Head of Strategy, Growth and Engagement – Burnie Brae

Windsor Group has been appointed by Burnie Brae to manage this executive search. As a profit‑for‑purpose organisation, we support our clients through ethical, values‑aligned recruitment across the nonprofit, government and commercial sectors.

For over 40 years, Burnie Brae has supported people in the community to live with confidence, independence, and connection. They deliver a unique mix of health, social, and care services across Brisbane North and Moreton Bay, anchored by their vibrant community hub in Chermside.

Burnie Brae is dedicated to supporting individual wellbeing, independence, and social connection through a broad range of services. These include in‑home care, allied health services, and member activities designed to help people remain active and engaged in their homes and communities.

Their friendly, professional team works alongside clients to help them live their best lives through community, connection, and care.

• Burnie Brae’s mission is: “To be a leading provider of holistic and accessible health, lifestyle and wellness services, evolving around the needs and expectations of our community.” Closely aligned with this mission, Burnie Brae’s broader purpose is to empower and connect older adults to live their best lives, supporting independence, wellbeing, and social connection through integrated care, health, and community services across Brisbane North and Moreton Bay
• 165 staff head count and 50 volunteers
• Burnie Brae is widely known for the following strengths and contributions to the community:

Supporting healthy, independent ageing

Burnie Brae is recognised as a trusted nonprofit provider focused on helping older adults live independently, remain well, and stay socially connected across Brisbane North and Moreton Bay.

A vibrant community hub in Chermside

They are particularly known for their Chermside community hub, which brings people together through social activities, wellness programs, fitness, learning, and connection, creating a strong sense of belonging for members.

Integrated, wrap‑around services

Burnie Brae stands out for offering a broad and integrated mix of services, including in‑home aged care, allied health, community transport, respite, wellness programs, and social engagement, all delivered under one organisational umbrella.

Strong people‑centred values

They are known for being a values‑led, people‑first organisation, with a strong emphasis on compassion, trust, collaboration, and respect, for clients, members, staff, and volunteers alike.

Sector recognition and awards

Burnie Brae gained broader sector recognition after being named Organisation of the Year at the 2022 LASA Excellence in Aged Care Awards, highlighting the quality and impact of their services and leadership.

Growth and adaptability

They are also recognised for successfully navigating significant aged care funding reforms, rebuilding and growing their services, and achieving strong revenue growth while continuing to expand their footprint in the community.

• Annual Report
• Strategic Plan
• Financials

Burnie Brae currently has a headcount of 165 staff and 50 volunteers. The organisation is expanding into Deception Bay, replicating the Chermside Care model, with the entire senior leadership team involved in this expansion. The business has achieved 42% revenue growth over the past two years. While initially impacted by changes in aged care funding, Burnie Brae has successfully navigated this period and is now in a strong rebuilding phase, which is working very well.

Leadership & Culture

Burnie Brae is unapologetically a people‑first organisation. The CEO values leaders who listen first, act with integrity, and foster trust. Since becoming CEO, he has led a strong commitment to cultural uplift, supported by multiple rounds of leadership development. The expectation is that executives actively support and uplift managers, strengthening capability, accountability, and alignment across teams.

The organisation lives by the question, “How do we treat each other?” An ongoing HR transformation reinforces these principles, alongside the belief that “family comes first.” Staff are encouraged to speak up, add value, and contribute to continuous improvement. Trust is seen as the foundation of high‑performing teams.

This role is responsible for leading Burnie Brae’s strategic growth, external engagement, and organisational integration to ensure long‑term sustainability and responsiveness to community needs. It is a future‑focused, outward‑facing executive position with accountability for strategy execution, growth initiatives, stakeholder relationships, and enterprise‑wide integration.

The role provides executive oversight across multiple service portfolios, enabling high‑quality service delivery through strong governance, effective partnerships, and coordinated strategic project leadership. Rather than managing day‑to‑day operations, the role focuses on system leadership, aligning services, prioritising enterprise initiatives, guiding sector reform responses, and supporting senior leaders within a shared strategic direction.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the role contributes to organisational leadership, culture, and values, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across Burnie Brae.  The position leads a team of approximately 40 people, with five direct reports, and requires a genuinely strong manager, someone who leads with empathy, builds trust, and works effectively across teams and with external stakeholders.

Success in this role will depend on the ability to translate strategy into action, influence outcomes through others, and build effective internal and external relationships.

• Org Chart
• Position Description

The Head of Strategy, Growth and Engagement’s performance is assessed on the effective delivery of strategic growth, stakeholder engagement, portfolio integration, enterprise project governance, and leadership impact, aligned to Burnie Brae’s strategic plan and values.

• Strategic Growth Success is demonstrated through measurable progress against Strategic Plan priorities, supported by clear implementation plans, proactive risk management, adaptability to changing conditions, and regular reporting to the CEO and Board.
• Stakeholder Engagement Performance is reflected in the strength and impact of external relationships, including increased referrals and partnerships, active sector presence, and positive feedback on collaboration and organisational representation.
• Portfolio Oversight & Integration Effective performance is shown through strong alignment and integration across service portfolios, timely resolution of cross‑portfolio issues, strategic coherence, and positive internal feedback on leadership clarity and coordination.
• Project Sponsorship & Delivery Projects are well‑governed and aligned to strategic priorities, with key milestones achieved, risks escalated appropriately, and strong cross‑functional collaboration supporting intended outcomes.
• Leadership & Culture Leadership effectiveness is measured through influence, collaboration, values alignment, and contribution to a positive executive culture, supported by constructive feedback from the CEO, peers, and portfolio leaders.

This is an opportunity to join a purpose‑driven organisation with momentum, clarity of strategy, and a genuine commitment to people, culture, and community impact.

The successful candidate will be kind, caring, and strongly values‑driven, with the confidence to hold themselves and others accountable while maintaining trust and respect. They will be comfortable giving and receiving feedback (from peers and their team) and will value collaboration within the Senior Leadership Team.

The successful candidate will bring strong knowledge of the aged care landscape, including a clear understanding of all relevant funding models, such as government‑funded programs, private funding arrangements, and evolving reform settings. Experience in aged care is preferred; however, strong experience across community services or the nonprofit sector will also be considered, provided there is demonstrated capability to operate confidently within the aged care funding and regulatory environment.

Strong emotional intelligence, respect for clients and members, and the ability to see situations through others’ perspectives are essential. Values alignment is critical.

Windsor Group and Burnie Brae are committed to equal opportunity employment practices. Applications will be assessed on merit, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview. An offer of appointment will be made to the applicant whose written application and interview performance best demonstrate their ability to meet the requirements of the role.

Windsor Group will review applications as they are received. We encourage early applications, as screening begins immediately. Process steps:

• Initial screening by Windsor Group
• Consultant interview
• Client panel interview(s)
• Assessments (if required)
• Reference checks

Indicative timeline:

• Weeks 1–3: Screening
• Week 4-5: Windsor Group interviews

We will keep candidates updated throughout each stage.

When submitting your application, ensure your application includes:

• An up-to-date resume (in Word format)
• A covering letter (in Word format) outlining your interest and expertise relevant to the role

Submit your application quoting reference number KCHSGE to apply@windsor-group.com.au. For more information, please contact Kym Cheatham on 07 3211 0001.

Your application will be acknowledged by email within one business day.

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