DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
JOB & PERSON SPECIFICATION
NOVEMBER 2008
JOB SPECIFICATION
POSITION TITLE:
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
REPORTS TO:
Chief Executive Officer
LOCATION:
Brighton
EMPLOYMENT STATUS:
Contract – three years
Organisational environment
Minda is one of South Australia’s largest disability service providers. Since 1898 Minda has
been providing the highest quality of care and services to people with an intellectual
disability. Minda currently provides accommodation, employment and day option services
and support to well over 1,000 people with an intellectual disability.
Minda is a leader in various fields including staff accreditation, training, and the provision of
supported community living for people with an intellectual disability - through the provision of
services such as social work, psychology and respite for clients and their families.
Minda’s vision is to maximise choice and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities to
achieve their aspirations.
Our principal value is RESPECT for the people we work with, for the people we work for and
their rights and responsibilities.
Responsibility/accountability statement
The Deputy Chief Executive Officer is accountable for the provision of expert financial advice
to both Minda’s leadership group and Minda’s Board members. In addition, the role is
responsible for maintaining a strategic overview of the business, which includes valuation of
future opportunities and/or acquisition of commercial business and revenue streams,
identifying/developing the potential of the business, streamlining operations and seeking
improvements and continually optimising the assets and performance of Minda.
This critical role provides support to the CEO on all areas of operations and encompasses
the development of corporate strategy and the strategic and operational leadership of
Minda’s Corporate Services, which includes Capital and Property Development, Strategic
Procurement, Information Services, Finance and Investments and Risk Management.
Minda Incorporated
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Page 1
JOB SPECIFICATION
Key responsibilities
The key responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to :Key result areas
1.
Ensures the assessment, acquisition and development of commercial income
generating opportunities that are consistent with Minda’s organisational
objectives and strategic directions by :-

leading and developing financial strategies that ensures the ongoing viability of Minda;

overseeing and undertaking complex financial analysis employing contemporary
financial techniques to evaluate potential projects and strategies;

developing long term income generating strategies which take account of complex
policy, financial and corporate drivers;

consulting with other Executives to identify opportunities for commercial development
of their services or other services that have synergies with Minda’s core business;

maintaining a scan of other industries to identify business development or acquisition
opportunities that fit with Minda’s strategic directions;

providing financial oversight of project and business development;

analysing and managing financial business risks and probity issues with high levels of
financial ramifications;

managing acquisitions, tenders and bids as required;

overseeing of organisation supplier contracts.
2.
Actively participates in governance, business and strategic planning initiatives
and contributes to executive level decision making by :-

assisting the CEO with the development of a corporate strategic plan and the
development of key business performance indicators for the organisation;

overseeing the development, monitoring and reporting of organisational risk
management;

accountability for the development of long term financial projections and the annual
organisational budget;

ensuring the development of financial policies and procedures in asset management,
facilities planning and investment planning;

undertaking and providing strategic advice on market analysis and assessment of
financial trends to enable forecasting;

initiating and influencing, cross-divisional collaboration regarding financial decision
making in a manner which requires a sound level of judgement, responsibility and
decision making;
Minda Incorporated
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
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JOB SPECIFICATION
Key result areas (cont.)
3.

developing and maintaining consultative frameworks and processes that engage
the full range of stakeholders in the development of projects, recommendations and
advice;

achieves ongoing reduction of operating cost overheads by identifying business reengineering opportunities and by directing the establishment of cost management
and performance monitoring systems including identifying appropriate
benchmarking opportunities for the organization;

oversee procurement processes across the organisation and ensure maximum
benefits are realised through aggressive purchasing strategies;

Continually benchmark the operations of the corporate service departments with
both local and interstate ‘similar operations’.
Acts as the Strategic Financial Adviser to the CEO and Board by :
providing strategic leadership in negotiations with government and other agencies
in regard to the operating budget of the organisation, so that the financial resources
available to Minda are maximised to meet organisation objectives;

providing strategic leadership in the development of Minda’s operating budget
strategy so that client services are maximised;

ensuring that the CFO monitors the performance of the budget strategy and
providing advice on adjustments to the strategy so that the financial objectives of
the organisation are achieved;

ensuring capital financial planning and investment management and planning is in
support of Minda’s strategic mission and goals;

makes recommendations concerning the management of funds;

ensuring Minda’s physical and financial assets are utilised to maximise client
service provision;

ensuring the provision of timely and meaningful financial management reports by
the CFO to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Minda;

interpretation of statistical and accounting information to appraise operating results
in terms of costs, budgets, trends and deficiencies;

managing financial forecasts, including capital management, and the overall
balance sheet risk management within Board set policies and parameters;

development of short to long term funding plans for current and future expansion
projects, including accessing highly competitive and innovative funding;

providing expert advice on the development and use of financial models which
contribute to the efficient and effective financial analysis/modelling and
management of Minda’s finances, business development and assets;
Minda Incorporated
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
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JOB SPECIFICATION
Key result areas (cont.)
4.

