Koala is a global furniture brand bringing Australian design and innovation to the world. We create forward-thinking products that solve problems for people and homes everywhere, driven by our purpose to make the world a more comfortable place.
We’ve always believed in doing things differently, whether in the way we develop products, how we do people and culture, or the way we bring the brand to life. That mindset has fuelled our growth, helping us disrupt categories in ways that are creative, bold and often unexpected. While we’re a household name in Australia, our journey on the global stage is only just beginning.
Since launching in 2015, our furniture has reached homes across Australia, Japan, the US and the UK. As a B Corp-certified, customer-obsessed, and data-led company, we’re committed to revolutionising furniture for generations to come through design, innovation, and meaningful sustainability.
Role Description
This role is the single source of truth for event and experience rigour at Koala. Reporting to the Global Head of Brand, you'll guide how Koala shows up in real life across Australia, the US, the UK and Japan: global product launches, pop-ups and brand activations, showroom and retail events, media and influencer moments, and the internal moments that bring Koalas together.
This is a supervisory and advisory role, built for someone who has executed plenty of events and knows what good looks like. You won't always be running events end to end. Often our markets and their PR partners will deliver 60 to 70% of the work, and your job is to fill the gaps: sense-checking plans, timelines and creative deliveries, pressure-testing budgets, and bringing the rigour that makes the difference on the day. For smaller events our in-market teams run without agency support, you'll be a consultative service partner. For multi-market or high-priority moments, you'll lead the task force and own the process from brief to bump-out.
It suits someone who has been in the room, who can spot an inflated budget or a missing milestone at a glance, and who knows when to guide, when to advise and when to roll up their sleeves.
Key Responsibilities
Guide and Supervise In-Market Events:
Act as the global point of oversight for events led by our in-market teams and their PR and experiential partners, sense-checking plans, timelines, milestones and creative deliveries
Hold market teams, PR firms and agencies to the Koala standard on rigour, not just the guest list: clear run sheets, locked milestones and creative delivered on time
Fill the gaps as needed, from a missing production timeline to a late supplier, so local teams can focus on what they do best
Provide service support to in-market teams running smaller events without agency support, such as influencer dinners and press moments, with guidance on scope, suppliers, logistics and what to allocate
Budget Oversight& Efficiencies:
Review event budgets coming in from markets and agencies, flag where costs look inflated and recommend where to find efficiencies
Identify what can be pulled in-house or delivered by our own teams on the ground rather than outsourced
Set benchmarks and loose allocation guides for common event types so markets can plan and budget with confidence
Maintain visibility of event spend across all markets, tracking forecasts against actuals so there are no surprises
Lead Flagship& Multi-Market Events:
Lead the task force for multi-market and high-priority brand events, overseeing every touchpoint from brief through to bump-out and wrap
Be the internal voice for product logistics, making sure product is organised, bumped in and bumped out on time
Run review and approval gates so everyone who needs to weigh in has seen and signed off creative before it has to be locked
Step in hands-on when an event calls for it, bringing a creative point of view and the confidence to make the call when things don't go to plan
Build the Operational Backbone:
Create and maintain the playbooks, templates and checklists that set the standard for events at Koala: briefing, budgeting, run sheets, approvals and post-event reviews
Build the knowledge base of the program (documentation, post-event reviews and handover processes) so expertise stays with Koala as the team grows
Own event safety and compliance, including risk assessments, permits and WHS obligations, in line with the Koala Safety Management System, and measure what each event delivers to shape the next one
Ideal background
Past experience:7+ years producing experiential programs end to end, including launches, activations, pop-ups and media events. You've run events yourself, which is exactly what lets you guide others.
Agency and in-house experience:you understand producing for a client and producing as the client, and how to get the best out of PR and experiential agencies while holding them to account.
Budget fluency: you can read an event budget and quickly spot what's inflated, what can come in-house and where the efficiencies are, and you're comfortable presenting positions to senior stakeholders.
Global lens:you understand that events land differently in different markets, and you've delivered or supported programs across multiple countries (special focus on US)
A consultative style:you're comfortable leading from an advisory seat, influencing teams you don't manage, and knowing when to step in and when to step back.
Project management rigour:timelines, milestones, approvals and run sheets are second nature. You turn chaos into clarity.
Bonus:a background as a Senior Producer, Production Manager or Tour Manager, and hands-on curiosity about AI tooling for admin, asset tracking or feedback.
Perks and Privileges
Koala is only great when its employees are happy; and we’re one happy bunch!
Hybrid working - We’re mixing it up with ~3 days back in the Alexandria Treehouse (office) and work from bed/home (WFB)
Take a break - Generous time off - volunteer, parental, Koala life leave and more to help keep your work-life balance, balanced.
Treehouse goods - Fully stocked kitchen with an emphasis on healthy local produce, think bougie brekky, salad bar, kombucha on tap, monthly barbies and more.
Pet-friendly - The Koala Treehouse is as pet-friendly as they get!
Surprise& delight - The two-word combo at the core of everything we do. All Koalas can expect to enjoy free Koala products with ‘mates rates’ for your friends and fam.
Support& wellbeing - Our employee experience respects and embraces all families, formed, found and evolving. You’ll have access to our Employee Assistance Program, which includes unlimited sessions for financial, work, relationship, family or wellbeing support.
Accelerate your career - via our Learning Management platform, as well as individual and team growth budgets and dedicated days.
Community& connection - We believe that simply doing ‘no harm’ isn’t good enough So, how are we doing our part?BCorpCertified,WWFPartnership, volunteer days, a member ofSoftLanding,1%and so much more.
All in all, theKoala Communityis a great place to hang out and belong to!
Why Join Koala?
At Koala, we do things a little differently and we don’t shy away from the fact that we expect a lot from our employees! We have no ego; we seek feedback that grows us; and we have a strong bias for action. We want you to challenge expectations, always look to make a difference and give us something different from the norm. We want people that bring great energy, that have a long-game focus and are always trying to find new angles and approaches to the way we work. We're a team full of entrepreneurial spirit and have a relentless focus on 'what's next' but while always reviewing 'what's been done' and learning, growing and adapting. Honesty and empathy drive everything we do, as well as a total focus on exceeding our customers’ expectations. So if you feel like this could be you... well what the bloody hell are you waiting for? Drop us a line, and let's see what you've got! ;)
There’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ candidate, Koala is a place where everyone has opportunity. So however you identify and whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day. We’re an equal opportunity employer, and recognise that a diverse workforce is crucial to our success as a business.
To read more, check out ourcareers,LinkedIn, or the great work we do withWork180.