(AS799) East Timor Hearts Fund – CEO

❖ Exceptional opportunity to lead a medical NGO focussed on heart healthcare in Timor-Leste

This island nation has one of the world’s highest rates of rheumatic heart disease in youth aged between five and 20.  Since 2010 the East Timor Hearts Fund (ETHF) has realised its core purpose to “mend broken hearts” by performing circa 80 surgeries, both on island and in Australia, and further supporting the local health system through cardiac screening for thousands of patients.

Powered by an extensive volunteer network within Australia and in East Timor, the organisation’s future focus is to continue to provide acute care as well as to aid in the delivery of preventative health programs, health education and advocacy initiatives. The CEO will lead, optimise and manage ETHF to ensure that the organisation’s operations are consistent with the vision, purpose and agreed strategic objectives.

Possessing strong strategic capability combined with demonstrated financial management skills and sound commercial acumen, you have knowledge of overseas aid and program implementation within a developing country. Excellent government relations and advocacy skills are essential as are previous experience in sourcing international grant funding and broader donor management.

Position Description

East Timor Hearts Fund (ETHF) is a for purpose organisation that was established in 2010 and formally constituted in 2012. The fund was initially formed to support the work of co-founder, cardiologist Dr Noel Bayley, who has undertaken pro bono work in Timor-Leste for 15 years.

ETHF provides life-saving heart surgery and procedures in Australia for young Timorese, in partnership with health providers in Timor-Leste and in Australia.

The fund’s volunteer medical team travels to Timor-Leste to conduct screening clinics in Dili and outlying districts. Treatment is then arranged in Australia for suitable patients, often those suffering from mitral stenosis, caused by childhood rheumatic fever. Patients identified as suitable for treatment. The fund flies patients to Australia with a health support worker, and provides for all needs including transport, accommodation and social support through its volunteers and supporters.

As well as acute care, ETHF addresses the causes of heart disease through the delivery of preventative health programs, health education and awareness, research and advocacy.

ETHF is a volunteer-powered organisation, and the CEO is currently one of only three paid roles. The organisation has a roster of ongoing volunteers filling roles including board support, marketing and accounting as well as medical practitioners and patient support volunteers who assist on a needs basis with activities like patient transport and social support.

Location

Will consider candidates from any state within Australia.

Mission
The East Timor Hearts fund exists to reduce death and disability from rheumatic heart disease in Timor-Leste through excellence in research, prevention, treatment and capacity building.

Strategy
The East Timor Hearts Fund’s strategy 2021-24 identifies the following key objectives for the period:
• Help grow the capacity of Timor-Leste to deliver quality heart health care
• Save more lives through access to surgery
• Partner with leading local organisations to prevent and reduce the burden of heart disease in Timor-Leste
• Strengthen our organisation and grow our community of supporters

Values
• Respect
• Compassion
• Integrity
• Optimism
• Collaboration

Governance
The East Timor Hearts Fund is a company limited by guarantee, a registered as a charity and Public Benevolent Institution with the Australian Charities and Not For Profit Commission and has tax concessions and Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) endorsements from the Australian Taxation Office. It is governed by a board of volunteer directors, has a Timorese Advisory Committee, and is supported by a broad and diverse membership base in both Australia and Timor Leste.

Position Specification
• Position Chief Executive Officer
• Reports to Board of Directors
• Hours Full-Time
• Term Five years
• Salary Negotiable based on experience

Position Statement
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the most senior executive and reports to the Board of ETHF.

The CEO will lead, optimise and manage ETHF to ensure that the organisation’s operations are consistent with the vision, purpose and agreed strategic objectives.

ETHF will continue to help deliver better healthcare services for young East Timorese with heart disease by building its brand and reputation and delivering the initiatives in its recently-adopted 2021-24 Strategic Plan.

The CEO reports to the Board of Directors comprising nine members (eight board directors and the company secretary). Governance is through several board committees; the full ETHF Board; the ETHF Governance Policies; and the organisation’s constitution.

The position has the authority to carry out the responsibilities as detailed in this Position Description; the ETHF Governance Policies; and the Schedule of Delegation & Authority.

The role is based in Australia but may require occasional travel to Timor-Leste for activities such as familiarisation visits or stakeholder meetings.

• Take a leadership position on directing, developing and implementing the strategic direction of ETHF, as agreed with the Board
• Articulate and communicate strategy with stakeholders in a compelling way
• Influence ETHF strategic environment, particularly through in country stakeholder engagements
• Achieve the mission of the ETHF through effective leadership
• Implement and manage a risk framework that maximises opportunities for ETHF’s growth

Management

• Provide leadership, vision and strategic direction
• Translate ETHF’s strategic plan into annual business plans with clear key performance indicators for all staff
• Manage staff and volunteers to effectively implement strategy and annual plans, ensuring succession and future capacity building where required
• Lead and where possible, delegate fundraising campaign and advocacy management including events, fundraising initiatives and media & communications opportunities.  Ensure the ongoing development of a growing and increasingly divers funding base for the organisation.
• Ensure all activities are effectively monitored and evaluated for impact and outcomes, and where required provide impact reporting to government, individual and corporate supporters
• Monitor external and internal environment to assess and report risks, and implement mitigating strategies and plans
• Ensure ETHF adheres to all legal requirements and policies in relation to HR, OHS, finance and other statutory obligations
  

Financial Management

• Oversee the effective and prudent financial management of the organisation in setting and managing appropriate budgets; driving and sustaining performance; ensuring risk management mitigation strategies are in place and regularly checked; and ensuring internal control procedures are robust and audited.
• Secure reliable revenue streams into the organisation to ensure ETHF can deliver on its strategy and carry out its operations with confidence.
• Constantly evaluate performance against approved budget and drive corrective actions to achieve budgets targets.
• Create and be responsive to opportunities which support innovation and service growth in line with strategic deliverables.
• Ensure that all reporting requirements to funding agencies and all regulatory and other compliance requirements are fully met.

