The Executive Director, Medical Services and Clinical Governance (EDMSCG) is an integral member of the Senior Executive Leadership Team of the Women’s and Children’s Health Network, responsible for leading the Network’s strategy, performance and culture so that it is a recognised leader in Australia for the provision of quality care to infants, children and women.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the EDMSCG provides the overall clinical vision and direction to the organisation, ensuring that the culture, clinical systems and practices are aligned with, and facilitate the delivery of excellent, evidenced based care. The incumbent will be responsible for the provision of expert medical advice and provision of authoritative medical administration services to the CEO. This includes credentialing and privileging, clinical policy and management of all medico-legal matters.

A key responsibility is to support the CEO in the design, delivery and review of the highest standards of medical workforce engagement, recognising the role of effective medical leadership for success and effectiveness of organisational change in health systems.

The EDMSCG is the Executive accountable for ensuring the highest standards of performance of the Network’s clinical services across the continuum of health service delivery settings, including acute and community based services. This is to be achieved through strong collaboration with clinical services and their leadership, recognising and respecting the responsibilities of Divisional Leadership, whilst building and leveraging cross functional collaborations to achieve organisational goals. The development of innovative and evidence-based models of care to respond to the emerging challenges is an important aspect of this collaboration.

The incumbent will champion the Network’s Safety and Quality Plan and contribute to analytics and development of quality measures with the clinical community. This extends to the identification and management of clinical risk across the Network.

Drawing on their clinical and management competencies, the EDMSCG will work closely with all members of the Executive Team to optimise clinical governance, clinical quality and safety across the WCHN Network. They will also partner with Clinical Leaders and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to ensure that strategy is translated into practice in order to meet the clinical requirements of the Network’s Service Level Agreement with the Department of Health and Wellbeing.

As the Executive Lead for medical workforce planning, development and utilisation, the EDMSCG will ensure that there is a clear strategy to attract, manage and retain the right medical capability to position the Network to respond to the current and emerging healthcare requirements. They will lead strategies to ensure the sustainability of services and optimise medical workforce utilisation through the introduction of Medical Workforce Job Planning, Performance Management and Succession Planning. They will mentor current and emerging medical leaders in managerial competencies.

A key requirement of the role is to lead medical education across the medical workforce, and this incorporates the management of the Trainee Medical Officer Unit (TMOU), and contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum with partner Universities.

They will lead collaborative ventures with external clinical stakeholders including other Local Health Networks, Primary Health Care and NGOs to improve service delivery, and as part of their leadership, ensure clinical practice is infused with research and evidence. In this regard, they will contribute strongly to the research priorities, strategies and research governance within WCHN.

Leadership of Strategy and Complex Change

• Provide decisive and visionary medical leadership, setting the clinical direction and ensuring that medical services are delivered to the highest standards of quality, safety, and integrity.
• Act as the principal medical authority within the organisation, ensuring medical perspectives inform executive decisions, resource allocation, and strategic planning
• Provide executive level support for the development of the Network’s vision and strategic directions, consistent with the SA Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Government policy.
• Exercise strategic influence across the organization, shaping clinical policy, service design, and operational priorities to advance excellence in patient care and clinical outcomes.
• In relation to the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital program, provide clinical leadership for significant change, including new models of care, system configuration, eHealth and new technologies and preparation of the medical workforce for relocation to the new WCH
• Adopt contemporary models of change management to ensure benefits realisation.
• Provide clinical leadership for strategies to deliver increased value from public investment in the Network’s services.
• Contribute constructively to executive decision-making processes using intellectual rigor, strategic influencing and informed analysis and decision making skills.
• Provide clinical perspective and leadership for complex issues including commissioning and resource allocation.
• Work in collaboration with key partners, including other networks, the Department of Health and Wellbeing, Primary Health Care, Universities, Research Institutes, General Practice and other government agencies.
• Together with the Chief Operating Officer, ensure that care is delivered according to contemporary, culturally appropriate, best practice models of care by:
  • Leading the creation of a culture of patient centred care, performance accountability and continuous improvement within the clinical community.
  • Leading the identification and implementation of evidence-based models of care, process and practice.

