Deputy Director-General | Full-time Executive

ACT Government; Canberra; On-site; AUD 459,000 - 473,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Ngunnawal Country Canberra base

Job summary

ACT in Canberra seeks a Deputy Director-General, Health, a senior executive role to shape health and community services across the ACT. You will provide strategic leadership, advise government, and build partnerships to translate policy into better services for Canberrans.

You will lead system reform, collaborate with stakeholders and senior decision-makers, and manage significant resources while upholding public sector accountability in a high-profile, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex portfolios, including frontline services and major programs.
• Ability to provide strategic, influential and evidence-based advice to Ministers and senior decision-makers.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills across sectors and jurisdictions.
• Strong understanding of health and community service systems, governance, and intergovernmental arrangements.
• Proven capability to lead organisational reform and deliver sustainable improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead health system and community services improvements, working with stakeholders to address challenges and improve service delivery.
• Provide high-level advice to Ministers on complex policy, service delivery and administrative matters.
• Partner with the CEO of Canberra Health Services on health service strategy and planning and collaborate across ACT Government directorates and agencies.
• Represent the ACT in local and national forums, lead negotiations with the Commonwealth and NSW governments, and oversee people, resources and financial performance.

Skills

Leadership in portfolios

Strategic advising

Stakeholder engagement

Policy & governance understanding

Organisational reform

People management

Education

Relevant tertiary qualifications

Job description

Deputy Director-General
Full-time Executive

Details: The Health and Community Services Directorate supports the health and wellbeing of the ACT community through health policy, strategic planning and a broad range of community services.

Its responsibilities span health system strategy and population health, alongside housing, homelessness, disability, domestic and family violence, and services for children, young people and families.

The Directorate is committed to Closing the Gap and working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. A genuine affinity with, and the ability to build trusted, respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body and community organisations will be important to success in this role.

The opportunity The Deputy Director-General, Health is a senior executive role with the opportunity to influence the future of health and community services across the ACT. Working closely with the Director-General, you will provide strategic leadership across a complex portfolio, advise government and build partnerships that translate policy and investment into better services for the community.

• Lead health system and community services improvements, working with stakeholders to address challenges and improve service delivery.
• Provide high-level advice to Ministers on complex policy, service delivery and administrative matters, and support the delivery of government commitments.
• Partner with the CEO of Canberra Health Services on health service strategy and planning and collaborate across ACT Government directorates and agencies.
• Represent the ACT in local and national forums, lead negotiations with the Commonwealth and NSW governments, and oversee people, resources and financial performance.

About you You are an accomplished, values-driven executive with experience leading in large, complex and high-profile environments. You bring strategic foresight, sound judgement and political acumen, with the ability to lead system-wide reform and build confidence across government, stakeholders and the community.

You will have:

• Significant experience leading complex portfolios, including frontline service delivery, major programs and projects, and substantial public resources and budgets.
• The ability to provide strategic, influential and evidence-based advice on complex policy, legislative and operational matters to Ministers and senior decision-makers.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to align diverse interests and build consensus across sectors and jurisdictions.
• A strong understanding of health and community service systems, including relevant legislation, governance frameworks, intergovernmental arrangements and service delivery challenges.
• Demonstrated capability to lead organisational reform, drive innovation and deliver sustainable improvements to services and community outcomes.
• A proven record of leading people with integrity and fostering a respectful, inclusive and high-performing culture grounded in public sector accountability.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications.

What’s on Offer

• A unique opportunity to shape the future of health and community services in the ACT and make a lasting difference to the lives of Canberrans.
• A high-profile executive leadership role with the ability to influence government priorities, system reform and service outcomes.
• The opportunity to drive innovation and implement transformative change across complex service systems and portfolios.
• The chance to work alongside government, sector and community leaders to deliver meaningful and lasting outcomes for the ACT community.
• A Canberra-based role on Ngunnawal Country, with flexible and contemporary working arrangements.

Remuneration: The position attracts a remuneration package ranging from $458,828 - $473,025 depending on current superannuation arrangements of the successful applicant. This includes a cash component of $405,625.

Contract: The successful applicant will be engaged under a performance-based long-term contract for a period of up to five years. Prospective applicants should be aware that long-term engagements are tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly.