The Organisation

For over 20 years, Allen + Clarke has been empowering clients and communities to overcome the challenges facing society.

With offices in Wellington and Melbourne, our consultants support businesses, government and non-government agencies, and international organisations to achieve their missions in areas that include:

• Environmental and sustainability
• First Nations rights and aspirations
• Human health and wellbeing
• Social justice, equity, and inclusion 
• And more

Allen + Clarke has approximately 50 staff members, including consultants experienced in policy and regulation, evaluation and research, secretariat and programme support, governance, strategic planning, change, and business optimisation. 

Allen + Clarke works for a range of public sector, private sector, and non-governmental agencies in New Zealand and Australia, as well as international organisations in the Pacific and Asia. They partner with other agencies or individuals on about a third of our projects. Their approach is based on building strong relationships with agreed ways of working, and they value the diverse perspectives our partners bring.

The Role

Allen + Clarke is seeking an Independent Director. This is a non-executive, impartial decision-making Board role.

The Independent Director will provide strategic advice on effective long-term planning and sustainable value creation (as defined by Allen + Clarke’s Shareholders’ Group). This includes continued consolidation of their considerable consulting sector expertise and expansion into Australian markets, while remaining sensitive to the company’s origins and values during succession.

The Independent Director will also ensure transparency and Board compliance with all relevant legal obligations in both Australia and New Zealand, monitor Allen + Clarke’s financial performance and management in service to the objectives set for the company by the Shareholder’s Group and the annual Strategic Plan, and act as an independent advisor to the Allen + Clarke Board Chair and the CEO, especially as they transition into a new operating model with growth goals and succession planning needs.

The role will involve travel to Wellington (New Zealand) for Board meetings as well as online attendance at Board meetings.

Selection Criteria

The successful candidate will maintain high ethical standards and contribute effectively to the Allen + Clarke Board. They must have no current or prior personal or business relationships with or financial ties to Allen + Clarke or its competitors in Australia, New Zealand, or the Pacific markets.

The following experience and expertise are needed and form the basis of the selection criteria:

• Prior experience as an Independent Chair for a founder-led, growth-stage SME.
•  Proven experience scaling an SME professional services / management consultancy firm(s) in Australian federal and/or state/territory public service markets (or similar) without compromising quality or profitability.
• Working with companies that operate in both government and private sectors, with a nuanced understanding of compliance, public sector governance, and commercial ethics.
• Good networks in the Australian and New Zealand public and private sectors, especially those spaces in which we operate and intend to grow: policy, research and evaluation, change management, strategic advisory services, business transformation, local government, or overseas development consulting.
• Business acumen for growing and scaling SMEs: how to diversify business portfolios, how to win and manage larger portfolios of complex projects, brand positioning and competitive differentiation in our Australian and New Zealand markets, and how to build more predictable revenue streams.
• Appreciation for the differences in the Australian and New Zealand business environments.
• Supporting safe and effective succession planning in founder-led or closely held businesses, including advice on transition strategies that ensure stability, practical capability in preparing businesses for sale, acquisition, or merger, etc.
• Ability to provide independent thinking, ability to challenge constructively, high integrity, sound judgement, and medium to long-term commitment to the role of Independent Director.