem Solving: Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate operational challenges. Strong problem-solving and confident, influential communication

Technology Proficiency: Experienced digital transformation initiatives. Familiarity with website management and customer relationship management (CRM) tools, especially dynamics.

Working Rights: you must have unrestricted work rights in Australia. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Flexible working: SPA operates on a hybrid working model of 4 days in office and 1 flexible.