SA Health
Job reference: 941584
Location: 5006 - NORTH ADELAIDE
Job status: Long Term Contract
Eligibility: Open to Everyone

• ­­Women's and Children's Health Network, New Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide (5000)
• Salary Classification - SAES 1 - SA Executive Services Level 1
• Full-time, long-term contract until 30 June 2028

The Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHN) is South Australia's principal provider of specialist women's, babies', children's and young people's health services, delivering care across acute, sub‑acute, community and statewide services. WCHN plays a critical leadership role within the health system and is entering a period of significant reform and opportunity as it prepares for major shifts in care delivery, digital enablement and the future Women's and Children's Hospital.

The Scope of This Role

Reporting to the CEO and serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Executive Director provides enterprise-wide leadership to shape strategic direction, drive large-scale transformation and foster strategic partnerships that deliver sustainable value and improved outcomes for women, children and young people.

The role works closely with the CEO and Executive Team to translate strategy into action, lead complex reform and innovation agendas, strengthen organisational capability, and cultivate high-impact partnerships across government, health, research, industry and community sectors. It is accountable for delivering transformational change, embedding performance and benefits realisation disciplines, and positioning the organisation for long-term sustainability, growth and system-wide impact.

It leads multi-year change, service redesign and innovation programs, embedding benefits realisation and performance disciplines, while shaping the narrative and engagement required to bring the organisation through change, with a clear focus on integration, reform and sustainable value.

The role

• Leading the development, articulation and delivery of WCHN's enterprise strategy, ensuring alignment with government priorities, funding frameworks and long‑term service sustainability.
• Designing and driving major transformation initiatives, including service redesign, operating model change, digital enablement and performance improvement programs.
• Building compelling business cases and investment propositions to secure funding for new initiatives that prepare WCHN for market and system shifts, including technology and digitally enabled care.
• Establishing clear transformation roadmaps, success measures and governance to ensure change is sequenced, achievable and delivers tangible outcomes.
• Creating and sustaining high‑value partnerships across government, health services, research, universities, industry, philanthropy and community to enable collaboration and shared impact.
• Working closely with executive and clinical leaders to bring people on the journey, embedding a culture of confidence, trust and shared ownership of change.
• Supporting organisational readiness for the future Women's and Children's Hospital through strategic alignment, capability development and system integration.

What You Bring

• Confidence, presence and credibility to operate at executive and system level, influencing across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated ability to bring people on the journey through large‑scale change, balancing consultation and collaboration with clear decision‑making.
• Strong relationship‑building capability, with a track record of creating partnerships and opportunities that enable innovation and shared outcomes.
• Experience developing and articulating compelling strategic plans, business cases and investment narratives that secure funding and executive or government support.
• Sound political and commercial acumen, with an understanding of operating within constrained funding and complex accountability environments.
• A future‑focused, enterprise mindset — able to anticipate market shifts (including digital transformation) and shape the organisation's response.

Why the Women's and Children's Health Network

WCHN exists to deliver exceptional care to women, babies, children, and young people across South Australia — a mission that gives this role genuine meaning beyond the corporate functions it supports. As part of SA Health, you will have access to generous salary packaging arrangements, professional development support, and the stability of public sector employment. The Network is known for its collaborative culture and its commitment to embedding equity and inclusion into everything it does. This is a rare opportunity to influence how a purpose-driven organisation leads itself.

Ready to Apply?

 To apply please visit Apply for Executive Director - Strategy, Transformation & Partnerships or to have a confidential conversation about the role, please contact Janine Hammat at Hardy Group directly ​HG Principal Consultant ​M.+61 (0)488 555 858 or via email at jhammat@hardygroupintl.com

When applying, please include a current curriculum vitae and a cover letter outlining your experience in relation to the key responsibilities of the role. We encourage you to make contact early, as applications are considered as they are received.

Want to learn more about career opportunities at WCHN? Click Here to discover how you can Realise Your Potential and join one of our many teams making a positive difference in the community.

Stay connected with us! Follow WCHN on LinkedIn to keep up to date with new job opportunities and the latest news from across our network — Click Here to join the conversation

For further information on applying and winning this role, go to our SA Health Careers Site for the Australian Applicant Guide or if you are an international applicant, check out the International Application Guide.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply

Application Closing Date: Monday 13 July at 11:55PM

Applications close: 13/07/2026 5:00 PM

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.