Manager Governance, Legal and Corporate Services

The Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) delivers research, development and extension outcomes for Australia’s cotton industry. A partnership between the Commonwealth Government and cotton growers, CRDC invests in world-leading innovation and transformative technologies that benefit growers, the wider industry and regional communities. Working closely with growers, researchers and innovators, CRDC is ambitious, agile and adaptive, with a strong focus on impact, accountability and continuous improvement. CRDC offers an exceptional working environment, a genuine passion for the cotton sector and a strong organisational purpose.

Reporting to the Managing Director, the Manager Governance, Legal & Corporate Services provides strategic and operational leadership across CRDC’s governance, legal administration, compliance, policy and corporate services functions. The role supports the Board, Board Committees and Executive, while ensuring governance frameworks, internal controls and organisational processes are current, reliable and effective.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Company secretarial support, Board and Committee administration, contract review, policy management, compliance reporting, HR coordination, risk documentation, supplier arrangements, insurance, asset registers and liaison with external legal, HR and professional advisers.
• Maintain and improve governance, compliance and risk frameworks, including legal matters.
• Act as Company Secretary, including statutory compliance, registers, lodgements and governance calendars.
• Coordinate Board and Committee meetings, agendas, papers, minutes, resolutions and actions.
• Review, draft and support negotiation of commercial agreements and contract templates.
• Manage policies, delegations, risk registers, compliance documentation and audit responses.
• Support HR administration, recruitment, onboarding, employment contracts and workplace matters.
• Build organisational capability in governance, contracting and compliance through guidance and training.

The successful candidate will be a capable governance, legal or corporate services professional with strong judgement, integrity and the confidence to work with Boards, executives and external advisers. You will be commercially minded, highly organised and able to balance strategic priorities with hands-on delivery. Ideally, you will demonstrate:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in commerce, law, governance and/or business.
• Experience in corporate governance, company secretarial, legal administration or compliance roles.
• Sound understanding of contract administration, risk management and statutory obligations.
• Strong written communication skills suitable for Board and executive documentation.
• Well-developed interpersonal, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience with HR processes, workplace matters and process improvement.
• Experience in a research development corporation, statutory authority or government-funded organisation will be advantageous.

This is an opportunity to join a professional, purpose-led organisation that plays an important role in the Australian cotton sector, supporting governance, compliance and corporate services that enable innovation, research and industry impact.