Head of Partnerships

• Opportunity to work at the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR), the only national foundation specifically focused on ensuring the social and economic strength of Australia’s remote, rural and regional communities.
• The chance to shape FRRR’s partnerships and funding landscape, enabling a national organisation to elevate rural voices and deliver lasting impact for remote, rural and regional communities.
• Full time (1.0) position
• Remote/hybrid location – due to regular travel requirements of the role, we require the individual to be located within commuting distance to Melbourne (Naarm) or Sydney (Warrane).
• $129,000 – $134,000 (FTE) per annum excluding superannuation.

Role summary

As a key member of FRRR’s Executive Leadership Team, the Head of Partnerships will shape and deliver our partnership strategy to drive income growth, diversification, and long-term sustainability. Reporting to the CEO, this role will cultivate high-trust relationships with philanthropic, corporate, government, and individual supporters; positioning FRRR as a trusted intermediary and thought leader in rural renewal.

Leading a small, high-performing team, you will bring strategic vision, commercial acumen, and exceptional stakeholder engagement skills to secure investment, amplify FRRR’s impact, and ensure we can deliver on our ambitious 2026–2028 Strategic Plan for rural and remote Australia.

Who you are (selection criteria)

• You hold tertiary qualifications in Marketing, Sales, Philanthropy, Business or related fields, and ideally have first-hand experience working with rural, regional, or remote communities, with a deep appreciation for place-based approaches.
• You are a proven fundraising and partnerships leader, with a strong track record of driving revenue growth across philanthropy, corporate engagement, major gifts and fee-for-service initiatives.
• You possess deep and trusted networks within the philanthropic and corporate sectors, cultivated through strategic relationship-building and a focus on shared impact goals.
• You are commercially astute and impact-driven, with the ability to identify, shape, and convert opportunities into sustainable outcomes that strengthen and organisation’s mission and financial sustainability.
• You are agile and ambitious, thrive in dynamic environments, confident in making and owning decisions, and willing to challenge established approaches to create positive disruption.
• You are a compelling communicator who is able to engage, influence, and inspire diverse audiences; from grassroots communities to corporate boardrooms with clarity, authenticity, and purpose.
• You are a hands-on leader who rolls up your sleeves, while empowering your team to take ownership of their portfolios, fostering accountability, innovation, and shared success.
• You bring exceptional stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, enabling high-trust collaborations across sectors, geographies, and levels of influence.
• You hold executive-level written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop strategic reports, compelling narratives, and persuasive donor journeys.

Research indicates that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalised individuals often wait until they fulfil every requirement. If you believe you have the attributes to do the job but don’t match every point on the job ad, we welcome and encourage your application.

Key responsibilities

• Design and evolve FRRR’s partnership strategy to reflect emerging trends in philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, and place-based investment, ensuring alignment with FRRR’s five cross-cutting impact themes.
• Lead revenue diversification efforts across philanthropic grants, major gifts, fee-for-service offerings, and insights-based products, ensuring financial resilience and mission alignment.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to craft compelling narratives, donor journeys, and impact stories that resonate across diverse audiences.
• Oversee donor-advised services, ensuring excellence in stewardship, impact reporting, and shared value creation.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing Partnerships team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and shared success.

If you would like to discuss any part of the application and recruitment process, please contact via email [email protected] using the subject line: Head of Partnerships – Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal – Sydney / Melbourne enquiry or visit SHE HR Consulting website.

Note: we do not accept cover letters as part of our application process. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and we may close our job advertisement without notice, so don’t delay your application.