(AS868) Vet Board – CEO

The Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria (Vet Board) is an independent statutory authority that upholds and advances standards of veterinary care, animal health and welfare in Victoria.
  
Reporting to a professional board of directors, you will lead and motivate a small, collaborative team of high performers, who share the common goal of enabling the Victorian veterinary profession to be the best that it can be for the benefit of animals, consumers and veterinary professionals.
  
A well credentialed, strategic, and influential leader with proven success in complex stakeholder engagement, you combine business acumen and system enhancement expertise with an excellent knowledge of compliance and the machinery of government. You excel in the realm of governance and are a natural influencer with the emotional intelligence to rally support.

To apply – Please view the Position Profile on www.brookerconsulting.com.au under Current Opportunities and click on “Apply for Job” attaching a tailored CV (Word version) by 5pm Monday 7 August or call Jeremy Wurm on 0419 529 525 or Lesley Lightfoot on 0458 543 485, to enquire.

Position Profile

Direct reports: Investigation Manager, Finance Manager, Registrations and Communications Manager
Reports to: The Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria (the Board)

  
ABOUT THE BOARD

The Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria (the Vet Board) is an independent statutory authority which works to guide sustained provision of quality veterinary care across Victoria. The purpose of the Vet Board is to protect both the public and the health and welfare of animals, by regulating veterinary practitioners in Victoria through the effective administration of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997 (the Act).

What we do
The Vet Board achieves its purpose by:

• Registering persons who comply with the requirements of the Act as veterinary practitioners and veterinary specialists in Victoria,
• Recognising qualifications and accrediting courses of training which provide qualifications for registration as veterinary practitioners and specialists,
• Establishing expectations of competency in veterinary practice,
• Investigating the professional conduct or fitness to practise of registered veterinary practitioners and imposing sanctions where necessary,
• Issuing guidelines about appropriate standards of veterinary practice and veterinary facilities, and
• Advising the Minister on any matters relating to the function of the Board and when so requested by the Minister to give any information reasonably required by the Minister.

Our Values
The Vet Board encourages a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement, embodying the values of integrity, impartiality, responsiveness, respect and leadership.
The Vet Board is an equal opportunities employer.
  
POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for strategic and operational leadership and management of a small collaborative, high performing team, to enable our professional regulatory body to achieve its vision and statutory purpose by delivering the Vet Board’s strategic priorities and objectives.
Purpose of the role

The purpose of the CEO role is to:

• Foster a strong, positive organisational culture by demonstrating, enabling and embedding agreed values and behaviours.
• Provide inspiring, constructive leadership and skilled human resource management that enables, guides and encourages high performing teamwork.
• Consultatively develop our Strategic Plan. Lead its delivery, Measure and report on its implementation and achievement of strategic priorities and objectives.
• Ensure our organisation has the appropriate resources, including people, structure, systems and reporting, policies, processes and finances, to sustainably support our strategic priorities and objectives.
• Build strong engagement and collaborative relationships with external stakeholders, including Vet Board service users, government, other regulators, legal service providers and peak bodies.
• Oversee the registration of veterinary practitioners in Victoria and safeguard the Register of Veterinary Practitioners.

Accountabilities

The CEO is accountable to the statutory Board for managing the overall operations and resources of the organisation, including establishing and maintaining effective internal controls and reporting.

In delivering the Vet Board’s objectives, the CEO leads and is supported by a small skilled staff team – currently 10 people (8.6 FTE) comprised of Finance Manager, Administration Officer, Communications and Registrations team, Investigation Manager (lawyer), and an investigations team of legal and technical (veterinary) officers.
  
CEO key tasks and responsibilities:

Business and systems management

• Develop, implement and regularly update the Vet Board corporate plan, to guide effective and sustainable deployment of Vet Board resources across priority projects and ongoing operations.
• Ensure the organisation’s delivery of timely, valued, quality services which meet our stakeholders’ expectations and our service charter, and positively support the Vet Board’s reputation.
• Responsibly manage the Vet Boards’ finances, including embedding a sustainable revenue structure and effectively monitoring, mitigating and reporting financial risk.
• Enhance the organisations’ use of technology, including data systems, analysis and reporting, to optimise use of staff time and efficiently identify trends (risks, opportunities and impacts) to guide regulatory effort.
• Work with staff to optimise and embed business and regulatory processes and policies which support consistent, robust, timely and effective outcomes.
• Establish systems to monitor and report on progress towards the organisation’s strategic commitments and objectives.
• Ensure full compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Support continuous organisational improvement and maturity, including through systems which maintain and build corporate knowledge.

  
Strategy planning, implementation and reporting

• Contribute to Vet Board strategic planning, drive appropriate Board, staff and stakeholder consultation processes, and develop the Vet Board’s Strategic Plan/s to enable the effective, sufficient and sustainable provision of veterinary services and support best practice regulation.
• Plan, lead, and measure Strategic Plan implementation and achievement of strategic priorities and objectives.
• Provide timely, clear and accurate reporting about progress and achievement of strategic priorities, aligned tasks and outcome objectives. This includes internal reporting to staff and the Board, and external reporting, including against the Minister’s Statement of Expectations and through Vet Board Annual Reports.
• Maintain a risk register and systems that support effective organisational and strategic risk monitoring, mitigation and reporting.

