Flat Out Inc Hiring 2026: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Lead Systemic Advocacy & Organisational Transformation

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) role at Flat Out Inc represents a rare opportunity for a senior leader committed to social justice, abolitionist practice, and intersectional feminist values. Based in Melbourne, the organisation is seeking a visionary executive to guide its next phase of growth, advocacy, and service innovation.

This leadership position is particularly significant due to the organisation’s long-standing history of challenging incarceration systems and supporting criminalised women, trans, and gender diverse people.

Organisational Background and Mission

Flat Out Inc is a grassroots organisation founded in 1988 out of protest against the Fairlea Women’s Prison. Over the years, it has developed into a respected voice in advocacy, service delivery, and systemic reform.

The organisation’s mission focuses on:

• Supporting people impacted by incarceration to rebuild their lives
• Challenging criminalisation and state violence
• Advocating for abolitionist approaches to justice
• Promoting safety through community care rather than punitive systems

Flat Out Inc works across service provision and advocacy, combining direct support with broader systemic change efforts.

CEO Role Overview and Strategic Responsibilities

The CEO will be responsible for leading the organisation through a period of transition following the retirement of its current leader. This includes strengthening governance structures, delivering strategic priorities, and expanding advocacy impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing executive leadership across operations, governance, and strategy
• Ensuring delivery of the organisation’s Strategic Plan
• Overseeing financial sustainability, budgeting, and risk management
• Leading organisational culture development grounded in trauma-informed practice
• Managing relationships with the Board of Management and key stakeholders

The CEO is expected to balance operational oversight with visionary leadership that aligns with abolitionist and intersectional feminist principles.

Advocacy, Policy, and Systems Change Leadership

A central component of this role involves leading Flat Out’s systemic advocacy agenda. The organisation is widely recognised for its contributions to criminal justice reform, particularly in relation to gendered experiences of incarceration.

The CEO will be expected to:

• Lead campaigns addressing criminalisation of women and gender diverse people
• Engage in policy reform, government inquiries, and law reform processes
• Build partnerships with advocacy organisations and research institutions
• Represent lived experience perspectives in national and state-level discussions

This advocacy work is critical to advancing Flat Out’s long-term vision of dismantling punitive systems and replacing them with community-led alternatives.

Organisational Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

The successful candidate will be an experienced leader capable of managing complex stakeholder environments. The role requires strong engagement across government, philanthropy, and community sectors.

Core expectations include:

• Building strong relationships with funders and government agencies
• Supporting co-design processes with people with lived experience of incarceration
• Strengthening partnerships with community organisations and service providers
• Leading inclusive workplace culture development

In addition, the CEO will ensure that organisational practice remains trauma-informed, collaborative, and aligned with feminist and abolitionist frameworks.

Skills, Experience, and Leadership Attributes

The organisation is seeking a leader with extensive experience in social services, human rights, or related sectors such as public health, mental health, housing, or legal services.

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

• Senior executive leadership experience in a relevant sector
• Strong governance and board engagement capability
• Proven success in policy advocacy and systems change initiatives
• Financial management experience in a not-for-profit environment
• Ability to secure funding and diversify revenue streams
• Commitment to intersectional feminist and abolitionist principles

Additional attributes include emotional intelligence, cultural competency, and the ability to lead with integrity in complex systems.

Organisational Benefits and Workplace Culture

Flat Out Inc offers a values-driven and supportive work environment designed to sustain long-term leadership impact.

Key benefits include:

• Flexible working arrangements with a collaborative culture
• Five weeks of annual leave (pro rata)
• Salary packaging options
• Leadership mentoring and development opportunities
• The opportunity to contribute to meaningful systemic change in Victoria

The organisation prioritises wellbeing, inclusivity, and reflective practice, ensuring staff are supported in emotionally demanding work environments.

Application Process and Next Steps

Applications for the CEO position are reviewed on a rolling basis, encouraging early submission from interested candidates. Applicants are required to provide a CV and a cover letter addressing key selection criteria.

Important application details include:

• Closing: Applications open until filled
• Submission: Via the organisation’s official recruitment platform
• Contact: Further inquiries directed to Sheena Colquhoun at Flat Out Inc

Candidates with lived experience of criminalisation are strongly encouraged to apply, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to inclusive leadership and representation.

Conclusion: A Leadership Role Rooted in Justice and Transformation

The CEO role at Flat Out Inc is more than an executive position; it is a leadership opportunity embedded in social transformation. The organisation continues to challenge punitive systems while building alternatives grounded in care, dignity, and justice.

For a leader committed to abolitionist feminist values, this role offers a platform to influence policy, reshape service systems, and contribute to long-term structural change in Australia’s justice landscape.

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