Director Intensive Care, Women’s and Perioperative Services

• Live and work in one of the most popular locations in the world
• Drive strategic leadership across Intensive Care, Women’s Health and Perioperative Services
• Be a part of a high functioning executive team serving the health needs of an ever expanding and diversifying community in Far North Queensland

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) is seeking an experienced Director Intensive Care, Women’s and Perioperative Services to be part of their executive leadership team.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service provide an extensive range of health services at more than 30 regional, rural and remote facilities across a geographical area of 142,900 square kilometres. The outer western region of the service encompasses extremely remote communities, and it is estimated that 12% of the population are Indigenous Australian. The CHHHS is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all people in Far North Queensland. The Health Service is 95 percent self-sufficient with only a small number of high-level acute services being provided in Townsville and Brisbane.

Cairns is a welcoming and multicultural city and a fantastic place to live with world class cafés, bars and restaurants thriving community markets. It is close to plenty of picturesque beaches often with resort style living options. Cairns is the international gateway to The Great Barrier Reef and The Wet Tropics rainforest. There is easy access to and from Cairns and most capital cities in Australia through the Cairns International Airport which is only 7km from the CBD. Compared with most Australian cities the cost of housing is much more affordable in Cairns along with affordable childcare, and a great choice of primary schools and secondary schools.

THE ROLE

The Director, Intensive Care, Women’s and Perioperative Services reports to the Chief Operating Officer and is accountable for the strategic leadership, governance, and operational performance of a diverse portfolio including Perioperative Services, Surgical Wards, Women’s Health, and the Intensive Care Unit at Cairns Hospital. This role represents a single point of accountability for achieving clinical, operational, and financial outcomes across these critical service areas, ensuring alignment with the CHHHS vision, strategic plan, and service agreements with Queensland Health.

As a senior member of the Executive Management Team, the Director will play a pivotal role in shaping the delivery of safe, effective, and sustainable care across the Cairns and Hinterland region. With CHHHS serving more than 30 facilities across 142,900 square kilometres, the Director will lead services that are central to the hospital’s role as a major provider of acute and specialist care in Far North Queensland.

This executive position requires balancing complex clinical environments with strong financial and workforce management, overseeing a portfolio with an annual budget of $235 million and responsibility for more than 1,000 staff. The Director will foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, while ensuring services are responsive to community needs and aligned with CHHHS’s commitment to First Peoples Health Equity.

THE CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Alignment with CHHHS values of Compassion, Accountability, Integrity, and Respect.
• Executive leadership experience in managing large, complex health service portfolios.
• Strategic planning capability and strong business acumen in healthcare delivery.
• Commitment to safety and quality, with a track record of achieving accreditation and clinical governance outcomes.
• High-level communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with sensitivity to cultural complexities.
• Ability to lead high-performing teams, drive organisational change, and foster innovation in service delivery.

Candidates must prepare a response to the above selection criteria of not more than two pages. They must include a resume and a cover letter outlining their value proposition and interest in the role.

HOW TO APPLY

The closing date for applications is Monday, 22 December 2025. The reference number to include in your application is H25_5309.