CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL, POPULATION HEALTH
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
Queensland Health
Queensland Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land across Queensland, and pays respect to First Nations Elders past and present.
Executive Summary
- Lead Queensland’s public health strategy at the highest level, shaping policy and responses to major health challenges, including disaster preparedness and chronic disease prevention.
- Serve as the state’s statutory Chief Health Officer, providing expert medical advice to government leaders and acting as the public face of Queensland Health during critical health events.
- Drive health equity and system-wide improvements in collaboration with First Nations communities, Hospital and Health Services, and national counterparts, influencing outcomes for millions of Queenslanders.
THE OPPORTUNITY
This executive role offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on public health in Queensland.
- Lead Queensland's Public Health Vision
Take the helm in shaping statewide health strategies, guiding responses to emerging health threats, and influencing policy at the highest levels to enhance the well-being of all Queenslanders. - Drive System-Wide Impact and Innovation
Oversee critical public health initiatives, including communicable disease control, health protection, and prevention strategies, while fostering cross-sector collaboration to achieve measurable health outcomes. - Champion Health Equity and Leadership Excellence
Partner with diverse stakeholders to advance First Nations health equity, mentor future health leaders, and represent Queensland on national platforms, reinforcing your legacy in public health leadership.
THE ROLE
Reporting to the Director-General and as a member of the department’s Executive Leadership Team, the Chief Health Officer leads the State’s preventive health, public health and public health information agendas.
The role is responsible for supporting public health relevant to the disaster coordination, emergency response and emergency preparedness activities for Queensland at a system-wide level and maintaining the State’s capacity to identify and respond to communicable diseases and other health threats. The position also has responsibility for leading health information campaigns to address issues relating to chronic disease and emergent health trends, in order to reduce the future impacts on the State’s health system and to raise awareness about issues relating to personal responsibility for health outcomes.
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate:
- Experience in a senior medical role with significant authority and accountability in administering statutory obligations and leading regulatory activities; and demonstrated experience in managing and responding to emergent and significant health threats including health pandemics.
- A track record of being able to navigate highly sensitive issues with government focussed on achieving effective policy outcomes.
- Highly developed negotiation skills, political astuteness and intellectual flexibility.
- Be an experienced media operator able to communicate complex issues with clarity and perform well under pressure.
- Deep relationships/credibility with stakeholders across government, non-government and the private sector.
- Be recognised as an assertive and confident decision maker, willing and able to make high stakes decisions.
- Be highly resilient and be used to a highly demanding work environment.
- The ability to work within a complex system or organisation with devolved accountabilities and responsibilities that require a detailed understanding of system leadership, risk management, strategic direction-setting and the challenges facing modern healthcare service delivery.
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:
Sarah Buckler
HG Queensland State Manager
M. +61 (0)429 486 740
E. [email protected]
Paul Ingle
HG Chief Executive
M. +61 (0)402 796 125
E. [email protected]
The Population Health Division plays a critical role in Queensland Health’s system-wide efforts to protect and promote the health of Queenslanders. Through leadership in policy, regulation, service delivery and data intelligence, the division delivers coordinated and responsive public health programs designed to reduce health risks, prevent illness and disease, and improve long-term wellbeing outcomes.
The division is led by the Chief Health Officer and Deputy Director-General and is responsible for monitoring, assessing and responding to a wide range of health threats, including communicable diseases, environmental hazards, and emerging public health issues. It also leads strategic planning for prevention programs and provides regulatory oversight for both public and private health services.
Key business areas within the division include:
- Office of the Chief Health Officer
- Health Protection and Regulation Branch
- Public Health Intelligence
- Communicable Diseases
- Prevention Strategy
- Public Health Review Implementation
- Private Health Regulation
- Assisted Reproductive Technologies
The division works closely with Queensland’s 16 Hospital and Health Services (HHSs), Commonwealth and state agencies, universities, and non-government organisations to ensure strong public health infrastructure and statewide consistency in public health responses. It also supports the development and implementation of evidence-informed policy, public health campaigns, and health equity initiatives for Queensland’s diverse population.
Queensland's Population
Queensland’s population has grown significantly over the past two decades and is projected to continue increasing, reaching 7.30 million by 2046 - a 37.2% rise from 2022. This growth is accompanied by an ageing demographic, with the number of people aged 65 and over expected to increase by 76.7%, compared to a 20.7% rise in children aged 0 to 14. While almost three quarters of the population currently live in the south east, Queensland remains more geographically dispersed than most other states. These demographic shifts influence not only health service demand but also broader economic and social dynamics, including workforce patterns and community resource needs.
