Are you based in Australia, passionate about koala conservation and would you like to make an impact to Friends of the Koala at a strategic and leadership level? Friends of the Koala have two exciting opportunities to join our team.

General Manager (paid position)

We are recruiting for a General Manager to cover maternity leave for 12 months, with a flexible start date in November, December or January. This is an opportunity to lead one of Australia’s longest standing and most dedicated koala conservation organisations. The role is based in East Lismore, with flexibility in hours and work days (30 – 37.5 hours) with the option to work from home on certain days. This is your chance to make a tangible difference in the conservation of koalas and their habitat, and live and work in the beautiful Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Candidates require full work rights in Australia.

As the General Manager at Friends of the Koala, you’ll oversee daily operations, ensuring smooth management of both our volunteer-driven initiatives and the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital. You will collaborate closely with the Management Committee, Veterinary Clinical and Research Director and veterinary team, Volunteer Coordinator and volunteer Program Coordinators to deliver on our strategic objectives. This role is perfect for a strong leader with experience in not-for-profits, managing multidisciplinary teams including staff and volunteers, financial management, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement. 

Key responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Drive the development and execution of strategic and operational plans in line with Friends of the Koala’s mission, reporting to the Management Committee. 
• Financial Management: Develop and monitor budgets, ensuring financial sustainability and accountability. 
• Operational Management: Oversee day-to-day operations, managing staff, volunteers, and key conservation programs in collaboration with the Clinical and Research Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Regional Koala Officer and volunteer Program Coordinators. 
• Marketing, Fundraising & Partner/Donor Engagement: Lead fundraising efforts through grant applications, advertising campaigns, newsletters and social media, ensuring visibility and financial support for the organisation. Build relationships with donors, funding bodies, and partners to secure resources for our conservation work. 
• Team Leadership: Cultivate a high-performing, engaged team and foster an inclusive and collaborative organisational culture. 

For more information and to apply now, click here. If you have any questions about the role, don’t hesitate to email our current General Manager Silva Everaers on manager@friendsofthekoala.org.

Management Committee member (volunteer position)

If you have ever been interested in joining our Management Committee, now is your chance to start thinking about your nomination. Friends of the Koala is a grassroots organisation with over 35 years of experience working on critical, on-the-ground activities to conserve habitat and protect koalas individually and as a species. We have a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by koalas in our region. We are the people that do the work, every single day. We respond to rescue calls 24/7, and provide veterinary treatment and care year-round in our Northern Rivers Koala Hospital. We participate in groundbreaking research. We plant koala food trees and other native species across the Northern Rivers, and protect and restore prime koala habitat. Our holistic approach makes us especially effective. With 8 staff members and 200+ volunteers contributing 55,000 volunteer hours per year, Friends of the Koala is a growing, changing and impactful organisation making a tangible difference for koalas in the Northern Rivers and beyond.

While employees, coordinators and team leaders manage the day-to-day operations, the function of the Management Committee is to provide strategic direction and governance for the whole organisation. We are seeking to appoint members to join our Management Committee, and are specifically looking for people with skills in the following areas: business management, strategic planning, risk and financial management, marketing, human resources, and advocacy.  

As a management committee member, you:

• Attend and contribute to bimonthly Management Committee meetings 
• Develop and oversee the execution of strategic objectives of the organisation 
• Maintain high standards of professional and ethical conduct 
• Inform, educate, and assist the organisation to build a sustainable future 
• Assist in implementing, maintaining, and (as necessary) refining a system of good governance that is appropriate for the organisation 
• Provide specialist advice to the Management Committee in your area of expertise 

Committee members will be elected at the AGM on the 28th of November 2024. You can nominate for an office bearing position (President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer) or as a general committee member.

How to nominate Announcement of the AGM, including nomination forms, will be sent to all members. If you are not currently a member, sign up here. For more information or to express your interest, please contact our Secretary Vicki Meyer via secretary@friendsofthekoala.org.