Clinical and Operations Project Lead
Women's and Children's
Health Network
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
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The Women's and Children's Health Network acknowledges Aboriginal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of Country throughout South Australia. We acknowledge and respect their ongoing and deep spiritual connection and relationship to land, air, sea, waters, community and country. We pay our respect their Elders past, present and emerging.
Executive Summary
- Play a pivotal role in delivering one of South Australia’s most significant health infrastructure projects, shaping how care will be delivered for generations.
- Lead operational commissioning and readiness for a major tertiary hospital build, working at the interface of clinicians, executives, government and industry partners.
- Be part of a high-profile, fast-moving program with exposure to senior decision-makers and genuine future executive career pathways.
The Opportunity
The Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) is South Australia’s specialist health network for women, children and young people, delivering hospital, community, population health, education and research services across the state. As part of SA Health, WCHN is central to the State’s long-term health reform agenda, with a strong focus on safety, equity, integration of care and community partnership.
A flagship initiative within this agenda is the New Women’s and Children’s Hospital (New WCH) - a once-in-a-generation redevelopment that will transform paediatric and women’s health services in South Australia. The project is now in the schematic design phase and is progressing into detailed design, with commissioning and transition planning already underway.
The Clinical and Operations Project Lead role sits within the New WCH Project Team and reports to the Executive Director - New WCH. It is based in metropolitan Adelaide and is offered as a project-funded contract to June 2028, with an expectation of continuity through commissioning, post-move stabilisation and potential future project phases.
This is a rare opportunity to work at the centre of a major hospital build, influencing how services will operate, how staff will work, and how patients and families will experience care in the new facility.
The Role
The Clinical and Operations Project Lead provides senior leadership and coordination of clinical and operational planning for the New WCH. The role is responsible for translating service, workforce and consumer requirements into practical operational models that support safe, efficient and person-centred care.
Key accountabilities include:
- Leading health service and facility planning, including functional design input, operational workflows and future service models.
- Driving operational readiness and commissioning planning, including scheduling, transition and change management activities.
- Providing clinical and operational expertise to inform project decisions and support the strategic direction of WCHN.
- Managing and mentoring a multidisciplinary team of Clinical and Project Managers.
- Leading stakeholder engagement with clinicians, executives, consumers, government agencies, consultants and contractors.
- Supporting governance, risk management, reporting and performance monitoring across the Clinical and Operations workstream.
The role works across a complex stakeholder environment, partnering with internal leaders, SA Health, the Department for Infrastructure, architects, builders and clinical end users. It is a highly visible role within the project governance structure, regularly briefing the WCHN Executive and Board.
The Candidate
The ideal candidate will bring proven experience in complex health infrastructure or service transformation environments, with a strong focus on operational commissioning, readiness and change.
The successful candidate will:
- Have demonstrated experience leading complex projects in health or large service environments, ideally including hospital builds or major redevelopments.
- Be highly resilient, adaptable and comfortable working under tight timeframes and evolving priorities and demonstrate sound judgement and the ability to prioritise in a pressured, fast-moving environment.
- Bring strong change management capability, with the ability to engage clinicians, end users and executives through periods of significant transition.
- Possess excellent analytical, planning and data interpretation skills, with confidence presenting to senior leaders and government stakeholders.
- Meet the minimum eligibility requirements for appointment to this dual-classified role at Registered Nurse Level 5.2 or Allied Health Level 5, including holding the relevant professional qualification and current registration applicable to their discipline.
This role will suit a senior project or operational leader who is motivated by large-scale impact, thrives in complex systems, and is seeking exposure to a landmark public health project with longer-term career potential.
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:
Janine Hammat
HardyGroup Principal Consultant
M. +61 (0)488 555 858
E. jhammat@hardygroupintl.com
Women's and Children's Health Network
About Women's and Children's Health Network
The Women’s & Children’s Health Network (WCHN) is South Australia’s largest specialist facility for women’s and children’s health. We are the leading provider of care for children with acute and chronic conditions in South Australia, and the State's largest maternity and obstetric service. We also provide important community-based services. At the core of everything we do is our unwavering commitment to our purpose: To strengthen the health and wellbeing of future generations. WCHN puts consumers and community at the centre of everything we do.
The WCHN strives to inspire and engage our people to realise their full potential, investing in continuous learning opportunities that empower individuals to grow, innovate and lead with confidence. By fostering a culture of mentorship, collaboration and skill building we ensure our leaders are equipped to inspire teams, drive meaningful change and create lasting impact.
The WCHN works in partnership with clients, families, the community and other service providers to promote, maintain and restore the health of all patients in our care.
WCHN puts consumers and community at the centre of everything we do to ensure that we:
- provide outstanding care and service
- enhance our culture and leadership
- design and deliver a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital
- strengthen partnerships and expand innovation
- inspire others, share specialist knowledge and deliver excellence through research, education and learning
- deliver an integrated WCHN.