Our Values
These five values underpin behaviours that will support and enable better ways of working and result in better outcomes for Queenslanders.
Role Specification
Reporting to the Director-General and as a member of the department’s Executive Leadership Team, the Chief Health Officer leads the State’s preventive health, public health and public health information agendas.
The role is responsible for supporting public health relevant to the disaster coordination, emergency response and emergency preparedness activities for Queensland at a system-wide level and maintaining the State’s capacity to identify and respond to communicable diseases and other health threats. The position also has responsibility for leading health information campaigns to address issues relating to chronic disease and emergent health trends, in order to reduce the future impacts on the State’s health system and to raise awareness about issues relating to personal responsibility for health outcomes.
The position maintains key relationships with senior clinical leaders, Hospital and Health Services, the private sector and across jurisdictions.
As Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, the position also maintains statutory obligations in relation to a range of statutes, including the Public Health Act 2005.
The Department of Health (the Department) has a diverse set of responsibilities, and a common purpose of providing highly effective health system leadership. The Department is responsible for the overall strategic leadership and direction of the public health system in Queensland. We strongly believe in the need to work with people that value the goals of our organisation and who will thrive in our workplace.
- Adhere to defined service quality standards, health and safety policies and procedures relating to the work being undertaken to ensure high quality, safe services and workplaces.
- Proactively and effectively discharge the legislative responsibilities ascribed to the role. These responsibilities are diverse and relate to the health of the public and the operation of health and related sectors. These responsibilities are cross sector, statewide and have significant impact on both health professionals and non- health professionals. These responsibilities include providing:
- specified health services relevant to the portfolio.
- regulation and oversight of specified health related activities.
- specialist advice to senior government officers (including the Minister) on a range of matters relevant to the health of Queenslanders.
- analysis and reporting on health issues for the State of Queensland.
- Lead Queensland’s response to emergent health incidents, threats or related issues that require whole-of- jurisdiction response.
- Provide high quality advice, guidance and support to the Minister, the Director-General, other senior executives and government officials (including the Minister and Premier) in relation high level medical advice on health issues.
- Act as specialist resource and reference point for investigations regarding professional standards, negligence, adverse patient outcomes and health systems failure.
- Act as a specialist resource and reference point within the Agency for registration boards on issues of professional practice, leadership, standards and ethics
- Provide strategic leadership, advice and direction relating to system-wide public health, regulatory or health protection matters in Queensland, including acting as the spokesperson on matters of public interest that have a whole-of-State impact and representing Queensland on relevant national committees.
- Ability to identify, analyse and resolve systemic health service issues.
- Ensure effective engagement strategies are in place with key stakeholders to ensure appropriate collaboration occurs in the provision the government’s health agenda. Stakeholders include tertiary education institutions, other government agencies, other tiers of government, non-government providers, local GP’s, interest groups and private providers.
- Develop strategic guidance for areas of regulatory functions relating to public health and private health licensing as required under relevant legislation.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships and work collaboratively with Hospital and Health Services, government agencies and other key stakeholders to achieve successful implementation of Queensland’s priorities relating to public health and health protection.
- Provide effective departmental representation in high level negotiations and liaison with external organisations, other government departments and bodies [State and Commonwealth], major community organisations and non-government services providers.
- Represent the Director-General and Queensland Health in major consultation and negotiation initiatives on medical and health issues with academic institutions, professional specialists and general medical practitioners in Queensland.
- Actively engage as part of the Executive Leadership Team and contribute to strategic decisions that advance the interests of the Queensland health system and maintaining an in-depth understanding of all Executive portfolios, to facilitate the delivery of all portfolio objectives and to achieve the Department of Health’s strategic priorities.
- Ensure the operations of the Division are within budget, in accordance with Department of Health policy and whole-of-government requirement, aligned to the values of the Queensland Public Service.
- Drive measurable outcomes to achieve health equality with First Nations people by implementing system level improvements to support the delivery of Queensland Health’s First Nations Health Equity Strategies. In partnership with the Chief First Nations Health Officer, lead the First Nations health equity agenda and actively engage across the health system to share accountability to achieve health equity for and with First Nations peoples.
View the full scope of these in the Position Description.
Essential:
- A Medical Degree, supporting registration (or eligibility for registration) as a Medical Officer by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is mandatory for this role.
Highly regarded:
- Relevant post graduate qualifications.
- already be in a senior medical role with significant authority and accountability in administering statutory obligations and leading regulatory activities; and demonstrated experience in managing and responding to emergent and significant health threats including health pandemics.
