Chief Executive Officer – Story Dogs

Windsor Group has partnered with Story Dogs to appoint its next Chief Executive Officer, a pivotal leadership role at an important moment in the organisation’s evolution.

Story Dogs is a purpose‑driven, national nonprofit organisation supporting children’s literacy through a unique, evidence‑informed, volunteer‑led reading program. The incoming CEO will lead the organisation into its next phase of growth, sustainability, and impact, building on a strong foundation, trusted brand, and deeply committed volunteer community.

Story Dogs was founded in 2009 with a simple but powerful idea: children read better when they feel safe, supported, and free from judgement. By pairing children with trained volunteer dog teams in schools, Story Dogs creates calm, engaging environments that foster confidence, enjoyment, and literacy development.

Today, Story Dogs operates as a national organisation, supporting hundreds of schools and thousands of children each year across Australia. The organisation is widely recognised for:

• Its distinctive, values‑led model
• Strong relationships with schools and volunteers
• Measurable literacy and confidence outcomes for children
• A culture grounded in care, trust, and community impact

The organisation operates through a decentralised, remote‑first model supported by:

• A large national volunteer base (dog teams and coordinators)
• A small, highly committed paid Support Central team
• A skilled, engaged, and governance‑focused Board

Links
Org chart
ACNC Profile
Website

Story Dogs is financially stable and operating from a position of strength, with clear ambition for the future.

Key elements of the current context include:

• National footprint with approximately 600 dog teams and a clear growth pathway toward a 2030 target of 1,000 teams
• A predominantly volunteer‑delivered service model supported by lean paid infrastructure
• Increasing focus on governance maturity, systems, and scalable operating models
• Growing emphasis on diversified and predictable fundraising streams

Strategically, Story Dogs is focused on:

• Scaling impact without compromising program integrity or volunteer experience
• Strengthening fundraising capability, partnerships, and donor relationships
• Enhancing governance, systems, and data to support sustainable growth
• Exploring innovation in service delivery while staying true to the organisation’s mission and values

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for leading Story Dogs’ next chapter, translating strategy into impact, and ensuring the organisation continues to thrive, grow, and deliver meaningful outcomes for children.

This role exists to:

• Lead organisational strategy, growth, and sustainability
• Act as the primary liaison between the Board and the organisation
• Champion Story Dogs externally with partners, donors, and the broader community
• Ensure strong governance, risk management, and operational oversight

Key leadership accountabilities include:

• Executing the organisation’s strategic vision and growth agenda
• Building diversified, reliable funding streams
• Leading and supporting a small paid team and a large volunteer workforce
• Maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, donors, and partners
• Acting as the public face of the organisation as appropriate

In the first 12 months, the CEO can expect to:

• Complete a supported handover from the founder
• Strengthen fundraising and partnership approaches
• Build trust and presence across donors, sponsors, volunteers, staff, and the Board
• Identify and progress opportunities for operational and service scalability

This is a rare opportunity to step into a mission‑critical CEO role where the impact is tangible, immediate, and deeply human.

The incoming CEO will:

• Inherit a respected national brand with strong goodwill
• Shape the future of a proven program that fills a real gap in the education landscape
• Lead a values‑driven organisation with extraordinary volunteer commitment
• Have genuine autonomy, supported by a thoughtful and engaged Board
• Leave a meaningful legacy by helping thousands more children discover confidence and joy in reading

For the right leader, this role offers purpose, flexibility, influence, and the chance to make a lasting difference.

Position Description

Leadership & People

Demonstrated ability to lead with empathy, authenticity, and clarity, particularly within volunteer‑rich or values‑led environments. Experience supporting teams through growth and change.

Strategy & Planning

Proven capability to translate strategic intent into practical action, balancing ambition with organisational maturity and capacity.

Operational or Technical Expertise

Sound operational and financial acumen appropriate to a not‑for‑profit context, with comfort operating in lean, resource‑conscious environments.

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence

Strong relationship‑builder able to engage donors, partners, volunteers, Boards, and external stakeholders with credibility and warmth.

Values, Integrity & Cultural Alignment

Deep alignment with Story Dogs’ mission and values, demonstrating integrity, emotional intelligence, and respect for community impact.

The ideal candidate is a purpose‑driven executive leader with experience in nonprofit or mission‑led organisations who thrives in roles that blend strategy, people leadership, and impact. They bring a calm, grounded leadership style, strong emotional intelligence, and the confidence to grow an organisation thoughtfully. Experience in fundraising, scaling services, or leading volunteer‑based models will be highly regarded, as will a genuine passion for education, literacy, or community outcomes.

Windsor Group and Story Dogs are committed to equal opportunity employment practices. Applications will be assessed on merit, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. An offer of appointment will be made to the applicant whose written application and interview performance best demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the role.

Process steps include:

• Initial screening by Windsor Group
• Consultant interview
• Client panel interview(s)
• Assessments (if required)
• Reference checks

Windsor Group will review applications as they are received and encourages early applications. Candidates will be kept informed throughout each stage of the process.

Indicative timeline:

• Weeks 1–3: Screening
• Week 4-5: Windsor Group interviews

We will keep candidates updated throughout each stage.

When submitting your application, ensure your application includes:

• An up-to-date resume (in Word format)
• A covering letter (in Word format) outlining your interest and expertise relevant to the role

Submit your application quoting reference number MCCESD to apply@windsor-group.com.au. For more information, please contact Mike Conroy on 07 3211 0001.

Your application will be acknowledged by email within one business day.

View the live job advertisement here