Deputy Director-General Health

Orchard Talent; Canberra; On-site; AUD 300,000 - 460,000; Full time

Job summary

Orchard Talent Group is assisting the ACT Government to recruit for a Deputy Director-General, Health, a senior executive role responsible for shaping health and community services strategy across the ACT. The appointee will work closely with the Director-General and provide high‑level guidance to Ministers and stakeholders.

The role requires leading system-wide improvements, negotiating with Commonwealth and NSW authorities, and partnering with Canberra Health Services to drive service delivery

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading complex portfolios, including frontline service delivery, major programs 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.

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, 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.

Education

Relevant tertiary qualifications

Job description

The organisation

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.

Applications close Friday 27, November.

The Orchard Talent Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.