Find your home with us

About us
At the Lost Dogs’ Home, we are a foundation of Victoria's animal welfare landscape, celebrated for our compassionate care of around 18,000 lost and abandoned dogs and cats every year. Beyond caring for animals, we provide diverse services including veterinary medicine, behaviour, advocacy and community education programs, all aimed at giving animals the best chance of a happy and healthy life. Our mission is upheld by passionate individuals who embody a profound affinity for animals, community and advocacy.

About the Role

As a key member of the Executive Team, this role will lead LDH’s enterprise‑wide commercial, fundraising, and brand strategy, ensuring the organisation’s long‑term financial sustainability and increasing community impact. The position will drive commercial growth by developing a diversified income portfolio across commercial operations, partnerships, fundraising and social enterprise, reducing reliance on any single funding source and strengthening LDH’s ability to deliver meaningful animal welfare outcomes.

The role will set and deliver ambitious financial targets, supported by clear KPIs and robust ROI and performance reporting to inform Executive and Board decision‑making. It will oversee the evolution of LDH’s fundraising and supporter engagement programs, taking a digital‑first, values‑driven approach to attract new donor segments and deepen community connection.

The role will work closely with the CEO and Executive Team to develop and deliver LDH’s strategic plan.

The key responsibilities of this role include:

• Leading LDH’s philanthropy, external relations, marketing, advocacy, commercial income, and social enterprise activities.
• Delivering a long‑term, diversified income strategy to strengthen LDH’s long‑term financial sustainability.
• Setting KPIs, delivering, and reporting against financial targets for each income stream, including regular giving, major gifts, gifts in wills, campaigns, corporate partnerships, grants, and commercial operations.
• Growing LDH’s brand, reputation, and community impact through visible, credible, and values‑led external leadership.
• Developing a multi‑year fundraising strategy (and annual budget) aligned to changing donor behaviours, generational shifts, and digital engagement trends.
• Leading major fundraising and capital campaigns as endorsed by the Board.
• Developing and delivering a modern, unified marketing and communications strategy.
• Overseeing LDH’s digital, social media, and content strategy to strengthen brand recognition, audience engagement, and donor or customer conversion.
• Leading the development and delivery of LDH’s advocacy strategy, aligned to organisational priorities, operational realities, and Board‑approved positions.
• Overseeing media relations and issues management, ensuring timely, consistent, and values‑aligned messaging.
• Leading, mentoring, and developing a high‑performing team, fostering accountability, capability, and engagement.

Our Ideal Candidate:

You bring deep expertise in contemporary, best‑practice approaches to commercial growth, fundraising, brand management, and advocacy, with a proven track record of setting and achieving ambitious revenue targets. A confident and influential communicator, you understand government and media landscapes and excel at building strong, trusted relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

With strong strategic, commercial and financial acumen, you have delivered revenue growth and diversification initiatives and have successfully led fundraising activities across the full donor lifecycle, including major gifts, gifts‑in‑wills, and regular giving. As an experienced executive within the not‑for‑profit or for‑purpose sector, you are committed to developing high‑performing teams and fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and accountability.

Most importantly, you are aligned to our mission and bring a genuine passion for animal welfare, serving as a values‑driven advocate for the Lost Dogs’ Home and the communities we support.

In addition, you will bring:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Public Relations, Media, Marketing, Communications, Business, or equivalent experience.
• A strong track record of developing and scaling commercial initiatives that generate sustainable revenue and measurable community impact.
• Expert communications and media skills, including preparing speeches, press releases, and stakeholder communications for internal and external audiences, and representing the organisation publicly.
• Demonstrated success in delivering brand and marketing activities, and previous experience delivering advocacy strategies and approaches.
• Exceptional leadership skills, with experience leading multi‑disciplinary teams, driving change, and building organisational capability.
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem‑solving skills, and an ability to prioritise and deliver multiple initiatives under tight deadlines and within budget.

About our culture:

At the Lost Dogs’ Home, we cultivate an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity. Our team enjoys a vibrant culture that fosters meaningful connections, both professionally and socially. We take pride in our diverse team, where every individual is encouraged to be their authentic self, regardless of their role within the organisation.

What we can offer:

• A unique and rewarding career in animal welfare, where you can make a real difference in the lives of shelter animals.
• A generous remuneration package, and access to relocation assistance for interstate or international candidates.
• Fantastic career-development opportunities, including financial assistance for approved studies.
• Discounts at our Vet Hospital to support your own pet’s health.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program and staff wellbeing initiatives.
• Opportunities to join our Foster Care Program and help care for animals in need.
• A truly unique work environment—surrounded by animals every day!

If you have the skills, experience and enthusiasm to be successful in this role, please click on the “Apply” button, ensuring you have attached your cover letter and current résumé in Word or PDF format. If you have any further questions or queries regarding the role, please email Julia Ferragamo (Julia.ferragamo@dogshome.com).  

Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received, so we encourage you to apply early as the role may close if a suitable candidate is found. Don't miss out—apply today!

The successful applicant will be required to satisfactorily complete background screening checks.
  
The Lost Dogs’ Home is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Only candidates with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position.