- Drive bold, system-wide transformation, leading strategy for South Australia’s flagship women’s and children’s health network while forging high-impact partnerships that deliver lasting change.
- Join a high-performing, contemporary Executive Team playing a central role in a once in a generation new Women’s and Children’s Hospital development.
- Live and work in one of the world’s most liveable cities with beautiful beaches, world class festivals and sporting events, premium food and wine regions, and an easy commute that supports better work-life balance.
THE OPPORTUNITY
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.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Director, Strategy, Transformation and Partnerships is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, responsible for shaping enterprise strategy, leading complex organisation‑wide transformation and cultivating partnerships that enable innovation, investment and sustainable performance.
Based in Adelaide, the role offers a rare opportunity to work within a stable and aligned executive team, influence system‑level reform and position WCHN to respond proactively to evolving funding and service delivery environments. The role is central to ensuring WCHN is strategically prepared for future demand the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital, digital transformation and emerging models of care, while continuing to deliver consistently high‑quality services for families across the state and beyond.
THE ROLE
The Executive Director, Strategy, Transformation and Partnerships provides enterprise leadership to set the strategic direction of Women’s and Children’s Health Network and deliver large scale transformation that improves outcomes for women, children and young people. Partnering closely with the CEO and Executive Team, the role translates strategy into executable change, builds organisational capability in transformation and translational research, and strengthens high value partnerships across government, health, research, industry and community. 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.
Key elements of the role include:
- 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.
The role requires a leader who can combine influence and diplomacy with clarity and conviction — someone who can engage widely, create momentum for change and still represent clear, credible plans for transformation.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate will be a senior leader with deep experience in strategy, transformation or system‑wide reform, ideally within a complex public sector, health or human services environment.
In addition to meeting the essential criteria outlined in the position description, the ideal candidate will 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.
This role will suit a strategic, confident and inclusive executive who thrives on complexity, values collaboration, and is motivated to help position WCHN for its next phase of impact, innovation and excellence.
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:
Janine Hammat
HG Principal Consultant
M. +61 (0)488 555 858 | E. jhammat@hardygroupintl.com
HOW TO APPLY
The closing date for applications is Monday, 13 July 2026.
The reference number to include in your application is H26_5508.
Ready to make people your organisation’s greatest asset?
