Chief Medical Officer

As the principal medical advisor, the Chief Medical Officer provides expert clinical advice to the wide range of programs managed by the Commission, its Board and standing committees, and to Australian Health Ministers. The Chief Medical Officer works with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Commission Executive to provide leadership in strategic policy and program development for the organisation.

In addition to providing expert clinical advice, the Chief Medical Officer has a broad span of responsibility managing multiple program areas across the Commission and a team of Clinical Directors.

The Chief Medical Officer assists the Commission to meet its legislative obligations, the deliverables in the approved work plan and ensure its clinical activities are:

• Evidence-based and built on best practice policy and processes
• Capable of improving the safety and quality of Australian health care
• Designed to achieve maximum benefit within the available resources
• Uniquely possible for the national safety and quality body to undertake
• Appropriately aligned with other national and state initiatives and
• Clinically resonant with key profession and interest groups, including medical practitioners.

The Chief Medical Officer is responsible for initiating collaboration and agreement with relevant stakeholders to participate in important national safety and quality programs. The Chief Medical Officer is accountable to the CEO and the Commission’s Board through the CEO.

To view the position duties, please refer to the applicant pack attached in the PDF below.

The successful candidate will have:

• An extensive understanding of Australia’s health care system, including understanding of the development and implementation of national approaches to safety and quality in health care, and government processes and requirements.
• Demonstrated high level experience in managing complex programs and projects in safety and quality in health care, or a similar field, and achieving results.
• Proven capacity to develop and implement strategy, including providing expert clinical advice and practical guidance to senior stakeholders on the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and programs related to safety and quality in health care.
• Excellent interpersonal and management skills including the proven ability to liaise and negotiate sensitively and effectively with government and non-government stakeholders, combined with the ability to work effectively with, and manage staff.
• Highly developed oral and written communication skills including demonstrated ability to prepare high level briefing documents and submissions, present publicly to large audiences, strategically negotiate and explain complex clinical issues simply.

How to apply

To apply for this position, please submit:

• A CV summarising your relevant experience and qualifications
• A two-page cover letter broadly addressing your suitability against both the position description and selection criteria.

Applications should be emailed to ACSQHCHR@safetyandquality.gov.au.

Candidates must be Australian citizens to be eligible to apply and must have an up-to-date Covid-19 vaccination status.

Questions about the role can be directed to Professor Anne Duggan on (02) 9126 3576.

Closing date for applications is midnight, Friday 9 June 2023.