- Prominent and respected peak business organisation
- Trusted advisor supporting the Chief Executive Officer
- Contribute to an important strategic and growth agenda
About the organisation
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) is Victoria’s leading independent business organisation, representing more than 100,000 businesses ranging from sole traders and entrepreneurs to some of the state’s largest enterprises. A trusted authority across workplace relations, training, international trade, work health and safety and policy advocacy, VCCI plays a critical role in shaping the economic and commercial future of Victoria.
The organisation’s influence extends beyond advocacy. Through Committee for Melbourne — Victoria’s leading urban policy and business leadership network — VCCI helps shape the future prosperity, sustainability and liveability of Melbourne, bringing together business, government and community leaders to influence the city’s long-term direction and success.
VCCI also delivers an important component of the nationally significant Apprenticeship Support Australia program, supporting workforce participation, employer capability and skills development across a large and diverse customer base. Together, these platforms position VCCI at the centre of business growth, workforce capability and economic development.
With an ambitious transformation and growth agenda underway, the organisation is strengthening its commercial capability, member experience and market impact to ensure it continues to deliver meaningful value to Victorian business and the broader community.
About the role
Working closely with the CEO, the Principal Advisor provides high-quality support, insight and counsel across a broad range of organisational, operational and stakeholder matters. This is a role for someone who brings sound judgement, intellectual agility and a highly professional approach to supporting executive leadership. Acting as a trusted adviser and sounding board to the CEO, you will help create clarity across competing priorities, anticipate issues before they emerge, and ensure the CEO is well prepared, well informed and well supported in a fast-moving environment.
The role spans briefing preparation, stakeholder coordination, research and analysis, communications support and the management of priority initiatives. The Principal Advisor will also coordinate the Executive agenda and maintain oversight of key organisational priorities and programs of work, ensuring momentum, alignment and follow-through across multiple competing demands. Success in the role will come from your ability to synthesise information quickly, exercise discretion, understand context and nuance, and bring calm, organised thinking to complex or sensitive matters.
This position operates with a high degree of trust, visibility and collaboration across the organisation. It requires strong judgement, discretion and the ability to build effective working relationships at all levels. Working closely with the CEO and Executive, the Principal Advisor plays an important role in supporting organisational effectiveness, executive decision-making and the smooth coordination of strategic priorities.
About you
You are thoughtful, perceptive and highly dependable, with the judgement and maturity to operate effectively in a confidential and fast-paced environment. You may have built your experience in advisory, policy, strategy, operations or stakeholder-focused roles, and you are known for your ability to think ahead, read situations well and respond with professionalism and composure. You are naturally organised, proactive and solutions-oriented, with strong attention to detail and the confidence to provide considered advice and constructive challenge when required.
Importantly, you build credibility through judgement, reliability and the quality of your thinking. A strong writer and communicator, you can distil complexity into clear and practical insights, manage sensitive information with discretion, and maintain perspective across multiple moving parts.
You are also highly confident working with contemporary technology, data and AI-enabled tools, with the curiosity and judgement to use them thoughtfully, responsibly and effectively. You understand the importance of trust, confidentiality and discretion in the application of AI, and you are comfortable leveraging technology to improve efficiency, insight and decision-making without losing the human judgement this role requires.
Politically and commercially aware, you are energised by the opportunity to work closely with the CEO and Executive leaders and contribute to an organisation with genuine influence and purpose.
How to apply
Click ‘ Apply’ to submit your CV along with a covering letter. For more information prior to application, please contact Siobhan Forbes at SHK via email at Siobhan.forbes@shk.com.au quoting reference 3599458. Direct and third-party applications will be forwarded to SHK.
