About the Organisation

One of the world's most iconic charitable humanitarian organisations, St John Ambulance, has been enhancing the lives of Queenslanders and building safe and resilient communities for over 140 years in Australia.

Every day, we continue our mission in the community through services and charitable programs, comprehensive education and training, quality first aid supplies, prehospital first aid, and remote ophthalmic services.

The Order of St John has been famous for caregiving since around 1100AD, when a hospital was established in Jerusalem, to treat pilgrims who had traveled for months to the Holy City. In 1882, St John established the world's first eye hospital in Jerusalem at the behest of Queen Victoria. It continues today.

About the Role 

St John Ambulance Qld is seeking a General Manager to join our dynamic team. The General Manager (GM) is responsible for enabling a sustainable business that balances commercial viability and community mindedness for the delivery of humanitarian programs, in particular, the stewardship and operation of the St John EYE Van. You will also be responsible for:  

• Day-to-day oversight and participation in the management of Ophthalmic Programs, the operation of the EYE Van, and its preparedness for the defined task.
• The relationships and contribution of Partners and Stakeholders to the EYE Van and Ophthalmic Programs.
• Management of the culturally safe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clinics in partnership with ACCHO's and clinical teams.
• A small team of employees and volunteer clinical staff, ensuring capability needs and performance expectations are understood and managed.
• Exploring opportunities to expand the remit of the EYE Van model, developing new models of operation, and the funding streams to support such opportunities.
• Working closely with the CEO to develop and achieve the strategic plan, manage the external and internal operations of the organisation, and provide consistent high-level advice on operations, policy, and planning.

The GM will champion the humanitarian values, mission and objectives of St John Ambulance Qld.

About You 

A considerate and engaging person, you will be a natural leader and relationship manager with a people-first approach. While performance-focused, you will be governance-oriented and committed to excellence and long-term sustainability. You must have:

• Proven ability in business strategy, including new models of operation, value proposition, and competitive advantage development.
• Proven experience in operational management, with a track record of successfully managing complex operations.
• Excellent communication skills, with advanced interpersonal and leadership skills to manage and motivate a team to drive results.

Education and Experience

At least 10 years of management experience within a private sector commercial context is essential. You must have a minimum of 5 years' experience in leading operations. You should also have:

• Demonstrated experience in managing a sustainable business, with commercial viability and community-mindedness.
• Demonstrated practical skills in leading a team of engaged employees, ensuring capability needs and performance expectations are understood and managed.

Key Selection Criteria

To be successful in this role, you must be/have:

• An experienced executive in a multifaceted commercial organisation with a strong interest in “giving back”. 
• Demonstrated ability in operational, commercial, and strategic leadership qualities appropriate for a client-centred organisation operating in a dynamic landscape.
• A hands-on operator prepared to be a working member of a small team.
• Demonstrated ability in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships, e.g. private sector, government, community, and business leaders.
• Experience in working with the indigenous community is not essential, although the candidate must display an understanding of, and empathy with the issues facing the Indigenous Community, particularly in the health sector.

Benefits and Applications

• This is a permanent full-time position based in a busy and dynamic organisation. 
• Charity and Not-for-Profit sector tax benefits via salary packaging - package up to $15,900 per year tax free! Less tax = more take home pay for you. Plus, up to a further $2,650 of your pre-tax income to pay for entertainment.

If you are a motivated and experienced operator with a passion for making a difference, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter outlining your experience and suitability for the role.

St John Ambulance Qld employs on merit, and values diversity in their workforce to reflect the inclusive and diverse profile of their staff, community and client base.

Candidates are welcome to contact HR - [email protected] using the subject line: General Manager - Ophthalmic Programs enquiry via EthicalJobs for assistance with any questions.