Chief Executive Officer

NACCHO; Cairns Regional; Hybrid; AUD 220,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Ngarnal Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (NACCHS) is seeking an accomplished and values-led executive to serve as its next Chief Executive Officer. Based in Cairns with extensive travel to Mornington Island, the CEO will provide strategic, operational and cultural leadership across a multi-site organisation, reporting to the Board and shaping a sustainable, community-informed future.

This Identified Position is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people under

Qualifications

• Proven executive leadership experience in complex service environments.
• Experience leading organisational change, growth, or service transformation.
• Strong governance, risk, compliance and board engagement capability.
• Sound operational and financial management expertise.
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with culturally safe leadership.
• Experience in health, community services or social impact sectors is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, operational and cultural leadership across a multi-site organisation.
• Report directly to the Board and shape sustainable, community-informed outcomes.
• Oversee governance, risk management, and service transformation.
• Foster partnerships with community, government and key stakeholders.
• Drive transition to community-controlled primary health care.
• Build a high-performing, culturally safe leadership culture.

Skills

Executive leadership

Governance

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Financial management

Change management

Indigenous engagement

Job description

Ngarnal Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (NACCHS)

• Location: QLD
• Salary: $220,000 – $250,000 per year
• Contact name: Kristina Knowles
• Contact email: [e-mail]
• Contact phone: [phone]

Full time

• Based in Cairns, with extensive travel to Mornington Island

Ngarnal Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (NACCHS) is seeking an accomplished and values-led executive to serve as its nextChief Executive Officer.

NACCHS is a purpose-led organisation committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through culturally safe, community-informed care. At a pivotal stage of growth, NACCHS is leading the transition to community-controlled primary health care, including the establishment of the Ngarnal Primary Health Care Clinic, with a strong focus on community engagement, service excellence and sustainable impact.

This is an Identified Position and is open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, as permitted under section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld).

The Opportunity

This is a significant leadership opportunity to guide NACCHS through a pivotal phase of organisational growth and transformation. Reporting directly to the Board, the CEO will provide strategic, operational and cultural leadership across a multi-site organisation and play a critical role in shaping a sustainable, community-informed future.

The successful candidate will bring the judgement, credibility and leadership presence to work effectively at Board, community, government and sector levels, while ensuring the organisation remains strongly aligned to community priorities, cultural integrity and high-quality service delivery.

The Role

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the overall leadership and performance of NACCHS, with accountability for strategy execution, operational excellence, governance, risk, stakeholder engagement and service transformation.

Key priorities will include:

• leading the strategic direction and long-term positioning of the organisation
• driving the transition to community-controlled primary health care
• overseeing the establishment of the Ngarnal Primary Health Care Clinic
• strengthening organisational capability, performance and accountability
• ensuring robust governance, compliance and risk management frameworks
• fostering trusted partnerships with community, government and key stakeholders
• building a cohesive, high-performing and culturally safe leadership culture

This appointment will suit a senior executive who is motivated by purpose, complexity and impact. It offers the opportunity to lead meaningful reform, strengthen community outcomes and shape the future of an organisation of deep importance to the communities it serves.

About You

The Board is seeking a highly capable executive with a demonstrated record of leading complex organisations through growth, reform and change. You will be strategic in outlook, disciplined in execution and confident operating in a diverse stakeholder environment.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated executive leadership experience in a complex service environment
• Proven success leading organisational change, growth, or service transformation
• Strong governance, risk, compliance, and Board engagement capability
• Sound operational and financial management expertise
• Highly developed stakeholder engagement and partnership-building skills
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, together with a strong commitment to culturally safe leadership

Experience in health, community services, social impact or community-controlled sectors will be highly regarded.

What Sets This Role Apart

• Lead a once-in-a-generation transition to community control
• Direct impact on health outcomes and community wellbeing
• Work alongside a committed Board and community stakeholders
• Shape the future of an organisation at a critical growth stage
• Influence system-level change across regional health services