About the Role
Reporting directly to the CEO, this role sits at the core of the organisation’s leadership team and strategic direction.
You will lead, coach and inspire a small, high-calibre team of policy and stakeholder engagement professionals—creating a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous development. At the same time, you will drive strategic policy leadership, shaping national conversations on major reforms and broader pharmaceutical policy settings.
This is a role that balances vision and execution—from influencing government policy and representing the organisation in senior forums, to guiding your team through delivery, prioritisation and performance.
You will also play a critical role in harnessing the collective voice of members, aligning diverse perspectives, and building trusted partnerships across government, industry, academia and patient groups.
What You’ll Be Accountable For
- Leading and developing a high-performing team—coaching, mentoring and empowering individuals to deliver excellence
- Driving strategic policy development and advocacy, including submissions, reform agendas and evidence-based positions
- Designing and executing multi-stakeholder engagement strategies that strengthen influence and impact
- Building deep, trusted relationships with member organisations, senior government stakeholders and industry leaders
- Fostering a collaborative, member-focused culture that delivers value and aligns diverse views
- Representing the organisation in high-level policy forums, committees and working groups
- Ensuring policy positions are underpinned by robust research, data and insight
Who We’re Looking For
You are an accomplished policy leader with a strong track record in regulated environments, ideally within healthcare, pharmaceuticals or a related sector.
Beyond technical capability, you are a people-first leader—someone who invests in their team, builds trust quickly, and knows how to create alignment in complex, membership-based environments.
You will bring:
- Proven people leadership experience, including mentoring, coaching and building high-performing teams
- Experience leading within complex stakeholder ecosystems, balancing diverse and sometimes competing interests
- A collaborative, low-ego leadership style, with the ability to influence without authority
- Demonstrated agility and resilience, thriving in fast-moving, evolving environments
- Strong judgement, with the ability to operate autonomously while staying aligned to strategic priorities
- Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills across senior audiences
You are equally comfortable setting direction at a strategic level and rolling up your sleeves to deliver outcomes alongside your team.
Why Join
This is a purpose-driven, member-based organisation at the forefront of Australia’s healthcare system.
Here, you’ll find:
- A high-impact leadership role with national visibility
- The opportunity to shape policy that directly affects patient access and health outcomes
- A strong, values-led culture grounded in collaboration, integrity and excellence
- A chance to lead, grow and develop a team, leaving a lasting leadership legacy
- Exposure to some of the most pressing and complex policy challenges in the sector
Location & Travel
Open to candidates based in Canberra, Sydney or Melbourne, with regular travel to Canberra (approximately fortnightly). Accommodation support provided where required.
Why This Role Matters
The decisions you help shape in this role will influence how—and when—Australians access the medicines they need.
Few roles offer this level of professional purpose, where policy meets people, and leadership drives outcomes that matter at a national scale.
How to Apply
On Q Recruitment is proud to be exclusively managing this executive search.
To apply, please submit:
- Your current CV
- A cover letter addressing:
- Your experience in health or regulated policy environments
- Examples of leading and developing high-performing teams
- Your ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders
�55357;�56517; Applications close: 1 June 2026
(Reviewed on a rolling basis—early applications encouraged)
For a confidential discussion, please contact Catherine O’Mahony or Jodie Jokhan.