Safety and Quality Governance

• Lead the design, delivery and review of the Network’s Safety and Quality strategy, systems and practices to ensure the highest standards of safe, quality care are diffused across the Network.
• Ensure the Network complies with the National Safety and Quality standards and all clinical compliance / accreditation requirements.
• Assume responsibility for clinical risk management across the Network, ensuring risks are pro-actively identified and managed effectively.
• Play a primary role in the development of innovative clinical services delivery models which delivery quality care and support wise use of resources.
• Support the provision of timely, quality information to the clinical community and management to inform clinical risk management and drive improved practice.
• Lead strategies to promote positive performance, including benchmarking, adoption of research and evidence-based practice
• Formulate and provide advice on policies and practices to enhance the coordination of care delivered to patients across the region.
• Provide advice of policies and practices, which provide clinician engagement in the management of clinical services and the development of inter-disciplinary clinical teams.
• Together with the Chief Operating Officer, Professional Leads and Divisional Clinical Directors, lead the process to develop and implement integrated models of care.
• Lead and champion reform and innovation related to the adoption of evidence-based practice and the opportunities.

Medical Administration and Expert Advice

• Provide high level timely, accurate and informative advice to the Chief Executive Officer regarding clinical issues, performance, risks management and medical administration.
• Assume the lead clinical role in emergency and disaster management preparedness and response.
• Administer the Network’s medical administration practices and contribute to network financing considerations.
• Represent and advocate for the medical profession in executive forums, external partnerships, and community engagement, reinforcing the organisation’s reputation for clinical excellence.
• Lead accreditation requirements.

Establish and Sustain Productive Partnerships

• Strengthen interdisciplinary leadership, building trusted relationships between medical, nursing, and administrative teams to promote cohesive and patient-centred care.
• Contribute significantly to the Network’s Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy
• Lead with the CEO and ED, People & Culture, the clinician engagement strategy.
• Be a primary partner in relationships with universities, other major research, and tertiary education institutes.
• Establish and sustain positive partnerships with primary health care to support the development and delivery of integrated care partnerships.
• Lead the medical interface with other Local Health Networks on significant inter-network medical matters / issues.
• Establish and sustain productive partnerships with Research and Innovation entities.

Medical Workforce Planning, Management and Development

• Lead a high-performing medical workforce through clear expectations, mentorship, and accountability, fostering a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Lead the professional development of the medical workforce, fostering leadership capacity, succession planning, and a culture of continuous learning.
• Introduce strategies to optimise medical workforce engagement and utilisation, including Workforce Planning, Job Planning, Performance Management and Succession Planning.
• Support Clinical Directors to optimise medical performance and development within their Divisions.
• Provide strong leadership contribution to the Network’s educational strategies, including Grand Rounds.
• Deliver a medical workforce plan for the Network which aligns with the Strategic Plan.
• Develop strategies to develop and engage the junior medical workforce.
• Ensure medical workforce planning supports service sustainability and safety.
• Ensure appropriate corporate governance arrangements exist within the Medical Services Unit across the Network.

Learning and Innovation

• Identify and implement innovative approaches to the provision of health services and the achievement of population health outcomes.
• Contribute to executive level accountability for clinical research ethics.
• Lead strategy to translate research into practice, in collaboration with the WCHN Clinical Community.
• Foster innovation within the clinical community, and contribute to the development of a Learning Organisation within WCHN.

Management of High Performing Teams

• Model exemplary clinical and ethical leadership, upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in all decision-making Manage the Network’s Safety and Quality and Trainee Medical Officer teams, ensuring they are provided with clear direction, and the leadership support and encouragement to function as a high performing team.
• Adopt contemporary HRM practices.
• Ensure integrity of allocated budget.

ESSENTIAL

• Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) or equivalent.
• Appropriate Specialist Qualifications and registrable with the Medical Board of Australia as a Medical Practitioner with Specialist registration; or another qualification as defined in the SA Medical Officers Award. Specialty registration with FRACMA (or progress toward), will be highly regarded.

DESIRABLE

• Relevant postgraduate qualifications.

