Director - Priority Populations

Are you a strategic health or community services leader committed to improving equity and outcomes for communities experiencing disadvantage? 

Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN is a not for profit organisation that works at a regional level to achieve improved whole of system health care. 

Our key objectives are to:

• increase the efficiency and effectiveness of health services for patients—particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes, and

• improve coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Our PHN achieves this by working with local health care stakeholders and community to:

• fund programs and services based on local health needs;

• support primary health care professionals, like GPs, general practice staff and allied health professionals, to improve the care they provide to their patients; and

• support the development of a local sustainable health care workforce.

About the role:

We are seeking an experienced and values-driven Director – Priority Populations to lead the design and delivery of our Priority Populations Program. This senior leadership role will drive evidence-based, person-centred commissioning responses that address service gaps, improve access, and deliver measurable health outcomes across the region.

About the Role

Reporting to the Executive Director, Strategic Commissioning, you will lead a well-established, high-performing team and oversee a significant portfolio focused on improving health outcomes for:

• Children and young people

• Older people

• Culturally and linguistically diverse communities and people with a refugee background

• People experiencing or at risk of homelessness

 You will ensure commissioned services align with the PHN Strategic Plan, meet population health needs, and comply with relevant Department of Health Disability and Ageing and other funder requirements.

This role blends strategic vision, systems leadership and operational excellence, with strong stakeholder engagement across the health and community sectors.

 Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of regional and place-based strategies to improve health outcomes for priority populations.

• Provide strategic advice and thought leadership to inform innovative, evidence-based service delivery models.

• Identify system-level service gaps and access issues and work collaboratively with partners to implement sustainable solutions.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with PHNs, Hospital and Health Services, government agencies, peak bodies and local providers.

• Ensure robust governance and business practices across the commissioning lifecycle.

• Oversee program reporting, budget management, risk management and portfolio performance.

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team.

• Contribute as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, enabling cross-organisational collaboration and integrated ways of working.

 About You

You are an accomplished senior leader with experience in health, human services, community services or public health planning.

You will bring:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and substantial leadership experience in complex health or community environments.

• Strong understanding of contemporary evidence-based service delivery and policy frameworks relevant to priority populations.

• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale or long-term change initiatives.

• Proven capability in strategic planning, commissioning oversight and performance management.

• Experience embedding co-production and lived experience in program design and delivery.

• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.

• Highly developed strategic thinking and problem-solving capability.

• Strong cultural awareness and the ability to role model culturally responsive practice.