Head of People & Business Operations (Chief of Staff)

Our company

Buildings Alive is an internationally recognised leader in decarbonisation of the built environment. We work to limit climate change by making energy use in buildings efficient, flexible, and electric. For over ten years, our technology and services have been accelerating the clean energy transition. We are a Certified B Corp, and our small, friendly, and collaborative team is known for creativity and innovation.

Visit our website to find out more: https://www.buildingsalive.com

The role

The Head of People & Business Operations is a key leadership position that sits at the intersection of operational strategy, financial execution, and vibrant team culture. You will work closely with the CEO and other function heads to shape Buildings Alive’s plans and performance and be an active guide and mentor to our Finance and Administration function.

We need an assertive, confident facilitator who keeps leadership meetings on track while maintaining deep professional warmth. You will act as a supportive manager and an energetic champion for our company culture.

Part-time options will be considered.

Key responsibilities

Culture & creative strategy

• Culture champion: Shape, nurture, and drive the company culture across remote and in-office environments.

• Energise the team: Bring creative ideas to quarterly themes, team retreats, and "Lunch & Learn" initiatives.

• Build awareness: Inject fresh thinking and basic marketing support into internal and external growth initiatives.

Finance, admin & corporate performance

• Financial oversight: Prepare timely, accurate management reports, financial forecasts, and handle the annual R&D Tax Incentive application.

• Resource & salary planning: Manage staff recruitment, resource forecasting, and coordinate annual salary reviews.

• Performance accountability: Track weekly, monthly and quarterly KPIs and monitor ongoing engagement and wellbeing across all teams. Lead continuous improvement in all aspects of company performance tracking.

Operational rhythm & executive leadership

• Drive leadership performance: Design agendas and lead weekly leadership council meetings.

• Operational triage: Resolve internal bottlenecks, navigate tough discussions calmly, and act as a constructive filter for the CEO.

• Appropriate processes: Actively contribute to and oversee the Finance & Administration function; ensure all aspects of the business have what they need to function smoothly and efficiently.

Desired skills and experience

This role would appeal to an energetic, analytical, and creative generalist. It will help if you are a clear and confident communicator and are comfortable working in a technically dynamic environment. Below is a guide to skills and experience that will be held in high regard.

• Experience: Background in business operations, project management, or team leadership – ideally within a fast-paced technology, scale-up, or professional services environment.

• Domain interest: Genuinely motivated by Buildings Alive’s mission and values.

• Assertive yet warm: Comfortable managing up and holding boundaries, balanced with high emotional intelligence and deep personal warmth.

• Clear thinker: Highly disciplined, detail-oriented, hard-working and structured. Able to absorb information, come up with ideas and solve complex problems individually and as part of a diverse team.

• Emergent leadership: Someone who identifies a problem, steps in and tries to address it, then steps out when the best person to take it forward is someone else.

• Customer focused: Fosters a ‘customer first’ culture and ensures all decisions and priorities are guided by customer perspectives and data.

• Quality focused: Assiduous about quality and leads by example. Constantly on the lookout for performance issues and slippages. Continuously reviews, identifies and drives QA process improvement.

• Community builder: Outgoing, empathetic, and passionate about creating a highly connected, energetic, and supportive team atmosphere where all members have freedom and autonomy to develop, coupled with clear accountability and guidance.

Benefits and perks

Buildings Alive offers a highly flexible, friendly and collaborative hybrid work environment with an extensive list of generous benefits including an employee share ownership scheme and quarterly revenue growth distribution ‘bonus’ scheme.

We embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion.

While the role will be based in Sydney CBD, we actively support flexible working arrangements. The role may also involve periodic interstate and international travel.

The position can be structured to suit either a full-time or part-time candidate, and a competitive annual salary package commensurate with skills and experience will be offered.

How to apply

If you feel like this might be the ideal role for you, please send a concise email to ••••@buildingsalive.com telling us: 1) why this specific role at Buildings Alive interest you, 2) the two most valuable traits you can bring to our team, and 3) something that deeply inspires you.

(Note: Only applications addressing these requirements will be considered. No recruiters please.)