Senior Advisor, Impact Missions

About Us

Minderoo Foundation takes on tough, persistent issues with the potential to drive massive change. We incubate ideas, advocate for systems change and accelerate impact. We push the limits of what is believed possible.

Minderoo Foundation is proudly Australian, independent, forward thinking and seeks effective, scalable solutions. Through bold, collaborative and selfless action, we seek to dismantle the systems that entrench inequality and advocate for a fairer future. 

Minderoo’s Impact Missions team is founder led, responding to existential threats and time-sensitive urgent challenges. The portfolio includes Artificial Intelligence, plastics and harm to human health, humanitarian crisis response as well as other standalone projects. Impact Missions operates with agility through a lean structure that will consider, test, and develop new concepts, and plan how Minderoo can make a strong contribution by delivering a partner-first model.

About the Opportunity

We’re seeking a Senior Advisor to join our Impact Missions team, playing a pivotal role in driving planning, coordination, and operational readiness across a dynamic portfolio of work. This role acts as a trusted advisor and operational anchor to the Executive Director, serving as a key interface between internal teams and external stakeholders.

You will bring strategic insight, operational discipline, and agile support across evolving priorities—supporting the design, establishment, and scaling of new initiatives, shaping core artefacts, and ensuring high-quality execution from inception to close-out.

Key Responsibilities:

• Represent the Executive Director in high-level engagements with external stakeholders, applying diplomacy and professionalism—particularly in cases where active collaboration may not be planned.
• Lead portfolio-wide planning and coordination to ensure strategic alignment, organisational compliance, effective resource deployment, and timely delivery, designing and implementing streamlined processes and artefacts.
• Oversee reporting across the portfolio, ensuring accurate and timely updates aligned with both operational and strategic goals.
• Draft high-quality briefings, correspondence, and communications on behalf of the Executive Director communicating the Impact Missions’ goals, activities, and outcomes to a range of audiences.
• Support the development and launch of new initiatives, from concept testing through to early-stage delivery planning.
• Conduct strategic tasks such as environmental scanning and issue analysis to inform executive decision-making.
• Maintain a forward-looking view of risks, dependencies, and opportunities across the Impact Missions portfolio, proactively identifying and addressing issues to support continuity and responsiveness.

About You

You are a strategic thinker with a proven track record in managing complex portfolios, translating strategy into action, and ensuring operational excellence. You thrive in fast-paced environments, are comfortable navigating ambiguity, and bring a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset.

You will bring:

• A relevant degree in public policy, international relations, business, law, or a related field (postgraduate qualifications desirable)
• Experience in strategic advisory, consulting, or policy roles within complex or fast-moving organisations.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement operational systems, processes, and governance frameworks to support effective delivery.
• Strong capacity to absorb complex information quickly and communicate it clearly to a variety of audiences delivering concise, high-quality advice and briefings for senior leaders under time pressure..
• The ability to represent senior executives with discretion, credibility, and clarity—particularly where stakeholder relationships require careful cultivation.

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements that support your wellbeing
• Ongoing career development and learning opportunities
• A chance to be part of a values-driven organisation making a global impact
• Engaging, inclusive and purpose-led workplace culture

Next Steps

Please attach your resume and a cover letter explaining why you interested in this opportunity.

Applications close: Friday August 15 2025

Please note we reserve the right to extend closing date and/or close applications early should a suitable candidate be identified.

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Minderoo Foundation embraces Equal Opportunity and promotes diversity. We actively encourage Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders, people of all backgrounds, ages, sexual orientation, and those with Disability to apply.