- have a track record of being able to navigate highly sensitive issues with government focussed on achieving effective policy outcomes.
- demonstrate highly developed negotiation skills, political astuteness and intellectual flexibility.
- be an experienced media operator able to communicate complex issues with clarity, and perform well under pressure.
- have deep relationships/credibility with stakeholders across government, non-government and the private sector.
- be recognised as an assertive and confident decision maker, willing and able to make high stakes decisions.
- be highly resilient and be used to a highly demanding work environment.
- demonstrate the ability to work within a complex system or organisation with devolved accountabilities and responsibilities that require a detailed understanding of system leadership, risk management, strategic direction-setting and the challenges facing modern healthcare service delivery.
We are all leaders in the Department of Health, regardless of role or classification level. The department is committed to leadership at all levels of our organisation, in this role you will be required to display the following leadership behaviours:
- Leads strategically: thinks critically and acts on the broader purpose of the system.
- Makes insightful decisions: makes considered, ethical and courageous decisions based on insight into the broader context.
- Demonstrates sound governance: maintains a high standard of practice through governance and risk management.
- Drives accountability and outcomes: demonstrates accountability for the execution and quality of results through professionalism, persistence and transparency.
- Operates in a collegial and supportive fashion: assists all other QH executives in delivering on their personal accountabilities.
This position reports to the Director-General.
- Annual Budget: $8.2M
- Direct Reports: Eight
The total remuneration package range is from $323,399 - $419,034 per annum (total remuneration package)
Note: Where the successful candidate holds clinical qualifications remuneration may be negotiated
- New Government
- New Director-General
- Changing Health Landscape
- Increased demand for health
- Increasing Queensland population
- Rise of chronic conditions with no new revenue pathways
- Difficulty in attracting and retaining health workforce
- Keeping up with modern technologies and implementing so that Queensland Health remains at the forefront of best practice.
Service Location: Brisbane
Classification: HES 4
Reporting to the Director-General
- This position is required to travel and work across Queensland.
- The incumbent is required to operate a motor vehicle and as such, a current ‘C’ class license must be provided.
- It is a condition of employment for this role for the employee to be, and remain, vaccinated against the following vaccine preventable diseases during their employment (Health Employment Directive No. 01/16):
- measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
- varicella (chicken pox)
- pertussis (whooping cough)
- hepatitis B
- tuberculosis
The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 3 June 2025
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5154
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Bradie Hammat: M: +61 (0)417 882 900 / E: [email protected]
Your application must include:
- 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
- 2.A short-written response (maximum 2 pages, dot points acceptable) on how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities would enable you to achieve the key responsibilities and meet the skill requirements of the role; and
- 3.An up-to-date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Sarah Buckler
HG Queensland State Manager
M. +61 (0)429 486 740
LIVING AND WORKING IN BRISBANE
Brisbane offers a vibrant lifestyle in a city known for its friendly atmosphere, subtropical climate, and balance of urban and outdoor living.
As the capital of Queensland, Brisbane provides all the conveniences of a major city without the overwhelming hustle, making it an ideal place for both families and professionals.
Brisbane is famous for its stunning riverfront, thriving arts and dining scene, and numerous green spaces. Highlights include South Bank Parklands, with its cultural precinct and man-made beach, and the nearby Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, where you can get up close to native wildlife. The city also serves as a gateway to iconic destinations like the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Moreton Bay.
For families, Brisbane offers excellent education options, including public and private schools, as well as internationally recognised universities such as the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology. The city’s public transport network makes commuting to schools and workplaces straightforward.
BRISBANE Sign, South Bank Parklands
Lookout Trail, Mount Coot-tha
Brisbane’s housing market features a mix of modern apartments in the inner city and family-friendly suburbs with spacious homes. Compared to other Australian capitals, housing remains relatively affordable, and the quality of life is consistently high.
With its warm, sunny climate, relaxed pace, and diverse range of activities, Brisbane provides an appealing lifestyle for people of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you enjoy exploring markets, dining riverside, or simply relaxing outdoors, Brisbane has something to offer everyone.
ABOUT US
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Find and Grow Great Leaders - and we have been doing exactly that for more than 30 years in public and private health, primary, community and aged care as well as the broader public service.
Our synergistic business model of Executive Search and Recruitment integrated with Executive Leadership and Learning is our unique point of difference.
It ensures our clients can count on us for the lifecycle of their organisations leadership journey and why we are regarded as the leading trans-Tasman partner agency by clients.
When engaging HG you can be confident in a deeply personalised experience and service as nothing matters more to us than relationships and results.