Executive Lead, Services

BE OUR NEW EXECUTIVE LEAD, SERVICES 

Do you believe every family deserves a village? Are you energised by community connection, early childhood development, and empowering volunteers? If you love people, thrive on variety, and want your work to make a genuine difference — you’ll feel right at home with Playgroup NSW. 

We're looking for our next to help strengthen, grow, and champion our impact across NSW. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO – YOUR PURPOSE 

As our Executive Lead, Services, you’ll oversee the strategy, quality and delivery of Playgroup NSW’s program portfolio — including playgroups, peer support, parent capacity and our peak‑body responsibilities. 

This is a high‑influence, high‑scope leadership role that drives program quality excellence, evidence‑based practice, growth, government relations, financial stewardship and capability building across a dedicated team of over 80 staff and 600 volunteers. 

Reporting to the CEO, you will shape how thousands of families experience connection, support and early childhood development across NSW. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Service Strategy & Quality: Drive the Services Strategy, ensuring programs are high‑quality, inclusive and evidence‑informed. Oversee program design, logic models, practice frameworks and outcomes measurement across: Playgroups, Peer Support, Parent Capacity, and Peak Body functions. 
  


• Service Delivery Excellence & Growth: Drive performance, consistent delivery and continuous improvement across all programs 
  


• Government Relations & Strategic Partnerships: Represent PGNSW at senior levels and lead relationships with government, health, education, disability, philanthropy, funders, peak bodies and community partners. 


• Financial Stewardship: Oversee budgets, forecasting and long‑term sustainability within the services portfolio. 


• People Leadership: Build a high‑performing, values‑aligned team through coaching, capability development and cultural leadership across staff and volunteers across NSW 


• Grow programs and services by establishing new playgroups, peer support groups, parent capacity and strengthen existing ones, and ensuring they are safe, inclusive, and sustainable. 


• Empower volunteers with training, guidance, resources, and ongoing support to deliver high‑quality playgroup experiences.
  


• Build membership and community partnerships with families, councils, health services, early education, disability, community, venue providers, and local organisations to extend reach and impact.
  


• Contribute and lead strategically by identifying local needs, growth opportunities, and supporting engagement and planning initiatives including contributing to research, impact, policy and advocacy.
  


• Maintain strong compliance and administration through robust contract management, accurate data insights, CRM updates, legislative adherence, and child‑safe practices.
  


• Risk & Compliance: Lead child‑safety systems, risk management, incident oversight, legal obligations, insurance and contract governance. Ensure compliance with WHS, Child Protection, Privacy and regulatory frameworks. 

KEY SKILLS & EXPERIENCE 

We’d love to hear from you if you have: 

• Executive‑level experience across human services, early childhood, family support or community programs 


• Strong multifaceted program strategy, design and evaluation capability 


• Exceptional relationship‑building skills and influence with government, funders, community and partners 


• Expertise in relevant compliance, contract management, reporting, legal governance and risk management  


• Proven ability to lead growth, grants and statewide multisite service expansion 


• Strong financial management and commercial acumen 


• Outstanding people leadership — coaching, culture and capability development 

For you to be successful in the role, it is important that you can address all the above requirements.  

WHY WE’RE A GREAT MATCH 

• You’ll love working with us because... 


• We love collaboration: Work alongside dedicated and experienced professionals 


• We embrace flexible Working: Deliver your best work within a hybrid and flexible work environment 


• We have excellent employee benefits: Enjoy extra leave to recharge after all the hard work. 


• We do purpose-driven work: See how you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of others every day. 


• We empower your professional growth: Regular professional development opportunities. 


• We care about your wellbeing: Feel further supported through our Employee Assistance Program 


• We offer tax-free benefits:  enjoy up to $15,900 in tax-free salary packaging. 

READY TO JOIN US? 

If you’re a senior leader who is motivated by strategic impact, sector influence, and strengthening communities at scale, we welcome your application. We are reviewing candidates as they apply, so we encourage you to submit your interest soon. This is an opportunity to shape statewide outcomes for families and lead a portfolio with genuine social impact.