Chief Executive Officer

Qwilr; Mackay Regional; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

MADEC invites applications for a Chief Executive Officer to lead its mission of inclusive disability and youth supports in Mackay and Whitsunday. The CEO will shape strategic direction, advance service quality, and strengthen governance, risk management, and financial stewardship.

Reporting to the MADEC Board, you will drive growth, build partnerships, and ensure safeguarding and compliance while fostering an empowering, person-centred culture across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Senior executive experience in human services or a related sector.
• Experience with governance frameworks and board reporting.
• Understanding of NDIS, OOHC, child protection and WHS is advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to lead transformational change and growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead MADEC's strategic direction and growth initiatives.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality, person-centred services.
• Oversee governance, risk management and organisational compliance.
• Build and sustain partnerships with government, funders and community groups.
• Foster an inclusive, values-driven workplace with strong workforce development.

Skills

Executive leadership

Governance risk

Strategic leadership

Financial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Tertiary qualifications

Job description

MADEC is a not for profit, community organisation. Recognised as a Public Benevolent Institution since 2014, they have been providing disability and youth supports in the Mackay/Whitsunday region since 1973. We are a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Provider and Licensed Child Safety Provider in Mackay.

MADEC view their community as a whole, inclusive of individuals and groups of all ages and abilities.

Their Vision is to create an inclusive community that empowers, supports and respects all individuals.

Their Mission is to empower and support people to do their best!

With unequalled Community spirit, MADEC has fifty years of experience supplying meaningful supports to Mackay and the Whitsundays. Community is a cornerstone of our organisation.

MADEC's 2025-2027 Strategic Plan

In 2025, MADEC launched their new Strategic Plan for 2025 2027, reaffirming their commitment to an inclusive community where every individual is supported, empowered and respected. The Plan builds on MADEC’s more than 50-year history of adapting to community needs, particularly in youth and disability services across the Mackay and Whitsunday regions. At the heart of MADEC’s work is the vision of "an inclusive community where every person is empowered, supported and respected."

The Strategic Plan acts as both a blueprint and a commitment to achieving this vision in the evolving context of the sector.

Five Strategic Priorities

1. Enhancing Client Engagement & Experience - Focused on personalised, human-rights-based supports, this strategy aims to improve well-being and inclusivity for all clients.

2. Expanding Existing Services - Prioritizing growth and sustainability of NDIS and youth services in the Mackay region and beyond.

3. Fostering Business Development and Diversification - Introducing new client and service categories while exploring innovative opportunities in the youth and disability sectors.

4. Developing a Comprehensive Housing Strategy - Targeted solutions for sustainable housing and community infrastructure to meet client and service demands.

5. Building a Strong Workforce and Organisation - Ensuring a motivated and skilled team, enhanced technology, and robust governance to support service.

The 2025–2027 Strategic Plan positions MADEC to respond proactively to the region’s changing needs—ensuring services remain person-centred, sustainable and impactful. As they move into 2025 and beyond, we invite clients, staff, partners and the wider community to join us on this journey. Together they will build a future in which all young people and people with disability are empowered to live meaningful lives.

MADEC is entering an exciting era of transformation and growth. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will lead this next chapter, ensuring the organisation continues to deliver exceptional client‑centred services while strengthening capability, culture, and long‑term sustainability. Reporting directly to the Board, the CEO provides strategic leadership and acts as the primary source of assurance on organisational performance, financial health, compliance, and risk.

A key priority is shaping MADEC’s future direction. Working with the Board, the CEO will lead the development and execution of the strategic plan, ensuring growth opportunities are identified, evaluated, and implemented in line with MADEC’s purpose, values, and risk appetite. This includes expanding service offerings, deepening community impact, and strengthening partnerships across government, sector networks, and local communities.

The CEO fosters an empowering, inclusive, and psychologically safe culture that supports strong performance, professional development, and workforce retention. They ensure leaders are equipped to deliver high‑quality services, manage risk, and drive continuous improvement across all areas of the organisation.

Safeguarding remains a core responsibility. The CEO ensures all services—particularly youth and disability supports—are safe, rights‑based, and person‑centred. They fulfil obligations as NDIS Key Personnel and Child Safety Nominee, maintaining a zero‑tolerance approach to harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Client voice and lived experience continue to guide service design, improvement, and strategic decision‑making.

The CEO leads innovation, operational excellence, and service quality, ensuring MADEC’s systems, reporting, governance, and financial management are robust and future‑ready. They strengthen MADEC’s reputation and community connection through effective communication, engagement, and advocacy. This role requires a visionary, values‑driven leader who can guide MADEC through growth, transformation, and capability uplift—while ensuring clients remain at the centre of everything they do.

The MADEC Board

Joel Rauer, Deputy Chair

Stephen Fernando, Member

Bill Yeates, Member

Key Selection Criteria

Qualifications & Experience

• A relevant tertiary qualifications and senior executive leadership experience in human services or a related sector. A postgraduate and/or formal governance qualifications would be desirable.
• Proven experience working with Boards and governance frameworks, and strong governance, risk management, and compliance capability.
• Strong financial acumen and strategic ability and agility.
• Experience leading organisations through transformational change and growth.
• Understanding of the community service or not-for-profit sector. An appreciation of NDIS, OOHC, child protection, and WHS frameworks would be advantageous.
• Contemporary leadership, communication, and decision‑making ability.

Personal Qualities

• Values‑driven, ethical, and accountable leadership.
• Calm, decisive, and effective under pressure.
• Transparent, approachable, and resilient.
• Systems thinker committed to continuous improvement.
• Aligns with and models MADEC’s Vision, Mission, Values, and Culture.

With a strong foundation and a clear strategy, MADEC will continue to adapt, lead, and deliver services that make a meaningful difference.

Applications close: 11:59PM AEST on Tuesday, 6 April 2026

We encourage applications from people living with disability.
We are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible, and supportive recruitment experience. If you require adjustments at any stage of the application or selection process, please let us know. We will work with you to provide the support you need wherever possible to ensure you can participate fully and fairly.

Contact Information

If you require further information about the opportunities or the application process, please contact:

Alison Myatt, Head of Research, Watermark

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