ESSENTIAL

Personal Abilities/Aptitudes/Skills:

• Demonstrated strong leadership skills and an ability to motivate and inspire others to work together as a team to achieve objectives.
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal and leadership skills that foster credibility, trust and co-operation at executive and senior levels.
• Demonstrated ability to think and act strategically.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change and influence others in responding to change.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate group and individual performance against agreed objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively liaise and collaborate with relevant organisations at a State level.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, to a wide range of audiences on a range of issues.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse and conceptualise problems, formulate and execute appropriate solutions and negotiate successful outcomes in an innovative and resourceful manner.
• Proven ability to negotiate at senior levels of government and private industry.
• Ability to be innovative and enterprising in relation to influencing and earning the trust and respect of relevant parties who possess a diverse range of values.

Experience

• Demonstrated executive level or senior experience in the provision of strategic health advice as it relates to implementing change.
• Proven experience in provision of clinical advice.
• Experience in providing leadership to a complex multi-disciplinary organisation in a climate of continuing change, increasing the effectiveness and accountability of the organisation and/or programs.
• Experience in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of strategic plans, policies and strategies dealing with complex issues.
• Experience in policy, strategic planning and innovative program development at a senior level, preferably in the health sector.
• Experience in the management of risk and increasing the effectiveness and accountability of risk management strategies and organisational operations.
• Experience in leading continuous improvement activities.
• Experience in the management of contracts.
• Demonstrated success in the effective management of human, financial and material resources.

Knowledge

• Demonstrated knowledge of public health system operations, particularly as they related to acute and primary health care services across the continuum of care.
• An understanding of the emerging directions within health services, nationally and internationally.
• Knowledge of the political and socio-economic factors that impact on health services.
• Knowledge of the spirit and principles of the Premier’s Safety Commitment and the legislative requirements of the Occupational Health Safety and Welfare Act, utilising AS/NZ 4360 Risk Management or to an equivalent set of standards.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the National and State directions in relation to quality and safety

DESIRABLE

Experience

• Experience in representing the health sector across the continuum of care.
• Experience in planning workforce requirements.
• Experience in negotiation with clinical leaders.

Knowledge

• Understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander / vulnerable populations’ health issues and effective population health, primary health, secondary and tertiary services.

Direct Reports

• Safety & Quality Unit
• Trainee Medical Officer (TMO) Unit
• Directors of Physician Education
• Director of Clinical Training
• Chief Resident Medical Officer

Internal

• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer, WCHN
• The position will have a close working relationship with all members of the Executive, and particularly the COO and other Professional Leads.
• The position will participate as an integral member of the WCHN Executive Team, significantly contributing to the leadership, vision and strategic direction setting for the Network.

External

• The position will have close working relationships with senior officers throughout the Network, in the Department of Health and Wellbeing, other government agencies, and key community stakeholders, including universities and relevant professional associations.

Major challenges currently associated with the role include:

• The EDMSCG will have leadership and executive level advisory roles, as well as providing executive level accountability for a number of key areas within the Network.
• Transition from compliance-focused safety and quality processes to safety and quality excellence
• Further development of enterprise-wide clinical governance capability
• Strengthening medical leadership capability across divisions and services
• Establishing clear and accountable medical workforce leadership structures
• Alignment of medical leadership and governance frameworks with the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital development

Please discuss with HardyGroup Principal Search Consultant

Service Location: SA - North Adelaide

Classification: MD2

Contract Term: 5 years

• It is mandatory that no person, whether or not already working in WCHN, 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).
• For ‘Risk Assessed Roles’ under the NDIS Worker Screening Rules 2018, the individual’s NDIS Worker Check must be renewed every 5 years from the data of issue (or are required to be compliant with transitional arrangement for South Australia).
• Failure to renew required criminal history screenings prior to nominated expiry will require your absence by way of approved leave until a renewal is obtained.
• Appointment is subject to immunisation risk category requirements. 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.
• Some inter and intra state and overseas travel will be required, and provision to be available on call as part of the Executive on call roster.
• This 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

Women's & Children's Health Network

Women’s and Children’s Hospital

The closing date for applications is Sunday, 12 April 2026

The reference number to include in your application is H26_5416

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. 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
2. 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
3. 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