- Lead strategy, planning and major capital infrastructure across a complex and high-impact regional health service
- Work directly with the Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team to shape long-term system performance and sustainability
- Play a pivotal role in aligning future service models with significant infrastructure investment and community need
- Enjoy an exceptional Far North Queensland lifestyle while delivering meaningful outcomes for diverse and remote communities
THE OPPORTUNITY
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service is a leading regional health provider delivering comprehensive services to a population of more than 250,000 people, while also supporting remote communities across Cape York and the Torres Strait. The service operates an extensive network of facilities across a vast geographical footprint and plays a critical role as the primary referral centre for Far North Queensland. Like many contemporary health systems, the organisation is navigating increasing demand, workforce pressures, and the need to align infrastructure and service models with changing community needs and government priorities. This role has been established to provide executive leadership across strategy, planning and infrastructure, ensuring the organisation’s future directions are underpinned by robust evidence, sustainable investment and integrated service design. Working at the centre of executive decision-making, the position is integral to delivering the organisation’s strategic plan, guiding major capital investment and strengthening long-term system performance.
THE ROLE
The Executive Director Strategy, Planning and Infrastructure Services reports to the Chief Executive and leads a significant portfolio encompassing service planning, capital infrastructure and strategic development. The role provides authoritative advice to the Executive Leadership Team on capital planning and delivery, ensuring major infrastructure programs are planned, governed and executed to achieve agreed outcomes across time, cost and quality. It leads the development of long-term service plans aligned to population demand, workforce capability and models of care, while integrating these with infrastructure investment and organisational strategy.
The position is accountable for overseeing complex capital projects, including the analysis of delivery options, risk management, stakeholder engagement and compliance with government frameworks, while ensuring projects support clinical service delivery and future growth. In parallel, the role drives strategic planning cycles, including the preparation and execution of multi-year strategic and operational plans, and provides oversight of sustainability initiatives, accommodation planning and organisational priorities. Working closely with clinicians, executives, government agencies and external partners, the Executive Director fosters strong relationships to enable integrated planning, supports major negotiations and represents the organisation at senior forums. Leadership of multidisciplinary teams and external providers is a key component of the position, ensuring high performance, effective governance and continuous improvement across the portfolio.
The Executive Director Strategy, Planning and Infrastructure Services will play a central role in readying the organisation for a historic $1bn investment underway to create a leading health research and innovation precinct—ensuring it is strategically, operationally and culturally positioned to fully realise this opportunity.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate will be an accomplished senior executive with deep experience in complex health or related service environments, bringing a strong track record in leading strategic planning, infrastructure programs or large-scale organisational initiatives. A demonstrated capacity to operate confidently at executive and system level will be critical, with the ability to provide clear, evidence-based advice in environments shaped by competing priorities, policy considerations and resource constraints. Experience delivering measurable improvements in organisational performance, guiding major projects or service reforms, and leading high-performing teams through complexity and change will be essential. You will demonstrate strong interpersonal capability, enabling effective engagement with clinicians, executives, government stakeholders and Boards while building trusted relationships and aligning diverse interests to achieve outcomes. Personal qualities such as integrity, resilience and adaptability will be complemented by a pragmatic, analytical approach to problem-solving and decision-making. An individual motivated by the opportunity to shape service and infrastructure outcomes will find significant scope to apply their expertise in delivering meaningful, system-wide impact across a diverse and regionally significant community.
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:
Sarah Buckler
HG Principal Consultant
M. +61 (0)429 486 740 | E. sbuckler@hardygroupintl.com
HOW TO APPLY
The closing date for applications is Thursday, 2 July 2026
The reference number to include in your application is H26_5526.
