Chief Executive Officer

• Join a Progressive Council and Team
• Abundant Opportunities for further Economic and Community Development 
• Up to $200K + 12% Super + FMV + 3 Bedroom House

Highly rewarding, pivotal Council CEO role managing a dedicated team making a recognised difference in the community. Continue driving further transformation & growth.

About the Organisation

Hope Vale is located 370 kms north of Cairns and 46 kms Northwest of Cooktown on the Cape York Peninsula. Located in a valley, the Shire incorporates 110,000 hectares of land comprising various landscapes, including significant wetlands, freshwater springs, rivers, and beaches. The township of Hope Vale is surrounded by ranges, coastal dunes, coloured sands, and beaches. The township is a 30-minute drive from Elim Beach (home of the famous coloured sands) and Cape Bedford. The road is now sealed between Hope Vale and Cooktown which has improved connectivity to the township, particularly during the wet season.

Land in the Shire is made up of parcels that are Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) tenure under the trusteeship of the Council for the town designated DOGIT, land under the trusteeship of the Hope Vale Congress Corporation and large block of freehold. Part of this freehold block has been subdivided to provide a subdivision for freehold residential allotments.

The Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council consists of the Mayor and four (4) councillors and the Executive Management Team is made up of the Chief Executive Officer and senior managers in the following areas.

• Finance
• Social Services
• Operations

The annual budget for the Council is approximately $25M with a staff establishment of around 70 people. The Council Chambers are in Hope Vale but they also have an established office in Cairns.

Council prides itself on its governance and financial management practices. In this regard, it has been able to achieve a low risk financial sustainability rating for the past 12 years in a row and has been able to finalise annual financial statements signed off by the Queensland Audit office in early August for the past 12 years as well.

Council has been able to establish good business practices in its operational areas and maintains Principal Contractor status for all building construction works and civil construction works undertaken by Council in Hope Vale. 

Other services provided by Council from a social perspective include an Aged Care Facility, a Commonwealth Home Support Program, an Indigenous Knowledge Centre, a radio station, a Youth Service, a Child Care/Day Care Centre, and a Kindergarten.

The Role       

Council is seeking to appoint a community focused leader to drive the organisation forward on a trajectory of enhanced operational performance to ultimately deliver superior outcomes and services to the community.

Reporting to and working closely with Council, you will truly embed yourself within the community. Developing an action orientated approach for Council that will contribute to the region's prosperity and managing the resources of Council effectively and efficiently ensuring sustainable performance will be underpinned by a high level of service delivery and evidence of a positive and engaged workforce.

In addition, the CEO will be required to liaise with various Government Departments, Agencies and Funding bodies on a regular basis.

THE CANDIDATE BRIEFING DOCUMENT CAN BE ACCESSED HERE

About You

Working either at Director level and ready to ‘step up’ or currently as a CEO you have a strong track record leading and managing in Local Government and are a ‘self-starter’, an independent thinker and renowned for your strong passion for and connection to Indigenous communities. Your leadership capability will be underpinned by a solid and rigorous track record of growing the capability of your staff and for your passion to add value and motivate those around you to ‘come on the journey’.

Understandably, you have highly developed organisational skills including a demonstrated ability to effectively plan, program, organise and schedule several diverse tasks and projects. Preparing budgets, monitoring budget expenditure, and providing activity reports to Council will be underpinned by a flexible disposition and an ability to deal with complexity and the nuances of stakeholder management in a council environment.

Renowned for your ability to lead and implement change, optimise operational effectiveness and efficiency you are confident in your ability to lead an organisation with an outcome focussed culture. Excellent communication skills are required as well as the confidence and ability to develop constructive relationships with Council, the community and key stakeholders including at State and Federal government level.

Why this Role?

Living and working in Hope Vale offers a diversity of experiences both personally and professionally, that would be hard to equal anywhere else in Australia. You will enjoy living and working in a geographically beautiful location and enjoy the benefit of a handover from the current CEO. Hope Vale is QLD’s least remote ‘remote’ community.  It is only 20mins on sealed road to Cooktown airport with easy connectivity to Cairns and down the Eastern Seaboard.  The CEO accommodation in Hope Vale is far superior to most Council Housing across the State.  It is located within the Hope Vale private estate in quiet surroundings and has 3 bedrooms and is fully air conditioned with gardens surrounding the property.

Hope Vale has a good level of governance and is arguably regarded as one of the Councils that ‘leads the way’ in QLD Local Government.

Relocation Assistance will be provided together with a salary of up to $200K dependent upon experience, 12.5% Super, FMV, House and 5 weeks annual leave.

How to Apply

Before you apply for this position, please read the position description carefully to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position.  You will be required to answer a few questions that relate to the criteria on the online application below.  Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume.  A cover letter is not mandatory, but may be added if so desired. When uploading your Resume or documents please ensure file names should only include 'A-z', '0-9', '.' and '-' characters.

PLEASE NOTE: Once you have commenced your application you cannot save and continue at a later stage. 

Applications will close at 10pm on Monday 13th May 2024.

For a confidential conversation, please call Rona Horsfall on 0438 943854 at Peak Recruitment Services.