The Women’s and Children’s Health Network includes the following health services:
- Women’s and Children’s Hospital
- Aboriginal Health Division
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service
- Child and Family Health Service
- Child Protection Service
- 3D Health Service
- Health and Recovery Trauma Safety Services
New Women's and Children's Hospital Project
At a glance
The New WCH will be a leading clinical facility dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of babies, children, young people, women and their families, as well as the diverse communities that make up Adelaide’s population.
A fundamental driver for this Project is to deliver a globally benchmarked exemplar hospital facility with innovative patient care and experience at its heart.
The current WCH, located in North Adelaide, is ageing and requires continual and costly repairs to its infrastructure. It also faces logistical challenges and is limited in its capability to expand for expected future service growth.
Initially, the site for the New WCH was to be located directly to the west of the RAH, however, following significant investigations and consultations, it was determined that the proposed area was too restricted to meet future demands and limited expansion opportunity for both the New WCH and the RAH.
Find out more about the New Women’s and Children’s Hospital Project here
OUR MISSION, VISION AND VALUES
At the Women's and Children's Health Network, our story starts with our consumers and communities who are at the centre of everything that we do.
Vision: Healthy communities where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
Purpose: To strengthen the health and wellbeing of future generations.
Values: Compassion, Respect, Equity, Accountability, Together for Excellence – CREATE.
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
The Women's and Children's Health Network is one of 10 publicly funded South Australian Local Health Networks delivering hospital and community-based services.
The WCHN is led and managed by the Chief Executive Officer, Rebecca Graham, who reports to the WCHN Governing Board. The Governing Board is responsible and accountable to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing.
WCHN's Executive structure includes both strategic and clinical leadership positions, and has been designed to ensure that the WCHN is able to successfully respond to the objectives of the Government's health agenda.
STRATEGY 2026
Role Specification
The Clinical and Operations Project Lead is responsible to the Executive Director - New WCH for leadership and coordination of planning for the New WCH to maximise person and family centred care and work efficiency.
This could include:
- Health Facility and Design planning
- Operational Readiness and Commissioning
- Special Projects
- Provision of Clinical and Operational requirements
The role includes planning, scheduling, project delivery, risk/ issue management, change management, and leadership of Clinical/Project Managers in New WCH.
In the context of New WCH the Clinical and Operations Project Lead will:
- Provide high-level support to the Executive Director – New WCH and Project Managers in the planning and delivery of the New WCH Project to support the strategic direction of the Women’s and Children’s Network.
- Support strategic and operational objectives health service and facility planning, monitoring and evaluation of the services for the New WCH.
- Provide leadership expertise informed by clinical and clinical support roles through engagement e.g. project user groups, strategic user groups.
- Support the translation of clinician, staff, consumer and community engagement strategies into practice.
- Lead key projects that ensure the New WCH project improves the equity of health care access, better integration of care and improved health outcomes for the community.
- Lead and support a culture of clinical excellence and high performance across all areas of the network to inform planning for the New WCH.
- Develop strategies to support WCHN to maximise operational efficiency to ensure operational readiness activities.
- CREATE together our values to empower and engage with staff and volunteers to embody our vision and mission to provide excellent care for our community.
- Champion change management and provide support and leadership.
- Facilitate opportunities for improvement, innovation, and partner with consumers and clinicians.
- Lead and facilitate reviews and analysis of critical issues pertaining to the New WCH.
- Develop and maintain strong relationship with a diverse range of external stakeholders.
Health Service and Facility planning - Contribute to the planning, delivery and transformation of health services to the New WCH
- Coordinate the development of facility design appropriate to the organisation’s clinical service profile and functional relationships within the context of the WCHN service profile, WCHN Strategic Plan, and SA statewide plans.
- Identify, recommend and support the implementation of alternative functional design/ service delivery models to meet the future direction of WCHN.
- Establish and maintain mechanisms to monitor the implementation of strategies and report on the achievement of objectives.
- Provide advice and support through analysis and assessment of trends and emerging issues in relation to future service planning.
- Manage and support the implementation of detailed project plans, schedules and resource requirements, workforce plans, change management and business plans and activities to support the New WCH Executive Director in meeting service objectives.
- Contribute to the identification of research and education priorities and foster innovation across services.
- Use available information systems to inform decision making, evaluate outcomes and convey information to staff.
- Provide facility design leadership expertise informed by clinical and clinical support roles through engagement and consultation e.g. project user groups, strategic user groups.
Strategy and service development - Contribute to the strategic and operational planning and performance of the service
- Support the New WCH Executive Director in the development of strategies for functional design/ service delivery alignment for the New WCH.
- Support WCHN to assess service delivery assessment and capacity management across acute and community-based services ensuring services are planned and responsive to current and future needs.
