Job Description
Since the creation of Alluvium Consulting in 2006 we have pursued our vision to make a positive impact on the world and the communities that rely on healthy ecosystems.
We now have around 200 staff in offices across Australia as well as in India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Fiji. We are 100% employee owned and have approximately 95 shareholders.
Our corporate model is different. We pursued a growth strategy that developed separate centres of excellence and associated brands under the Alluvium Group. This approach is driven by a strong belief that specialised businesses deliver better technical outcomes for our clients. Each of the five businesses within the Alluvium Group have their own governance and management arrangements, but also all operate underneath the group strategy, support systems and policies to ensure integrated products are delivered seamlessly.
The combined skills and resources across the Group are specially designed to support clients and solve complex and systematic challenges facing our society and environment.
Working at Alluvium
Competitive remuneration commensurate with skills and experience and subject to negotiation
Opportunity to work with and interact with recognised leaders in the field
Group Profit share
Attractive, well‑located city‑fringe offices integrated with Alluvium Group companies' people
The opportunity to become a shareholder in Alluvium during our annual equity sale
Opportunities to grow your professional skills and experience through international study tours, leadership programs and Group‑wide training
Opportunities to explore novel and innovative approaches through our Research and Insights Program (10% of the profits of the organisation are invested in the program)
Exposure to leadership and innovation through our NfP, the Alluvium Foundation
Laptop computer. Personal AI assistant and mobile phone for work and personal communications
Flexible working arrangements (home and office)
Flexible arrangements in role design (we are open to various ways of achieving outcomes)
Opportunity to work internationally and access international projects
The Alluvium Group has an active reconciliation program, regularly appears in lists of best places to work, operates as a carbon neutral business and is a certified BCorp
Reporting to the Group CEO the GM Operations is accountable for running the Alluvium Group efficiently, scalably and profitably, in service of our purpose: positive impact for the environment and communities.
The role exists to drive business scaling, achieve margins, reduce friction, and embed AI‑enabled ways of working across the entire group, so that our people can spend more time doing high‑quality, impactful work and less time battling systems and administration.
This is a senior, hands‑on leadership role that partners closely with the Group CEO, CFO and the GMs of each business. It replaces the current COO role, with a sharper focus on execution, margin discipline and technology leverage — all in support of Alluvium’s mission‑driven consulting model. The role currently has 3 direct reports as well as shared resources through our support and finance staff.
The role is based in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra or Melbourne. The successful applicant will be able to work in Australia. It will interact with and manage staff across Australia and internationally.
Core Outcomes
Sustained exceedance of margin targets across each business, driven by operational leverage rather than revenue pressure
AI and automation embedded into core workflows (delivery, finance, resourcing, reporting, knowledge, admin)
Consulting staff spending
Back‑office functions run reliably, predictably and with high service levels
Clear prioritisation and delivery of group‑wide operational initiatives each year
A strong “group mindset” across operations that supports growth rather than constrains it
Experience and Capability Profile
This role will suit someone who is motivated by using operational excellence and technology to amplify impact, rather than maximising scale for its own sake.
At Alluvium, operational excellence, strong systems and enabling technology are not ends in themselves; they exist to support our specialists to deliver exceptional work that benefits the environment and the communities. The successful candidate will bring a strong commercial and execution mindset, applying operational discipline, productivity improvement and practical change leadership to strengthen performance across a complex, values‑based professional services organisation.
Senior operational leadership experience in a services or consulting‑style environment
Appreciation of a values‑based business and how to motivate staff in that environment
Demonstrated success lifting margins through operational and productivity improvements
Proven experience leading organisation wide technology or AI enabled change (at vision and execution level)
Ability to work effectively with specialist AI and data teams without needing to be the technical expert
Strong people leadership skills, including managing mixed teams of staff, contractors and automated tools
Commercial mindset with the confidence and skills to challenge senior leaders constructively
Highly desirable
Experience leading ERP or major systems upgrades, particularly in the modern business environment
Exposure to ESG, compliance and multi‑entity reporting environments
Personal attributes
Strong alignment with Alluvium’s purpose and values, with a genuine motivation to support work that benefits the environment and communities
Deep respect for professional expertise, and a desire to enable consultants to do their best work
Execution‑focused and outcomes‑driven
Technically curious
Comfortable operating with ambiguity and evolving priorities
Pragmatic, not bureaucratic
Trusted partner to senior leaders
Role Responsibilities
Productivity Leadership
Partner Alluvium Group businesses to translate financial targets into operational actions
Identify and execute productivity improvements across delivery, resourcing, utilisation, pricing support and overheads
Build transparency around margin drivers and operational performance
Actively challenge inefficiencies and legacy ways of working
AI and Technology Enablement (critical capability)
Own the vision, prioritisation and business impact of AI and automation across the group, rather than day‑to‑day technical build
Work in close partnership with the Head of AI and data team to translate strategy into implemented solutions
Hold the organisation accountable for adoption, behavioural change and realised benefits
Ensure AI and automation solutions are embedded into core workflows (not parallel tools), including: Project setup, delivery support and reporting; Financial management and forecasting (with CFO); Internal admin, HR and compliance processes
Own the roadmap for systems evolution (including ERP upgrade in 2026/27)
Back‑office Operations and Service Delivery
Overall accountability for: IT and systems (hard and soft, including cybersecurity)
Internal support functions
Background HR functions (consistency in employment contracts, onboarding oversight, relationship with external HR provider and Employee Assistance Program)
Facilities and office operations
Policies, procedures and risk controls
Build and manage a mix of internal staff, contractors and AI agents to deliver these services efficiently
Ensure service levels are clear, reliable and continuously improving
People, Culture and Ways of Working
Build a high‑performing operations team with strong delivery discipline
Ensure corporate services has a positive impact on the broader business culture (an enabler, not gatekeeper)
Develop successors and reduce key‑person dependencies
Planning, Prioritisation and Governance
Lead annual operational planning and prioritisation, aligned to group strategy
Own delivery of agreed Ops initiatives and benefits realisation
Coordinate group‑wide operational KPIs
Work closely with the CFO on reporting boundaries, budgets and governance interfaces
Proposed Performance Targets (KPIs)
Financial and Commercial
Achievement of agreed margin targets for each business
Measurable reduction in overhead cost per FTE (through shared services budget) over time
Demonstrated productivity uplift attributable to operational and AI‑enabled change
People and Culture
High satisfaction scores and feedback from all parts of the business
Positive feedback from business GMs on Operational effectiveness
AI and Systems
Priority workflows AI‑enabled within agreed timeframes
Measured reduction in effort or cycle time for at least 10 priority workflows per year
Adoption metrics showing active use of AI tools across the business (in line with our AI strategy)
Operational Effectiveness
95% on‑time delivery of compliance and maintenance activities
Reduced cycle times for key internal processes (e.g. project setup, reporting)
Planning and Governance
Annual Ops roadmap delivered as agreed
Clean audits and governance outcomes
Clear delineation and smooth interaction with CFO responsibil...
