Deputy Chief Executive Officer

at  Lowitja Institute

ABOUT THE LOWITJA INSTITUTE

Lowitja Institute is Australia’s only national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health research institute, named in honour of its patron, Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG. It is working for the health and wellbeing of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by facilitating high-impact quality research and knowledge exchange, and by supporting a new generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researchers. Established in January 2010, Lowitja Institute operates on key principles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, a broader understanding of health that incorporates wellbeing, and the need for the work to have a clear and positive impact

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of matters concerning the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver successful business development outcomes to drive organisational change.
• Experience working in Executive teams and with Boards, including proven capability to implement Strategic and Business Plans in a timely and effective manner, and monitor and report on progress in line with budgets.
• Experience working in Executive positions in complex, multi-stakeholder environments and across a range of levels, sectors and settings.
• Excellent knowledge of governance, financial and risk management.
• Demonstrated understanding of cultural safety in an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander context and the ability to foster a culturally safe environment.
• Tertiary qualifications and experience in a relevant discipline.
• Ability to undertake interstate travel, and international travel where required, and to work out of hours.
  Please note that you must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent to be eligible for this role. Lowitja Institute considers that being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent is a genuine occupational qualification under section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic). This position is funded for two years. Past this date the continuation of this role will be subject to ongoing funding.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY

Our national office is on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge the more than 250 nations of sovereign Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have lived across this broad continent and islands for thousands of years, prior to colonisation and who remain here, and pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Deputy CEO will work closely with the CEO in executing the Strategic Plan and Business Plan for the Institute. The Deputy CEO will oversee and support implementation of the Organisational Development Plan, so the organisation’s staff and systems are well equipped to deliver on the priorities of the organisation.
The Deputy CEO will support all staff to build collegiality and a sense of belongingness within and across organisational teams and foster a flourishing workplace culture that promotes the values of the Lowitja Institute.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the CEO to implement the Strategic Plan.
• Support the CEO to develop and implement the Business Plan.
• Support the CEO with governance and operational matters.
• Oversee and support monitoring and evaluation activities within the organisation.
• Oversee and support a high performance and culturally safe staff team.
• Support the CEO to maintain high quality systems, policies and procedures for risk management, financial management and compliance.
• Assist the CEO to achieve long term sustainability of the organisation.
• Represent the organisation at public and partnership events, in particular connection and consultation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Lowitja Institute initiated projects.
• Deputise for the CEO, where required.
• Other duties as required by the CEO.

PURPOSE

Lowitja Institute will continue its commitment to pursuing a new generation of solutions that make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We will facilitate knowledge creation and translation that benefits Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples first and foremost.
To do this, we will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities and collective ways of working. We will ensure that our work recognises the strength and agency of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The knowledge that we provide will be culturally, ethically and intellectually rigorous.