Principal Manager
Business Services
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
Women's and Children's Health Network
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Aboriginal Traditional Owners and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, people, consumers, and staff, past and present, on whose land we provide health services.
Executive Summary
- Lead strategic business services for a state-wide child and family health service
- Drive financial stewardship, governance, and operational excellence
- Influence and collaborate with senior leaders to enhance service delivery
The Opportunity
Join the Women’s and Children’s Health Network as the Principal Manager Business Services, a key operational role within the Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS). This is a unique opportunity to shape the strategic direction, governance, and financial sustainability of a state-wide primary health service dedicated to supporting the well-being of children and families. As a senior leader, you will play a critical role in ensuring the effective delivery of essential health services while fostering innovation and continuous improvement.
The Role
As the Principal Manager Business Services, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight of key business functions, including financial management, administrative workflows, information analysis, and infrastructure operations. You will be responsible for driving efficiencies, ensuring robust governance structures, and providing decision support to the executive team. Your role will be instrumental in maintaining operational excellence, integrating business strategies with clinical service delivery, and ensuring that CaFHS continues to expand its impact across South Australia.
The Candidate
We are seeking a dynamic and results-oriented leader with expertise in business services, governance, financial management, infrastructure, logistics, fleet management, and related areas. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership experience in a complex health or community services environment, demonstrating the ability to navigate change, drive continuous improvement, and foster high-performing teams. A strategic thinker with exceptional communication skills, you will excel in collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to achieve meaningful outcomes. If you are passionate about leading business services that directly enhance the health and well-being of children and families, we encourage you to apply.
We invite you to discuss this exciting opportunity with Lynette Taylor from the HardyGroup M: +61 (0)431 293 861 / E: [email protected]
Women's and Children's Health Network
The values of SA Health are used to indicate the type of conduct required by our employees and the conduct that our customers can expect from our health service:
- We are committed to the values of integrity, respect, and accountability.
- We value care, excellence, innovation, creativity, leadership and equity in health care provision and health outcomes.
- We demonstrate our values in our interactions with others in SA Health, the community, and those for whom we care.
Domestic and Family Violence
The WCHN recognises violence against women as a human rights issue that must be addressed in the workplace and is committed to a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against women in the workplace. Accordingly, employees must appropriately report and respond to any such acts in the workplace and make available appropriate support to employees who may be experiencing violence in the community.
Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics for the South Australian Public Sector provides an ethical framework for the public sector and applies to all public service employees:
- Democratic Values - Helping the government, under the law to serve the people of South Australia.
- Service, Respect and Courtesy - Serving the people of South Australia.
- Honesty and Integrity- Acting at all times in such a way as to uphold the public trust.
- Accountability- Holding ourselves accountable for everything we do.
- Professional Conduct Standards- Exhibiting the highest standards of professional conduct.
The Code recognises that some public sector employees are also bound by codes of conduct relevant to their profession.
STRATEGY 2026
The Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) has a clear plan to support its vision of providing leading healthcare to women, babies, children and young people, and their families.
Strategy 2026: Realising Potential, Creating Together is a representative and inclusive document that showcases WCHN’s unique role as a leading healthcare organisation for South Australian women, babies, children, young people and their families. This Strategy was developed in partnership with our staff and consumers.
Role Specification
The Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS) provides an essential state-wide primary health care service incorporating health promotion, prevention, early intervention services and integrated care pathways delivered through interprofessional collaboration, and partnership with parents to support optimal health and development outcomes for families, infants, and children, antenatally to five years of age.
The Principal Manager Business Services provides a critical lead role in the coordination and delivery of the CaFHS strategic agenda through critical governance mechanisms, performance reporting, decision support, and strategic advice.
The role is also responsible for creating visibility of priority deliverables, their interdependencies and sequencing, and mapping of progress to support CaFHS in expanding its universal reach state-wide.
As a member of the CaFHS Leadership group, the Principal Manager Business Services will:
- Provide insight on the financial impacts of quality improvement proposals, as well as contribute to the development and review of business plans and submissions.
- Lead the coordination and development of robust administrative workflows and associate processes to optimise clinical service delivery.
- Work closely with our nurses and allied health professionals to understand the CaFHS model of care, as an anchor for the prioritisation, coordination, and delivery of key client centred outcomes.
The Key Result Areas for the role of Principal Manager Business Services include:
- Financial Management
- Continuous Improvement
- Resource and Facilities Management
- Efficient, effective, and quality administrative support for the Child and Family Health Service Research Division
- Information Analysis and Reporting
- Leadership and Management
1. Strategic Leadership and Governance
Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership, governance oversight, and operational direction in a complex healthcare or community services environment. Proven experience in leading teams, driving business efficiencies, and embedding continuous improvement strategies to enhance service delivery.
