Chief Operating Officer
Chief Operating Officer - PA Foundation
Chief Operating Officer – PA Research Foundation
Lead with purpose. Enable life-changing medical research.
OnTalent is proud to partner with the PA Research Foundation (PARF) - a respected and dynamic organisation funding world-class medical research that improves and saves lives. For more than 40 years, PARF has connected community generosity with pioneering researchers and clinicians across the PA Hospital Campus and beyond, helping drive innovation and better health outcomes across Queensland.
As the Foundation enters an exciting new phase of growth and organisational evolution, extending its focus to include support for Beaudesert, Logan, QEII and Redlands Hospitals, we are seeking an experienced and purpose-driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to strengthen operational capability and help enable even greater impact.
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will play a critical leadership role in ensuring the Foundation operates with the strength, agility, and discipline needed to support its long-term mission.
Leading Finance, People & Culture, Governance, Compliance, Risk, and Technology, as well as key areas of service provision and commercial revenue generation, you will oversee the operational backbone of the organisation - translating strategy into action while building the systems, accountability, and culture that enable high performance.
This is a broad and influential role within a lean organisation of 18 core staff, requiring both strategic capability and a willingness to remain close to the detail. Entrepreneurial in spirit, you will work in close partnership with the new, high-energy CEO, helping operationalise new ideas, support evolving organisational priorities, and provide trusted leadership during a period of transition and opportunity.
You will also work closely with the Board of the Foundation and Executive Teams of the Hospitals to ensure strong financial stewardship, effective governance, and an engaged, values-led culture.
About You
You are a commercially astute and emotionally intelligent leader with experience leading complex, multi-disciplinary operations across finance, people, systems, governance, and compliance. You understand that operational excellence is not about bureaucracy, but about creating the conditions for people and purpose to thrive.
Confident and collaborative, you bring sound judgement, adaptability, and a calm, credible leadership style. You are equally comfortable navigating financial sustainability and organisational risk as you are supporting culture, wellbeing, and organisational growth. You are enterprising in your approach to problem solving and you are excited to be part of a growing and developing organisation.
You will thrive in a mission-driven environment where leadership is hands-on, collaborative, and focused on impact over hierarchy. Experience within the not-for-profit, health, research, government, or corporate sectors will be highly regarded, as will qualifications such as CA/CPA or an MBA.
Above all, you are motivated by purpose and the opportunity to contribute to an organisation making a genuine difference in people’s lives.
Why Join PA Research Foundation
Applications close Monday 22 June 2026.
Please visit www.ontalent.com.au/pafoundation for a copy of the success profile and to apply.
Lead with purpose. Enable life-changing medical research.
OnTalent is proud to partner with the PA Research Foundation (PARF) - a respected and dynamic organisation funding world-class medical research that improves and saves lives. For more than 40 years, PARF has connected community generosity with pioneering researchers and clinicians across the PA Hospital Campus and beyond, helping drive innovation and better health outcomes across Queensland.
As the Foundation enters an exciting new phase of growth and organisational evolution, extending its focus to include support for Beaudesert, Logan, QEII and Redlands Hospitals, we are seeking an experienced and purpose-driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to strengthen operational capability and help enable even greater impact.
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will play a critical leadership role in ensuring the Foundation operates with the strength, agility, and discipline needed to support its long-term mission.
Leading Finance, People & Culture, Governance, Compliance, Risk, and Technology, as well as key areas of service provision and commercial revenue generation, you will oversee the operational backbone of the organisation - translating strategy into action while building the systems, accountability, and culture that enable high performance.
This is a broad and influential role within a lean organisation of 18 core staff, requiring both strategic capability and a willingness to remain close to the detail. Entrepreneurial in spirit, you will work in close partnership with the new, high-energy CEO, helping operationalise new ideas, support evolving organisational priorities, and provide trusted leadership during a period of transition and opportunity.
You will also work closely with the Board of the Foundation and Executive Teams of the Hospitals to ensure strong financial stewardship, effective governance, and an engaged, values-led culture.
About You
You are a commercially astute and emotionally intelligent leader with experience leading complex, multi-disciplinary operations across finance, people, systems, governance, and compliance. You understand that operational excellence is not about bureaucracy, but about creating the conditions for people and purpose to thrive.
Confident and collaborative, you bring sound judgement, adaptability, and a calm, credible leadership style. You are equally comfortable navigating financial sustainability and organisational risk as you are supporting culture, wellbeing, and organisational growth. You are enterprising in your approach to problem solving and you are excited to be part of a growing and developing organisation.
You will thrive in a mission-driven environment where leadership is hands-on, collaborative, and focused on impact over hierarchy. Experience within the not-for-profit, health, research, government, or corporate sectors will be highly regarded, as will qualifications such as CA/CPA or an MBA.
Above all, you are motivated by purpose and the opportunity to contribute to an organisation making a genuine difference in people’s lives.
Why Join PA Research Foundation
- Play a key role in enabling life-saving medical research and patient experience.
- Join the new CEO and experienced Board during a significant phase of growth and transformation for the Foundation.
- Lead and develop operational strategy and organisational capability in a respected, purpose-led organisation.
- Join a flexible, collaborative, and values-driven team committed to long-term impact.
Applications close Monday 22 June 2026.
Please visit www.ontalent.com.au/pafoundation for a copy of the success profile and to apply.
Executive & Board > Chief Operating Officer (COO) > Executive & Board