ABOUT NATIONAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA (QUEENSLAND) & CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS), part of the National Trust of Australia (Queensland) [NTAQ], is one of the Gold Coast’s most iconic and enduring attractions. As one of Queensland’s earliest nature-based tourist destinations, the Sanctuary is a physical embodiment of everything the NTAQ represents: conserving and advancing our natural and cultural heritage for future generations. Alongside Astra Lumina, our enchanting night-time experience, CWS continues to welcome hundreds of thousands of guests each year and remains a cornerstone of the Gold Coast tourism landscape.
We have a rare opportunity for an experienced, commercially driven and highly results-focused Head of Commercial Operations to lead revenue generation across all in-park spend categories, including Retail, Photography, Animal Encounters, Food & Beverage and Events. This senior leadership role is critical to the financial sustainability of CWS and Astra Lumina, ensuring profitability through sharp commercial strategy, effective pricing and product development, operational discipline, and a relentless focus on guest conversion and spend.
Reporting directly to the General Manager - Gold Coast, the role carries accountability for revenue growth, commercial agreements and strategy, and the performance of high-volume guest-facing teams, balancing financial results with exceptional guest and team experiences and strong brand positioning.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role, you will have extensive experience in retail, product line development, and commercial/food and beverage outlets, supported by proven leadership within a complex, multi-faceted business environment. You will combine strong commercial instincts with a genuine passion for conservation. Key skills and attributes we are seeking include:

• A strong understanding of revenue generation, financial management, and budget control, particularly within retail, food & beverage, and other commercial outlets.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative strategies that enhance product offerings, drive business growth, and respond to sustainability and market trends.
• Expertise in contract negotiation and tender management, securing favourable outcomes while maintaining collaborative and long-term partnerships.
• High financial acumen, with the ability to interpret and apply revenue, sales, and payroll data to deliver actionable business solutions.
• Strong organisational capability, complemented by sound problem-solving and confident decision-making skills.
• Proven leadership ability and emotional intelligence, with the capacity to engage effectively across all levels of the business, from frontline teams to senior stakeholders while fostering diversity, inclusion, and a shared passion for conservation.
• Be comfortable working in an outdoor environment, that requires extensive walking due to our footprint, and in an environment with animals including reptiles.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As our highly driven Head of Commercial Operations, you will be responsible for maximising profitability across Retail, Photography, Animal Encounters, Food & Beverage, and Events. You will achieve this through innovative strategies, compelling product offerings, disciplined pricing, and operational efficiency that convert visitation into spend.
As a commercial leader with strong financial acumen and a data-informed approach to decision-making, you will implement best-practice operational processes that streamline workflows, strengthen cost control, and improve efficiency across all guest-facing outlets. At the same time, you will ensure that every commercial touchpoint delivers high-quality, engaging customer experiences that drive satisfaction, loyalty, and spend. By leveraging market analysis and guest data, you will shape pricing strategies, new product development, and package design to optimise yield and broaden guest appeal.
As a senior leader, you will mentor and develop a high-performing commercial team, embedding a culture of accountability, innovation, and alignment to organisational priorities. You will also build and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers, contractors, and stakeholders to enhance service quality, maximise supplier value, and optimise commercial returns.
As an environmental charity that turns profits into purpose, you will ensure that all commercial operations reflect the Sanctuary’s conservation ethos and sustainability commitments, embedding eco-conscious practices across all revenue-generating activities. Key priorities will include POS system leadership to unlock richer revenue insights, developing team strategies that balance commercial imperatives with organisational goals, managing supplier tenders and contracts, and driving menu engineering and pricing initiatives to maximise performance across events and product lines.

To be successful in this role, you will have extensive experience in retail, product line development, and commercial/food and beverage outlets, supported by proven leadership within a complex, multi-faceted business environment. You will combine strong commercial instincts with a genuine passion for conservation. Key skills and attributes we are seeking include:

• A strong understanding of revenue generation, financial management, and budget control, particularly within retail, food & beverage, and other commercial outlets.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative strategies that enhance product offerings, drive business growth, and respond to sustainability and market trends.
• Expertise in contract negotiation and tender management, securing favourable outcomes while maintaining collaborative and long-term partnerships.
• High financial acumen, with the ability to interpret and apply revenue, sales, and payroll data to deliver actionable business solutions.
• Strong organisational capability, complemented by sound problem-solving and confident decision-making skills.
• Proven leadership ability and emotional intelligence, with the capacity to engage effectively across all levels of the business, from frontline teams to senior stakeholders while fostering diversity, inclusion, and a shared passion for conservation.
• Be comfortable working in an outdoor environment, that requires extensive walking due to our footprint, and in an environment with animals including reptiles