Strategic Project Director – Casino Licensee Suitability Decision

• Strategic project leadership advising Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Commissioners
• Casino Licensee Suitability Decision
• Fixed term – 30 June 2024 with flexible working hours

 
The position
Success requires working with a range of stakeholders to address the operational and strategic impacts of the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC)’s decision on the suitability of Crown to hold its casino licence. Specifically, you will be responsible for the effective delivery of an end-to-end project.
The role will:

• Provide advice to the CEO and Commissioners on project and organisational policies and strategies
• Develop and deliver a decision-making framework to assist the Commission to consider and make its final decision
• Scope, develop, and activate (if required) a transition plan for the casino licence that covers the full separation of the Melbourne casino operations from Crown Melbourne to a manager, including identifying and supervising a suitable manager for the casino licence that will ensure the casino remains viable and can be smoothly transferred to a subsequent casino licence applicant
• Drive engagement with key strategic partners to inform the Commission’s final decision
• Build positive and constructive relationships with Crown Resorts and Crown Melbourne.

The project will be governed by an internal Steering Committee comprising Members of the Commission and the Executive. A project team reporting to the Strategic Project Director will also be established. You will lead the procurement of external legal and commercial advice to support major deliverables.
 
About you
You will come to the role with strategic project management, extensive commercial and contractual capabilities and have an established reputation as a trusted adviser with astute judgement and risk management knowledge. This will be combined with your collaborative, innovative and resilient leadership and excellent communications and stakeholder engagement.
You will be expected to understand or quickly pick up the broader context of casino operations, the many changes being undertaken in the broader landscape of gambling regulation by the Victorian Government, and align the project approach.
We are seeking the following type of experience and achievements:

• Developing innovative and sustainable solutions to complex issues
• Delivering successful projects including end-to-end high risk, complex, confidential projects requiring multi-disciplinary teamwork
• Designing and implementing new operating and governance models
• Understanding of public administration and statutory interpretation
• A commercially oriented background involving business critical transformations, change management and decision-making
• Regulatory impact, business model redesign, reorganisation, process optimisation or demerging management.

 
The Organisation        
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) is an independent public sector agency which operates under a Commission structure. Commissioners have dual roles as statutory decision makers, and they operate as a Board of Directors of a public sector agency.
The Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence (RCCOL) found that Crown Melbourne was unsuitable to hold its casino licence. RCCOL recommended that Crown be permitted to continue operating, under the oversight of a Special Manager, while it undertakes a significant reform agenda, after which time the Commission may determine whether Crown retains its licence. Crown was given two years, ending 31 December 2023, to clearly demonstrate why its licence should not be cancelled.
After the two-year period of operating under the Special Manager, the Commission has sole discretion to determine whether it is ‘clearly satisfied’ that:

• Crown Melbourne is a suitable person to continue to hold the Melbourne Casino Licence
• It is in the public interest that the Melbourne Casino Licence continue in force.

The timeframe for the Commission to exercise this discretion is legislated as within 90 days of receiving the final report of the Special Manager, which is due by Sunday, 31 December 2023. If the Commission does not make a determination that it is clearly satisfied as to these matters within 90 days, the Melbourne Casino Licence will be cancelled. This will take effect 180 days after the Special Manager’s final report is received by the Commission.
For more information about the VGCCC, visit: vgccc.vic.gov.au
 
Applications close: Wednesday, 17 August 2022
To apply – please go to fisherleadership.com and click on ‘APPLY ONLINE’ using reference VCGspd0722 addressing your cover letter and resume to David Baber, Partner, of Fisher Leadership, or call 1300 347 437 for a discussion.