Thread Recruitment is proud to support Fireground as they appoint their next Chief Executive Officer, a hands-on leader who can take ownership of RTO compliance, lead a capable team, and guide the business through its next phase with clear direction.

This is not a classic strategy-only CEO role. It is a working executive position suited to someone who is comfortable staying close to the work, leading from the front, and taking full accountability across compliance, operations, people, and business performance.

Fireground is a respected, specialist RTO operating in the fire and incident management space. They are known for delivering practical, high-quality training for government emergency and high-risk environments.

If you’re a “roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty” type of leader who wants to represent a well-regarded business, this is your next move.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll lead the business across its next stage, with an immediate focus on compliance and broader responsibility for governance, operational leadership, people, and sustainable growth.

You will:

• Take ownership of the compliance uplift agenda as an immediate priority

• Uphold Fireground’s RTO compliance framework and ensure audit and regulator readiness

• Lead the business as the senior executive, reporting to the Board

• Provide practical leadership across a lean structure spanning training delivery, operations, logistics, student management, and support functions

• Work closely with the existing leadership team to keep delivery running smoothly and role boundaries clear

• Maintain oversight of business performance, reporting, and financial visibility

• Lead and support a highly invested team, while reinforcing accountability and strong standards

• Help identify future opportunities, emerging technologies, and areas for measured growth

• Protect product quality while supporting the next phase of the business

• Build & maintain strong relationships with stakeholders

Who You Are

You’re a hands-on leader who is comfortable operating at both executive and tactical levels. You know how to build trust, hold standards high, and keep a business moving without losing sight of people, quality, or compliance.

You’ll likely have:

• Strong working executive, General Manager, or equivalent leadership experience

• Proven RTO compliance experience

• A strong understanding of current and emerging RTO standards and regulatory requirements

• Experience working in high-risk, regulated, or operationally complex environments

• Demonstrated people leadership experience in a practical, hands-on setting

• Sound judgment, strong communication, and the ability to create structure and follow-through

• A leadership style that is grounded, mature, and clear

Highly regarded backgrounds:

• Experience in emergency management, fire and emergency services, defence, rail, utilities, infrastructure, or similar high-risk environments

• Experience in specialist training environments

• Experience leading regional, remote, or geographically dispersed teams

Why Join Fireground

Fireground is a specialist business with genuine purpose behind the work it does. It supports organisations and communities operating in critical environments, and the quality of that work matters.

This is an opportunity to step into a meaningful leadership role in a respected business with a strong reputation and solid foundations already in place. You’ll be building on a stable platform with capable people across operations and delivery.

This role offers hybrid flexibility, with 1-2 days per week in the Dorrigo, NSW office, where on-site presence will matter for working closely with the team and staying connected to the business.

How to Apply

If you’re looking for a leadership role where you can bring practical credibility, guide a business with purpose, and make a visible impact, let’s talk.

Apply now or reach out to chris@threadrecruitment.com for a confidential conversation.