- Integrate contemporary information and evidence with personal experience to support the decision making, innovative thinking and objective analysis that are expected at this level. E.g., Expert clinical knowledge underpins and informs their ability to support, lead and provide expert management support to the New WCH Project.
- Inform the New WCH strategy with respect to contemporary health service practice that maximises safety, quality and efficiency of design.
- Provide leadership to facilitate interdisciplinary and inter-professional practice within health care planning.
- Lead and sustain effective engagement strategies with internal and external stakeholders – clinicians, staff, consumers, community and other agencies.
- Provide support and guidance to WCHN Executive/ Divisional Directors in relation to New WCH related matters.
Governance and continuous improvement - Support effective governance to ensure high performance outcomes are achieved
- Participate in a continuous process to monitor, evaluate and develop services and performance.
- Contribute to the translation of the New WCH Functional Design/ Service Delivery plan into implementation.
- Contribute to the establishment of effective systems to plan, monitor and report on performance, pro-actively treat risks, and evaluation performance improvement initiatives.
- Action strategies to ensure Service KPI’s are defined, communicated and achieved, including measures for service performance and outcomes, inclusive of consumer and carer experiences.
- Action benchmarking to identify peer variation and opportunities for learning and improvement.
- Adopt initiatives to ensure the appropriate and efficient use of resources for the New WCH Clinical and Operations workstream.
Resource Management
- Allocate resources so that they are aligned with the New WCH Project priorities.
- Assist in the implementation of strategies to develop and sustain a highly skilled, engaged and flexible workforce.
- Support the New WCH Executive Director in the review of resource allocation; introduction of workload management and other management approaches to deliver cost-effective services.
- Provide operational and professional leadership to the New WCH Clinical and Operations team including RN/M Level 3, Clinical Project Managers within span of appointment.
Education
- Fulfil the requirements of the role and deliver on performance outcomes to a consistently high standard.
- Maintain contemporary knowledge of health service leadership and Management.
- Actively maintain currency of knowledge and capability related to the role.
- Maintain a contemporary professional practice portfolio and/or Updated Curriculum Vitae with supporting evidence commensurate with the level of autonomy, decision making authority and influence of recommendations expected of the role.
- Successful attainment of professional competencies to a standard agreed and bi-annual performance, review and development discussions.
(RN/M 5.2) Encourage and foster a positive culture and a safe work environment
- Establishes and maintains productive working relationships.
- Ensure that change management processes are supported and implemented.
- Demonstrate behaviours that are consistent with the Code of Ethics for the SA Public Sector.
(RN/M 5.2) Research
- Integrate contemporary information and research evidence with personal experience to support the decision making, innovative thinking and objective analysis that are expected at this level. e.g. Critically appraise and synthesise the outcomes of relevant research.
- Contribute specific expertise to monitoring and evaluative research activities.
- Support research activities to achieve improved patient/client outcomes and/or future service delivery.
(RN/M 5.2) Professional leadership
- Provides strategic leadership and direction, acts as a role model, mentor, consultant and resource person.
- Develop, and encourage a learning environment by mentoring and promoting team development and individual capacity building.
- Liaise with stakeholders, health services, Government departments and others to maximise efficiency and effectiveness implementing New WCH plans.
- Actively participate in internal and external advisory groups, expert panels, working groups and/or committees.
ESSENTIAL
- (RN/M 5.2) Registered or eligible for registration as a Nurse and/or Midwife by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and who holds, or who is eligible to hold, a current practicing certificate.
- (AHP5) Appropriate Allied Health degree or equivalent qualification in relevant professional stream and registered or eligible for registration/membership as an Allied Health Professional with the relevant registration board or association where applicable.
DESIRABLE
- Post graduate level qualification in health planning, workforce planning, health management or general management.
ESSENTIAL
Personal Abilities/Aptitudes/Skills:
- Demonstrated strategic thinker with leadership skills and abilities to lead and motive the multidisciplinary team through the complexity of challenges, uncertainty and rapid change so that effective outcomes are achieved.
- Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving abilities with the demonstrated characteristics of being a responsive decision maker, negotiator and resolver of conflict to a high level.
- Capacity to drive and implement change and significantly contribute to change processes applying sound analytical skills and strategic thinking ability.
- Ability to analyse and conceptualise problems, formulate and execute appropriate solutions and negotiate successful outcomes at a senior level.
- Proven ability to perform effectively in a dynamic environment with multiple competing priorities.
- Demonstrated awareness of the emerging directions within health services, including the current social and economic environment and government policies and processes that affect South Australian health services and program delivery.
- An ability to manage to the spirit and principles of the premier’s safety Commitment and the legislative requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA), utilising AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management- Principles and Guidelines, or to an equivalent set of standards
- Proven ability to participate in and contribute to key decision-making processes at a senior level.
