Position title: General Manager – Strategy, Partnerships & Operations
Reports to: Board of Directors
Works closely with: Programs Manager and Training Director
Direct reports:
- Compliance Manager
- Student Support Manager
- Finance/HR Officer
- Marketing & Communications
- IT & Systems Support
Location: AVT Ascot Campus, with regular travel to current and prospective partnership and training locations
Employment type: Full time
Position summary
The General Manager – Strategy, Partnerships & Operations provides executive leadership across AVT’s strategic planning, organisational performance, business development, partnerships, operational management, compliance oversight and continuous improvement.
Working closely with the Board of Directors and the Programs & Training Director, the General Manager contributes to the ongoing growth, sustainability and strategic direction of the organisation. The role is responsible for identifying and progressing strategic opportunities, strengthening organisational capability, supporting informed decision-making and ensuring business operations remain effective, compliant and aligned with AVT’s values and objectives.
The position combines strategic leadership with practical implementation. In addition to providing leadership across multiple business functions, the General Manager is expected to personally lead strategic initiatives, develop partnerships, solve complex organisational challenges and drive projects through to completion.
Purpose of the role
The role exists to:
- Strengthen AVT’s long-term sustainability and organisational capability.
- Lead strategic planning,, business development and partnership initiatives.
- Improve organisational performance and operational effectiveness.
- Maintain strong governance, quality assurance and compliance oversight.
- Build leadership capability across the organisation.
- Support informed organisational decision-making.
- Protect and strengthen AVT’s culture, reputation and commitment to quality outcomes.
- Reduce reliance on Director-level involvement in routine operational decision-making by strengthening executive leadership capacity.
Key responsibilities
Strategy, Partnerships & Business Development
- Identify and evaluate new products, services, delivery models, markets and partnership opportunities.
- Undertake market research, industry consultation and stakeholder engagement to inform business decisions.
- Develop business cases, feasibility assessments, pricing models and implementation plans.
- Draft and contribute to proposals, partnership agreements, MOUs, commercial arrangements and strategic documentation.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with employers, schools, industry organisations, placement providers and other stakeholders.
- Personally lead strategic projects from concept through to implementation.
- Support diversification of revenue streams and long-term business sustainability.
- Monitor industry trends, market opportunities and emerging challenges relevant to AVT.
Leadership, Decision-Making & Organisational Development
- Provide executive leadership across operational, commercial, people and stakeholder matters.
- Analyse complex situations and recommend practical solutions.
- Support decision-making where policies, procedures or precedents may not provide a clear answer.
- Lead or support sensitive communications, difficult conversations and issue resolution when required.
- Build leadership capability through coaching, mentoring and collaborative problem-solving.
- Support succession planning and organisational development.
- Model professional, respectful and solutions-focused leadership.
Business Performance & Financial Oversight
- Implement and monitor the annual business plan and operational budget.
- Monitor enrolments, revenue, expenditure, delivery costs and organisational performance.
- Review financial reports, profit and loss statements and key performance indicators.
- Identify opportunities to improve financial sustainability and operational efficiency
- Support strategic planning, risk management and business improvement initiatives.
- Provide regular reporting and recommendations to the Board.
Operational Leadership
- Lead and support direct reports to ensure aligned, efficient and accountable operations.
- Maintain oversight of administration, student support, systems, facilities and operational processes.
- Promote effective communication, collaboration and accountability across teams
- Support workforce planning, recruitment and resource allocation.
- Ensure operational systems effectively support training delivery and student outcomes.
- Contribute directly to operational improvements, organisational initiatives and problem-solving, not simply oversee them.
Compliance & Quality Oversight
- Maintain oversight of compliance and quality assurance functions through the Compliance Manager.
- Support the Compliance Manager to of identify and manage compliance risks
- Review and approve key compliance documentation, audit responses and continuous improvement initiatives where required.
- Work alongside the Compliance Manager to ensure new initiatives are considered through a compliance, quality and risk lens.
The Compliance Manager is responsible for day-to-day compliance implementation. The General Manager provides oversight, support and organisational accountability.
Culture, People & Stakeholder Relationships
- Foster and protect AVT’s strong culture of professionalism, kindness, teamwork, accountability and a shared commitment to student care.
- Support staff wellbeing, engagement and professional growth.
- Promote collaboration, respectful communication and shared problem-solving.
- Address performance or communication concerns constructively and promptly.
- Represent AVT professionally within industry and the community.
Required skills & experience
- Experience in RTO, VET, training organisations, senior leadership, business management, education management or similar environments.
- Strong commercial awareness and confidence working with budgets, financial reports and business performance measures.
- Demonstrated experience leading projects, partnerships or organisational initiatives from concept through to implementation.
- Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgement in complex or ambiguous situations.
- Ability to build productive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to lead people with clarity, empathy and accountability.
- Working knowledge of regulated environments, compliance frameworks or government-funded programs, or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge.
Highly Regarded:
- Experience within the animal care, veterinary, health, not-for-profit or related sectors.
- Experience developing partnerships, commercial agreements or new service offerings.
- Experience leading organisational change or business transformation.
- Relevant tertiary or vocational qualifications in management, business, education or leadership.
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate will be:
- Warm, grounded and approachable.
- Commercially minded and strategically curious.
- Practical, organised and action-oriented.
- Equally comfortable contributing to strategy and helping deliver the work.
- A strong problem solver who enjoys turning ideas into outcomes.
- Calm and thoughtful under pressure.
- Comfortable making decisions and taking ownership when there is no obvious or perfect answer
- A clear communicator and active listener.
- Comfortable making recommendations and taking responsibility.
- Collaborative, low-ego and respectful.
- Values-driven, with genuine care for people, animals and quality outcomes.
- Passionate about continuous improvement and building sustainable systems.
Key Success Measures
Success in this role will be demonstrated through:
- Strategic projects progressing from ideas into implementation.
- New partnerships and opportunities being actively explored and developed.
- Improved organisational capability and leadership depth.
- Strong business performance and sustainability.
- Effective operational oversight and decision-making.
- Maintenance of AVT’s culture, reputation and quality standards.
- Reduced reliance on Director-level involvement in routine organisational matters.
Pathway
This role will be supported by the Directors and leadership team during onboarding and throughout the transition into the role. As organisational knowledge and capability develop, the role is expected to evolve with increasing autonomy while remaining an integral member of AVT’s executive leadership team.
