Interim Chief Operating Officer (COO), Centre of Excellence for Renewable Fuels Greater Wollongong, Australia Area

The Company is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to provide strategic and operational leadership for a national research initiative focused on renewable fuels. The role oversees governance, finance, risk, compliance, reporting, stakeholder engagement, workforce planning, and operational delivery, ensuring the initiative meets its strategic objectives. As a member of the executive management team, the COO will work with academic leaders, partner institutions, industry stakeholders, government agencies, and funding bodies. The successful candidate will establish the systems, partnerships, and governance frameworks needed to support a complex, multi-partner research program. Candidates should have significant senior leadership experience in a complex research, higher education, government, or similarly regulated environment, with demonstrated success across operations, governance, financial management, risk, and compliance. Experience delivering large-scale programs, research centres, or collaborative initiatives is required, along with strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills. The role calls for a record of building effective teams and operational frameworks, strong strategic and commercial acumen, and excellent communication and influencing skills, including advising executive leaders and governance groups. Relevant tertiary qualifications are required; postgraduate qualifications are highly regarded.

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