Human Resource Management

• Ensure staff have clear work plans and key performance indicators, and are provided with appropriate induction, training and development to effectively achieve their goals and personal growth
• Bring to the role strong and passionate leadership; clarity of purpose; innovation and creativity; strategic thinking; and a can-do, action orientated attitude
• Ensure appropriate occupational health and safety policies and guidelines are in place to optimise the safety of our volunteers and our patients
• Identify skills gaps and recruit additional volunteer or paid staff where needed
• Volunteer management

Advocacy and Capacity Building 

• Lead the development of policy strategy in line with the ETHF mission and values
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the health policy and practice environment in Timor Leste, with a view to this informing the approach the organisation takes to the development and implementation of its strategic plans
• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of Australia’s political and development assistance relationship with Timor Leste, ensuring ETHF’s work contributes positively to the wider development support context
• Bring a keen understanding of the role of health care, disease prevention and health service capacity building in a developing country context
• Act as the lead public representative of the East Timor Hearts Fund in all contexts and environments, enhancing the organisation’s standing and public profile

Stakeholder Relationships 

• Develop and maintain highly effective and professional relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, both in Australia and Timor-Leste
• Take the lead in representing the ETHF to governments, stakeholders and donors, ensuring the impression left is of a professional, ethical and passionate organisation dedicated to the wellbeing of the people of Timor-Leste.
• Promote the ETHF brand with local, state and federal government bodies, as well as local community agencies and services to facilitate collaborative and co-operative relationships and develop opportunities for joint projects and service partnerships.
• Work effectively with volunteers, partner organisations, local and international governments, local East Timorese communities and the Board to build collaborative, mutually respectful relationships that maintain high levels of support for the organisation’s activities.
• Actively builds strong health service partnerships within Australia and Timor-Leste.
• Develop strong operational relationships with local health providers in Timor-Leste.
• Actively and effectively work with key donors, relevant trust and foundations and corporate sponsors to enhance ETHF’s ability to attract the necessary funds to expand its work into Timor-Leste.
• Ensure full and timely compliance with all regulator, accountability and contractual obligations including alignment with all requirements deriving from ETHF’s charitable, fundraising, and deductible gift recipient status.
• Ensure members are updated with ETHF news and consulted on a regular basis.

ETHF Values

• Always act in accordance with ETHF’s values, challenge behaviours inconsistent with these values and uses organisational values as a basis for managing relationships and decision making
  

Key Stakeholders and Relationships

Internal 

• Board
• Board Committees
• Timorese Advisory Committee
• Volunteers
• Staff

External

• Health partners in Australia and Timor-Leste
• ETHF clients and their families
• Relevant trusts, foundations and corporate partners and sponsors
• Significant philanthropists
• Patrons
• Hospital partners (Australian and Timor-Leste) and Australian cardiothoracic centres of excellence
• Timor-Leste primary health facilities and clinics
• Preventative disease specialists
• Relevant Australian state and federal government bodies
• Relevant Timor-Leste Government and State Departments
• Relevant media outlets if required under agreed communications strategy.

Role Required Capabilities

• Excellent government relations and advocacy skills.
• Experience in philanthropic fundraising / donor relations.
• Organisational leadership and management skills, with a demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate staff.
• Ability to communicate effectively to a broad range of stakeholders; highly skilled and confident public speaker and presenter.
• Strong fiscal acumen, financial management and budgeting skills
• High level collaborative, relationship building & networking skills.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning and the execution of business strategies, including successful fundraising strategies, that drive organisational outcomes.
• Experience in growing and diversifying revenue.
• Passionate to make a difference with a tenacious, can-do, attitude.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and independently in an environment with limited support staff.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to foster and manage effective key stakeholder relationships, including identifying and developing new partnerships.
• An ability to understand and navigate complex political and bureaucratic structures in Australia and Timor-Leste.
• Well-developed understanding of governance and risk management frameworks. 
  

Knowledge & Qualifications

• Knowledge of the aid and development sector in Timor-Leste or a similar environment
• Relevant Tertiary qualification/s.
• Satisfactory Police Check and Working with Children Check
• Eligibility to work in Australia.

Desirable

• Experience of health service development and delivery, with strong health literacy
• MBA or Masters in a relevant discipline

Experience

5-10 years experience at a senior level including:

• working within an aid or overseas development organisation
• stakeholder engagement and management
• exceptional leadership and governance skills
• seeking and managing international grant funding and charitable fundraising, donor management
• an in depth understanding of Timor-Leste or a similar developing country environment will be favourably regarded and preferably in country experience
• strong strategic thinking ability combined with demonstrated financial management skills and sound commercial acumen.
• a track record in business planning, reporting and accountability.
• an appreciation of organisational culture and an empathy with the values of and purpose of the organisation.

Personal Characteristics

• Is a person of high trust and integrity.
• Demonstrates and upholds the ETHF Values, Vision and Mission at all times.
• A passionate, dynamic and decisive, energetic, inspiring leader of staff and volunteers.
• High energy levels and work standards
• Ability and willingness to undertake regular interstate travel, and travel to Timor-Leste.
• Ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity in a developing country.
• Ability to work with various stakeholder to understand strategic and business impact
• Flexible and able to respond to change quickly.
• A passion and demonstrated interest in all organisational activities
• Prior exposure to, or a willingness to understand Timorese cultural practices and incorporate this understanding into the work of ETHF.