Executive leadership opportunity driving the alignment of services and strategically leading and enhancing service delivery. Promote clinical effectiveness, workplace innovation and advocate for Allied Health integration within broader healthcare initiatives
The Brief
In late 2024, Future Leadership was engaged to support the appointment of a Executive Director Subacute Services and Allied Health. The incoming Executive Director would be responsible for leading multidisciplinary teams within Sub Acute and Allied Health Services, ensuring a culture of safety, quality and continuous improvement. The Executive Director would develop and implement innovative strategies to advance Allied Health practices and service delivery standards.
A detailed briefing was held where is was identified the ideal candidate would possess the following attributes:
- Ability to build strong relationships and engage the Allied Health community to deliver improved health outcomes for the future.
- Highly strategic and operational lens
- Creativity and openness to develop and implement new models of care and service delivery.
- Expertise in leading Allied Health staff in complex multidisciplinary settings undergoing reform.
- Strong cultural competence, incorporating the Aboriginal Liaison unit in the portfolio
- An executive leader who embeds the voice of the consumer into the service strategies and delivery of quality health care outcomes.
- Inspirational leadership style to achieve objectives and manage change in this dynamic setting.
Candidate net Promote Score
Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.
Candidates supported every year
We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.
Senior Women Appointed since 2002
Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.
Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002
Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!
The Process
The Future Leadership team, led by Sandra Kerr, held a detailed briefing process which provided the framework for the Future Leadership search strategy.
The selection panel was kept up to date on progress throughout the search with regular updates from the lead Consultant. The Future Leadership team provided a shortlist of three candidates, including a debrief with a Future Leadership Organisation Psychologist who presented responses to the psychometric assessments as aligned to the Future Leadership Capability Framework. Panel interviews followed, which were supported by Future Leadership, including management of all logistics and provision of interview questions. The lead consultant completed 360 degree reference checking for the preferred candidate, and supported the negotiation phase to confirm the appointment.
Key steps included:
- Targeted Search and Talent Pooling: Future Leadership™ conducted a comprehensive search process targeting potential candidates within the sector.
- Comprehensive Shortlisting: The client was presented with a short list of highly qualified candidates with exceptional experience.
- Panel Interviews and Strategic Presentation: The Future Leadership™ team worked closely with the client to complete panel interviews, plus full referencing and required probity checking to confirm an appointment.
Emerging Capabilities
Culture & Engagement
Fosters a positive culture, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. Creates an environment that encourages diverse perspectives and facilitates a psychologically safe environment.
Organisational Capability
Understands the organisation's future requirements and identifies opportunities to build potential across the organisation. Seeks opportunities to develop other people and takes appropriate action to address skill gaps in others.
Innovation & Creativity
Demonstrates curiosity through challenging the status quo, expected norms, and workplace paradigms. Contributes new ideas, solutions, and perspectives to current challenges and thinking practices. Creates new products, solutions and opportunities and identifies opportunities for improvements.
Systems Thinking
Views situations in their entirety, understanding all the parts at play. Identifies the interconnected factors and how they influence each other, impacting the whole system. Takes a strategic perspective.
Strategy & Purpose
Develops and leads strategy for the function /organisation, taking a broad and long-term perspective. Understands and considers context. Communicates and gains buy-in to the function/organisation goals, direction and vision, promoting change initiatives.
Commercial Acumen
Provides a deep understanding of relevant industry, marketplace and business drivers as applicable to the organisation. Leverages the application of commercial tools and frameworks to manage opportunities, conflicts and trade-offs.
The Outcome
Commencing in January 2025, the successful appointee presented presented with a key leadership strength of building strong relationships across many service areas and diverse groups. Their experience working in a Regional Local Health Network for many years afforded the appointee insight and understanding of the challenges for regional and remote families and services.
In their new position, the Executive Director will play a key leadership role in advocating for Allied Health integration within broader healthcare initiatives, leveraging state-wide and national policies to drive excellence, supporting patient care advancements. As a member of the executive team, the Executive Director will contribute to sustainable operational efficiency, continuous service performance and network-wide planning and leadership, building strategic partnerships and influencing health reforms at state level and will contribute to the strategic direction of a growing specialist health network, supporting better health outcomes in the field.
