Central Highlands Regional Council is based in Emerald, a vibrant regional hub surrounded by stunning landscapes and open green spaces, offering all the essential amenities for comfortable modern living. Emerald provides an idyllic “tree change” lifestyle with family-friendly communities, parks, botanical gardens, and a welcoming local culture. It’s the perfect balance of professional opportunity and relaxed regional living.
 
About the Role

Council is seeking a strategic commercial leader to take on a two-year fixed-term position leading two major business units. Reporting to the Director Communities, you will shape governance, strategy, and commercial structures, deliver financial analysis and business cases, and progress initiatives for growth, diversification, and overall enhanced performance. You will work closely with executive leadership, regulators, industry partners, and community stakeholders, with oversight of operational managers to ensure compliant, efficient, high-performing operations. This role is central to guiding commercial decisions that shape long-term organisational and regional outcomes.
 
About You

You are a seasoned commercial leader with experience managing complex, high-value projects, business units, or portfolios — possibly from business development, corporate advisory, finance, consulting, commercial law, asset management, or comparable senior roles. You offer:

• Strong commercial and financial acumen: business development, financial analysis, and strategic planning;

• Demonstrated leadership experience, with team management and mentoring;

• Outstanding communication and negotiation skills, with experience engaging across industry, regulators, commercial partners, and community stakeholders;

• Solid understanding of governance, compliance, and risk frameworks in complex or regulated environments;

• Enterprise risk management and assurance skills, with ability to identify and manage operational and strategic risks;

• High-level analytical and problem-solving abilities, capable of translating complexity into clear, actionable strategies;

• Familiarity with public-sector or regulatory compliance and legislative obligations; and

• Strong adaptability and autonomy, with capacity to manage multiple priorities in medium-to-large organisations.

Tertiary qualifications in business, finance, law, governance, economics, corporate planning, or a related discipline — or substantial equivalent experience — are required.
 
Benefits

• Two-year fixed-term contract with significant scope and responsibility;

• Competitive remuneration including 14.25% superannuation;

• Relocation support and subsidised accommodation (as required);

• Private vehicle use;

• Opportunity to shape major commercial operations with long-term regional significance;

• Supportive professional environment committed to sustainable development, service quality, and community wellbeing; and

• The chance to embrace a relaxed, family-friendly regional lifestyle in a vibrant and welcoming community.

If you are a senior commercial leader seeking a role where strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and leadership skills can directly influence organisational direction — while enjoying an idyllic “tree-change” lifestyle — we encourage you to apply.
 
How to Apply
 
To access a detailed information pack, go to https://www.uandu.com/jobs/manager-commercial-operations-central-highlands. To apply, go to uandu.com/jobs and search under 43601. For a confidential discussion, call Celine Di Lauro on 07 3232 9114.
 
Applications close 5pm, Wednesday 7th January 2026
 
At u&u Recruitment Partners, we value diversity, equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability.
 
Should you require reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, we encourage you to make a request via adjustments@uandu.com or phone the above-mentioned u&u consultant to discuss. In response to these requests, we will collaborate closely with you to implement the appropriate adjustments.
 
Additionally, for a barrier-free and inclusive online experience, you can access u&u’s opportunities using accessibility software Recite Me at https://www.uandu.com/jobs**.**
 
Please submit your resume in Word format only.