General Manager, Strategy & Development

Summary about this job

Detail information about job General Manager, Strategy & Development. Terms and conditions vacancy

About the Organisation

Connections is a not-for-profit community service organisation that provides individual support, training, programs and advocacy in the support of mental health and wellbeing. Connections vision is to Improve Mental Health in the Community and achieves this by providing relevant evidence-based learning and life skill development programs that assist in the facilitation of recovery.

Connections is committed to supporting people to be well resourced and make choices regarding all aspects of their individual support.  We encourage the people we work with to make informed decisions about every day and long-term lifestyle issues, and to direct their own journey towards wellbeing and recovery.  Each person’s individual needs are identified, and the planning offered will be responsive to these needs. Connections acknowledges its responsibility to respond to the individual need of each client, and ensures that the persons plan is guided by an individual’s goals and aspirations.

Connections also recognises each person’s right to the social justice principle of self-determination. It is committed to service provision in a manner that is consistent with the principles of dignity of risk and duty of care. Connections promotes the rights of people who experience mental illness and / or psychiatric disability to be active and valued members of their community. Participants are encouraged and supported to develop strategies which enable them to manage their mental illness and recovery.  We see ourselves as an agent for change rather than just a service provider, where we acknowledge people who use our services strengths and abilities, and work on expanding on people’s capabilities.

Connections also understands and values the need for activities, information, training and workshops to be delivered within the community, which assists people to understand and manage their own mental health and wellbeing.

Connections Inc. is predominately funded by the Queensland Health and the Department of Communities, Disability Services and seniors to provide recovery learning and living programs for adults who experience the negative impacts of mental health or a resulting psychiatric disability. Connections Inc operates under the regulations of the Human Services Act 2006, Disability Services Standards, and all relevant Industrial Relations requirements.

About the role

This role requires the expertise of a strategic but happily hands on General Manager that has the ability to lead and manage a dynamic small mental health service into the NDIS.  The development of fundamental client services and marketing models that have a strong analysis and business plan around them coupled with the ability to formalise and implement effectively is essential. The General Manager will have the ability to develop the service to meet the changing needs in the sector, have marketing experience and an awareness of the NDIS and recent reforms that impact on the sector. This role is pivotal to developing our fee for service business ensuring that our participants receive the support they need within their NDIS plans and broader community. 

This role requires someone who thrives in a challenging environment, and appreciates the challenge of working in small organisation that strives for big things.  A suitably qualified candidate coupled with strategic vision and development skills, commercial acumen and the ability to roll their sleeves up is absolutely critical. You experience in a similar environment will mean you have demonstrated your capability to effectively market new service centric provisions to new markets and achieve targeted outcomes.

You will bring with you:

·     a passion and commitment for the vision / mission of Connections Inc. and a desire to be a part of improving mental health in the community

·     a minimum of 2 years experience in a similar management role

·     strong ability to align Connections Inc. management, staff, volunteers and other stakeholders with Connections Inc. mission

·     a record of achievement in a similar leadership role involving Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Quality Assurance and Strategic Planning

·     strong leadership ability with demonstrated ability to motivate and inspire others to work together as a team to achieve objectives

·     significant experience in providing leadership in a climate of continuing change, with demonstrated success in increasing the effectiveness and accountability of the organisation

·     high level ability to analyse and conceptualise problems, formulate and execute appropriate solutions and negotiate successful outcomes in an innovative and resourceful manner

·     highly developed interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to effectively foster stakeholder relationships

·     proven ability to take responsibility for and prioritise work, delegate work as required, and complete tasks within given timeframes

·     an awareness of the NDIS and ability to structure the organisation to develop and grow in the new environment of service provision and funding.

If you are interested in this opportunity with Connections Inc. please submit your CV and responses to the Key Selection Criteria. PD available with Selection Criteria via contact below. Applications close on July 22nd.

Submissions and enquiries about this opportunity should be addressed to:

Lisa Denham

Secretary, Board of Governance

PO Box 151

Caboolture QLD 4510

Or via email to

[email protected]