Board Chair

Gembridge is proud to partner with Our Village, a trusted and much-loved Victorian charity, to recruit an experienced and purpose-driven Chair. This is a significant opportunity to lead a high-impact organisation as it enters a critical phase of growth, increased scale and long‑term financial sustainability.

About Our Village

Our Village collects and rehomes essential baby and children’s items, safely sorted, cleaned and prepared by a large and passionate volunteer community. Through partnerships with social services, maternal and child health nurses, and community organisations, these items are distributed to babies and children experiencing vulnerability across Victoria.

The organisation currently reaches more than 20,000 children across Victoria each year, with the aspiration to grow significantly to meet unmet demand. Alongside its social impact, Our Village plays an important environmental role in keeping quality children’s goods in use and out of landfill; and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Its vision is simple and compelling:
Share More. Waste Less. Every Child Thrives.

The Opportunity: Chair

As Chair, you will provide future‑focused leadership to the Board and work in close partnership with the CEO to support organisational performance, growth and impact. You will play a key role in ensuring governance excellence, strengthening financial sustainability, and being an ambassador for Our Village.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and facilitating Board and Governance Committee meetings
• Building a strong, collaborative and high‑performing Board culture and bringing alignment and momentum to a committed and capable group of Directors
• Supporting and partnering with the CEO as both a trusted partner and an effective sounding board
• Championing Our Village’s vision, values and purpose
• Strengthening governance, risk management and long‑term financial sustainability and organisational resilience
• Advocating for Our Village across community, philanthropic and government networks
• Actively supporting fundraising efforts by leveraging networks and influence
• Helping shape and steward the organisation’s future direction, readiness for scale and next phase of growth

About the Board

Our Village is governed by a voluntary Board of Non-Executive Directors who bring a breadth of skills and experience, united by a shared commitment to children, community and sustainability. The Board works closely with the CEO and leadership team to provide strategic direction, strong governance and thoughtful stewardship of the organisation’s mission, values and future growth.

Board meetings are held quarterly (two online and two in person across each of their warehouses in Clayton and Geelong). Directors must also attend one strategy day per year.  In addition, there are two sub-committees, Finance Audit & Risk (FRAC) and Governance & Nominations Committee (GNC), plus ad hoc meetings as the need arises.

About YOU

You are a values-led and experienced leader with board-level or senior executive experience, ideally within the not-for-profit, government or aligned sectors. You bring sound judgement, strategic capability and the credibility to chair a growing organisation through increasing complexity and increasing need from the community.

You will likely offer:

• Experience in board leadership, governance and strategic planning (AICD or similar highly regarded)
• A track record of guiding organisations through growth, change or strategic evolution
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to leverage networks
• A willingness to actively support fundraising, advocacy and strategic partnerships
• The capacity and commitment to contribute beyond quarterly Board meetings
• Genuine alignment with Our Village’s mission, values and commitment to children, sustainability and community
• The ability to provide guidance, perspective and support to the CEO

Our Village value diversity, gender equality and inclusion. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and/or from the LGBTIQA+ community are encouraged to apply as are people living in rural and regional Victoria, bringing skills and experience which are highly valued at Our Village.

APPLY NOW if you are a collaborative, ethical and impact-focused leader who believes every child deserves the essentials to thrive and has the capacity, confidence and leadership capability to lead Our Village into its next chapter of growth.

Gembridge is proud to partner with Our Village on this important Chair appointment. For a confidential discussion, contact Michelle Varcoe or Jenni D’Orival at Gembridge on 1300 313 413 or [email protected].