  
Stakeholder engagement

• Represent the organisation through professional, clear, thoughtful and accurate communications, interacting with a broad range of audiences using a high level of social and emotional intelligence.
• Engage with service users confidently and empathetically, to strengthen understanding and trust in the organisation’s efficacy and value to the public, the veterinary profession and animals.
• Drive a strategic approach to stakeholder engagement and communications at all levels, through well-informed insights and a strong understanding of consumer behaviour. 
• Build strong relationships with other key stakeholders to work synergistically on strategic veterinary sector issues. 
• Promote a growth-minded culture, encouraging receptiveness to our stakeholders’ perspectives and experiences.

  
Leadership

• Operate with openness, honesty and emotional intelligence, demonstrate the highest ethical standards, and apply the utmost care and prudence in leading and managing the organisation.
• Consistently model empowering, constructive and responsive leadership behaviours which build a strong positive culture and promote internal and external stakeholder engagement, performance and teamwork.
• Encourage and facilitate collaboration, problem-solving and innovation to support the organisation’s continuous improvement.
• Communicate a clear organisational vision and priorities, articulate aligned deliverables, and assist staff to identify and achieve personal and team goals to support these.
• Foster systems, policies and practices that enhance team connection and cohesion across all parts of the organisation.
• Effectively lead and manage changes within and/or by the organisation.
• Uphold the organisations’ values, Public Sector Code of Conduct, and the organisation’s Conflict of Interest, Declaration of Private Interest, Conduct and Ethics policies and guidelines.

  
Human Resource Management

• Ensure the organisation has the necessary human resource capacity, capability and engagement to deliver its strategic objectives and statutory BAU responsibilities.
• Understand and support all team members’ motivations, capabilities and opportunities to thrive through clear and timely guidance, and thoughtful attention to:

• Proactively drive implementation, monitoring and review of staff policies and processes and ensure consistency with Victorian Public Sector requirements, including onboarding, feedback provision, performance measures, review and management, succession planning and exit practices. 
• Champion and model leadership and management practices which proactively support the health and wellbeing of Vet Board staff.

Effective, efficient and compliant governance of a statutory entity:

• Undertake the functions of the Accountable Officer as prescribed within the Standing Directions under the Financial Management Act 1994 (as amended from time to time).
• In all activities of the Vet Board, advise and ensure the organisation can meet its obligations including compliance with the Veterinary Practice Act 1997.
• Maintain and refine policies and processes that comply with, and effectively support, the Act.
• Maintain an accurate and valid Register of Veterinary Practitioners.
• Provide an effective link between the Board, staff and other stakeholders by enabling appropriate, complete, timely and professional flow of information to support responsible, transparent, consistent and compliant decision making, and effective leadership and teamwork.
• Maintain an appropriate organisational structure with clear, effective and compliant delegation of responsibilities and accountabilities.
• Undertake and submit timely and accurate reporting required by government agencies and regulators.

Key Selection Criteria

Essential

1. Demonstrated highly developed written and interpersonal communication skills, including strong capabilities in consultation and negotiation. An understanding of organizational psychology and consumer behaviour that supports the development of trust and productive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders including other organisations, government and service users.
2. Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically and pragmatically, evidenced through experience in consultative development, successful implementation and impact measurement of strategic, business and risk management plans.
3. A proven ability, demonstrated at an executive level, to inspire, support and guide a small high performing team to sustainably achieve organisational objectives.
4. Demonstrated business acumen including effective human resource and financial management, and an ability to collaboratively identify and lead improvements in systems and processes.
5. Demonstrated well-developed skills in conceptual thinking, analysis, problem resolution and decision making.
6. Sound understanding of corporate governance and demonstrated ability to work proactively in partnership with a Board of Directors, including through clear, concise and considered communications and reporting.
7. Highly developed organisation, project and time management skills and a demonstrated ability to effectively plan, prioritise, monitor and delegate tasks.
8. Demonstrated ability to nurture an organisational culture which embraces quality, responsiveness, continuous improvement and risk management. A capacity to foster a positive, supportive, connected and engaging working environment, based on integrity, respect and a shared commitment to public purpose.
9. Understanding of the government environment, role and aims of professional regulators, including a well-aligned commitment to contemporary regulatory approaches.

Desirable

• Experience working with a regulatory body, or within a legislative framework, government environment or a regulated industry or sector would be highly regarded.
• Knowledge of and experience in conducting investigations in a sensitive and complex environment.
• Familiarity with the veterinary profession in Australia.

  
Qualifications

• A combination (or equivalent) of the following, in conjunction with significant workplace experience
  • Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline.
  • Post Graduate qualifications in business management, leadership and governance, public policy, communications, business psychology or related fields highly desirable.

Also required.

• Current Police Check (the successful applicant will be required to undergo a police and probity check prior to employment).