Experience
- (RN/M 5.2) Registered Nurse/Midwife with at least 5 years post registration experience
- Experience as a leader or manager in the health care industry.
- Proven experience in managing and leading complex projects
- Proven experience in leading services or organisations through times of extensive change.
- Experience in applying contemporary management processes and practices within a complex and changing environment.
- Experience in leading quality improvement initiatives in health care settings.
- Experience in clinical and operational planning Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
Knowledge
- Knowledge of current managerial philosophy, in particular strategic management, quality management and continuous improvement.
- Knowledge of risk management principles, methods and techniques especially in relation to the New WCH Project.
- Knowledge of the political and socio-economic sensitivities that impact on the planning, development, funding, delivery and management of health services.
DESIRABLE
Personal Abilities/Aptitudes/Skills:
- Ability to analyse complex clinical data.
- Demonstrated highly developed report writing and oral presentation skills.
Experience
- Demonstrated experience in providing leadership and management of a health-related / large project delivery.
Knowledge
- Sophisticated understanding and applicability of South Australian, national and international trends in health care.
- Knowledge of the South Australian Public Health System and operations of Women’s and Children’s Health Network.
Direct Reports
- Graduate Officer AS03
- Project Consultant(s) AS08
- Clinical/Project Manager(s) RNM3/AS07/AHP3
Internal
- Reports to:
- Operationally reports to the Executive Director – New WCH
- (RNM5.2) Professionally reports to Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery, and Consumer Experience
- (AHP5) Professionally reports to Executive Director Allied Health & Sub-Acute
- Liaise closely with WCHN New WCH Executive and Divisional Directors, New WCH Project Governance team, Operational Services, Program/ Project Managers, Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW), Department for Infrastructure (DIT), and clinical teams on various New WCH project related management matters.
- Provides clinical and risk management leadership in New WCH Project and maintains cooperative and productive working relationships with all members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Clinical and Operations Project Lead will be a member of the New WCH Project Governance arrangements reporting on New WCH planning matter, provides support and briefings to the WCHN New WCH Executive Committee, New WCH Executive Leadership Team, and WCHN Executive/Board as required.
External
- Maintains relationships with non-government organisations or other government organisations.
- Collaborative relationships with external professional service consultants and contractors.
- Partners with Not-for-Profit organisations and community service providers.
- Managing stakeholders’ expectations and diverse requirements
- Working collaboratively with all levels of the WCHN to ensure clear and concise communication.
- Leading health facility planning to ensure a safe and smooth transition to New WCH within the project program.
- Managing competing and diverse perspectives of all key stakeholders in line with Project directions.
- Building a culture of quality and safety that is patient/client centred.
Please discuss with HardyGroup Principal Search Consultant
Service Location: SA - North Adelaide
Classification: AHP5 / RN/M 5.2
- It is mandatory that no person, whether or not already working in SA Health, may be appointed to a position in SA Health unless they have provided a satisfactory current Criminal and Relevant History Screening, as required by the SA Health Criminal and Relevant History Screening Policy Directive.
- For appointment in a Prescribed Position under the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act (2016), a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) is required from the Department for Human Services Screening Unit. For other positions, a satisfactory National Police Certificate (NPC) assessment is required.
- For ‘Prescribed Positions’ under the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act (2016), the individual’s WWCCs must be renewed every 5 years from the date of issue; and for ‘Approved Aged Care Provider Positions’ every 3 years from date of issue as required by the Accountability Principles 2014 issued pursuant to the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth).
- Appointment is subject to immunisation risk category requirements (see page 1). There may be ongoing immunisation requirements that must be met.
- As a state-wide service, WCHN employees may be required to undertake work at various locations in metropolitan Adelaide and provide outreach to other parts of South Australia (the latter in consultation with the incumbent of the role).
- Depending on work requirements the incumbent may be transferred to other locations across SA Health to perform work appropriate to classification, skills and capabilities either on a permanent or temporary basis subject to relevant provisions of the Public Sector Act 2009 for Public Sector employees or the SA Health (Health Care Act) Human Resources Manual for Health Care Act employees.
- The incumbent may be required to participate in Counter Disaster activities including attendance, as required, at training programs and exercises to develop the necessary skills required to participate in responses in the event of a disaster and/or major incident.
- The Role Description provides an indication of the type of duties you will be engaged to perform. You may be lawfully directed to perform any duties that a person with your skills and abilities would reasonably be expected to perform.
Role Description RN/M 5.2
The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 24 February 2026
The reference number to include in your application is H26_5350
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, Bradie Hammat via bhammat@hardygroupintl.com / +61 (0)417 882 900
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.
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:
Janine Hammat
HardyGroup Principal Consultant
M. +61 (0)488 555 858
E. jhammat@hardygroupintl.com
Living and working in Adelaide
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