2. Financial and Resource Management
Proven expertise in financial stewardship, including budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and business planning. Ability to assess financial impacts of strategic initiatives, provide informed decision support, and ensure compliance with financial regulations and policies.
3. Operational and Business Services Excellence
Experience in managing and optimising business support services, including administrative workflows, infrastructure operations, and data-driven decision-making. Ability to develop and implement systems and processes that improve service efficiency and support clinical and consumer outcomes.
4. Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Experience in working collaboratively with senior leaders, clinical teams, government agencies, and external partners to drive organisational objectives.
5. Change Management and Continuous Improvement
Demonstrated ability to lead change initiatives, foster a culture of innovation, and manage organisational transformation in a dynamic environment. Proven experience in identifying opportunities for business process improvement and implementing strategies that enhance service effectiveness and operational performance.
ESSENTIAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Personal Abilities/Aptitudes/Skills
- An ability to manage to the spirit and principles of the premier’s safety Commitment and the legislative requirements of the Work Health & Safety Act 2012 (SA), utilising AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management – Principles and Guidelines, or to an equivalent set of standards.
- Demonstrated leadership skills including strategic thinking, ability to motivate staff and provide leadership in a changing environment.
- Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal), including working co-operatively and collaboratively with other partners both internally and externally.
- Creative, innovative, and able to apply significant levels of independent judgement.
- Highly developed analytical skills that support good problem solving and decision making.
Experience
- Leading and managing teams and the ability to maximise performance at a senior level.
- Development, implementation and evaluation of policies, procedures, and systems.
- Significant experience in project planning and management involving both teamwork and individual effort.
- Collecting, analysing, and reporting on data in a meaningful way.
- Developing systems approaches to the management of resources including data, and finance.
Knowledge
- Comprehensive knowledge of procurement processes.
- Comprehensive knowledge of project and business management practices.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of population health approaches and a practical understanding of its use for health services.
DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS
Educational/Vocational Qualifications
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in business or management, health, or community services.
Personal Abilities/Aptitudes/Skills:
- Proven ability to negotiate with non-government community services and government organisations.
Experience
- In the health sector relevant to provision of services to vulnerable families.
Knowledge
- Understanding of national and international trends in health and their applicability to South Australia.
Internal
- Reports to the Director of Child and Family Health Service
- Manages and leads teams responsible for infrastructure (commissioning and decommissioning), administrative workforce strategy and clinical synergy, financial management, information analysis and reporting, and parenting support in CaFHS.
- Works collaboratively with other managers within CaFHS, and key staff within the Women’s and Children’s Health Network
External
- Works collaboratively with private partners and vendors to deliver innovative administrative solutions to support clinical and consumer needs.
- Liaises and collaborates with Office for Early Childhood Development
Delegations
- Financial - Level 6 and;
- Human Resources - Level 4.
Major challenges currently associated with the role include:
- Imbedding strategic solutions to solidify CaFHS continued growth and expansion in the delivery of core models of care across the state.
- Providing leadership and direction in a changing environment to team members
- Providing sound financial and resource management for the Division
- Initiating business improvements across the Division
Direct Reports:
ASO6, Business Manager ASO6,
Senior Information Analyst x 2.0 FTE ASO5,
Infrastructure Operations Office ASO5,
Administration Manager
Salary (including base, super, and any salary sacrifice):
$121,107pa – $125,679pa + super + salary package up to $9,010 in living expenses (mortgage, rent, utilities, groceries) each FBT year, along with an annual $2,650 allowance for meal entertainment
Service Location: SA - North Adelaide
The closing date for applications is Friday, 21th March 2025
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5025
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Aldie Zuñiga via [email protected] / +61 (0)494 101 082
Your application must include:
- 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
- 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
- 3.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
- 4.Completed Pre-Employment Declaration form
It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Lynette Taylor
HardyGroup Executive Director, Search & Recruitment
M. +61 (0)431 293 861
E. [email protected]
Living and working in Adelaide
Adelaide is one of the world’s most livable cities, perfectly positioned just a short drive from some of Australia’s most unique, globally renowned regions, so whether you choose city, suburban or country life, South Australia offers something for everyone.
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ABOUT US
HardyGroup’s (HG) mission is simple
Find and Grow Great Leaders - and we have been doing exactly that for more than 30 years in public and private health, primary, community and aged care as well as the broader public service.
Our synergistic business model of Executive Search and Recruitment integrated with Executive Leadership and Learning is our unique point of difference.
It ensures our clients can count on us for the lifecycle of their organisations leadership journey and why we are regarded as the leading trans-Tasman partner agency by clients.
When engaging HG you can be confident in a deeply personalised experience and service as nothing matters more to us than relationships and results.