providing ethical decision making in the achievement of organisational goals;

general oversight of the Company Secretarial functions.
Accountability for the provision of strategic and operational leadership to the
Corporate Services Division by :
providing leadership and contributing to the development, review and continual
improvement of the Corporate Services Business Plan and associated strategies
and plans;

ensuring mechanisms exist to evaluate services in order that they are efficiently
and effectively meeting the changing operational requirements of the organisation;

providing strategic advice and direction to the Corporate Services Managers and
represent them at executive and Board forums;

establishing Employee Development Plans (EDP) with Corporate Services
Managers and ensure regular EDP processes are in place for all staff;

ensuring the effective problem solving procedures are in place to facilitate
resolution of any conflict;

developing and maintain effective working relationships with Executives of other
divisions of Minda.
Reporting relationships
Positions reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer :





Senior Manager Finance
Internal Audit/Risk Management Consultant
Manager Capital and Property Development
Senior Manager IT
Procurement Manager
Administration Services Coordinator
This position involves extensive liaison with the Minda Board, as well as membership of
Board sub-committees and other relevant Committees as required.
Minda Incorporated
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
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JOB SPECIFICATION
Special conditions

some out of hours work may be required;

contractual conditions will apply;

current driver’s licence is essential;

must be prepared to relocate within the organisation should the need arise;

the incumbent will be required to enter into an annual performance agreement for the
achievement of outcomes;

the incumbent is required to hold a National Police Certificate (NPC) and continued
employment is subject to a satisfactory NPC.
Minda Incorporated
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Qualifications

tertiary qualifications in relevant field;

relevant business qualification;

member of relevant professional association.
DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS
Educational/vocational qualifications

project management qualification;

post graduate qualification in Business/MBA;

CA or CPA membership.
Personal abilities/aptitude/skills

demonstrated ability to resolve conflict to achieve positive outcomes;

skilled at monitoring multiple aspects of a business.
Experience

experience working in the community or not-for-profit sector or a strong understanding
of the relevant accountability requirements and constraints.
Knowledge

knowledge of emerging business trends;

understanding of challenges faced by the not-for-profit sector;

knowledge of legislative and governance frameworks and an understanding of
government reporting requirements.
Minda Incorporated
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Skills and competencies

high degree of initiative and self motivation;

demonstrated capability to think laterally and creatively and be innovative in finding
workable solutions to complex problems;

proven ability to gather, organise, evaluate and provide high level analysis of relevant
financial and economic data;

proven ability to develop and operate complex financial models;

ability to evaluate commercial business opportunities and financing structures;

ability to develop strategic management and operating principles and objectives to
guide decision making;

proven ability to liaise effectively, including consultation and negotiation with a range of
stakeholders to facilitate their cooperation and support to achieve targeted outcomes;

proficient interpersonal skills and possess an ability to build effective working
relationships within all levels of the organisation, key clients and other internal and
external stakeholders;

proven effective commercial negotiation skills;

ability to contribute effectively and strategically to a multi-disciplinary professional
management team;

ability to provide leadership in the development and completion of innovative, creative
and high quality project work from development to completion and evaluation;

ability to prioritise workload and meet multiple agreed deadlines;

proficiency in providing team leadership, direction and support;

high personal and business ethics;

highly developed computing skills (including spreadsheet capabilities).
Experience

extensive commercial sector experience in multiple environments;

a proven track record in business development and strategic growth;

experience in developing contracts/services agreements;

practical experience in project management.
Minda Incorporated
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
Knowledge

developed understanding of human resources issues in a growing organisation
environment;

high level of knowledge with strategic business planning processes;

high level knowledge of the technical principles underpinning project evaluation
including financial evaluations and conceptual differences to economic evaluations;

knowledge of business evaluation and valuation techniques and commercial financial
structures.
Note: This position description represents the job as it is today, however Minda
reserves the right to make changes to the position as required.
Minda Incorporated
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
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HOW TO APPLY
Applications should be forwarded to Heidi Jones by e-mail to 11168@hender.com.au
Telephone enquiries are welcome on (08) 8100 8807 or to Julie Fleet on (08) 8100 8806.
Applications close Wednesday 3 December 2008.
Please note
Your application will be automatically acknowledged by a return e-mail.
Minda Incorporated
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
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