CRVCID 747490

Shape the workforce, culture and capability behind exceptional healthcare across one of Western Australia’s largest health services.

- Lead a newly created executive role driving people, culture and capability.
- Shape workforce strategy, leadership growth and organisational change.
- Join the SMHS Executive to improve healthcare and patient outcomes.

This recruitment process is for a five-year fixed term contract.

At South Metropolitan Health Service, every employee proudly contributes to delivering safe, high-quality care to our community. Guided by our vision of Excellent health care, every time, we place research, innovation and continuous improvement at the centre of everything we do. We are building a culture of shared learning and leadership that reflects our commitment to being Collectively One, Locally Led. Through tailored development programs, leadership opportunities and contemporary ways of working, our people are empowered to grow, thrive and make a meaningful difference across every site and portfolio.

About the Role

South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) has established the new Executive Director People, Culture and Capability role and is seeking an outstanding executive leader to join the organisation's Executive team.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, this pivotal role will lead the strategic direction of the People, Culture and Capability portfolio and play a critical role in shaping a high-performing, engaged and future-focused workforce. As a member of the SMHS Executive, the successful applicant will contribute to the achievement of organisational priorities and help position SMHS as a leading health service committed to excellence in patient care, workforce experience and continuous improvement. Working within the Collectively One, Locally Led framework, the Executive Director will provide strategic leadership across workforce planning, organisational development, human resources, industrial and employee relations, work health and safety, employee wellbeing, and leadership capability. The role will drive the development of contemporary people strategies that support service delivery excellence while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, inclusion and continuous improvement.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to SMHS's ambition of becoming a world-class leader in healthcare improvement. Through our partnership with the Virginia Mason Institute and implementation of the SMHS Improvement Method, we are embedding a culture where learning, innovation and improvement are integral to everyday practice.

This is a unique opportunity for an Executive Director to play a key role in strengthening organisational capability, leading strategic workforce initiatives and supporting the successful delivery of organisational transformation and service reform. The successful applicant will provide visible and values-based executive leadership across the People, Culture and Capability portfolio while overseeing the delivery of workforce, human resources, industrial relations, safety and organisational development services across the health service. They will drive workforce strategy and planning to ensure SMHS attracts, develops and retains a capable and engaged workforce, while fostering a culture that supports leadership excellence, innovation, continuous improvement and exceptional patient outcomes. As a trusted advisor to the Chief Executive and Executive team, the Executive Director will provide strategic advice on workforce, organisational and cultural matters, identify emerging risks and opportunities,



and contribute to organisational governance, performance, risk management and decision-making. The role will also play a key part in designing and implementing workforce strategies that support the future needs of the organisation and strengthen SMHS's capability to deliver high-quality health services into the future.

We are seeking a respected and influential executive leader with demonstrated success leading large and complex people functions within a dynamic environment. The successful applicant will bring strategic insight, exceptional stakeholder engagement skills and a proven ability to deliver workforce and organisational outcomes through collaboration, innovation and leadership. You will have a passion for developing people, strengthening culture and enabling organisational excellence across one of Western Australia's largest health services.

Work Related Requirements

The following criteria should be read together with the Job Description and SMHS values.

Essential Selection Criteria:

- Role‑specific expertise: Demonstrated executive leadership in shaping and governing people, workforce and culture strategies within a large, complex organisation, providing authoritative advice to enable sustainable organisational performance.
- Lead collectively: Leads with an enterprise and system‑wide perspective, building strong relationships to align people and culture strategies with organisational and sector priorities while supporting locally led delivery.
- Think through complexity: Exercises sound judgment to navigate complex, ambiguous workforce and industrial environments, balancing immediate demands with long‑term capability and risk considerations.
- Dynamically sense the environment: Proactively interprets internal and external trends to anticipate workforce and capability challenges and influence outcomes that create shared value.
- Deliver on high‑leverage priorities: Focuses effort on the people and culture priorities that deliver the greatest organisational impact, driving measurable outcomes and adapting approaches to overcome barriers.
- Build capability: Builds organisational, leadership and workforce capability by fostering an inclusive, values‑aligned culture and investing in talent and leadership development.
- Embody the spirit of public service: Demonstrates integrity, empathy and accountability, upholding strong governance and public trust while delivering results in complex and high‑pressure environments.
- Lead adaptively: Continuously learns and adapts leadership approach to effectively lead change with resilience, authenticity and flexibility in evolving contexts.

Want to know more? For further information, refer to the attached Information Pack and Job Description Form, or contact Emily Bulloch, Principal Consultant, Beilby Downing Teal, on 0427 582 *** or at ********@beilbydt.com.au (not to be contacted for assistance with lodging your application).

About us

Our Values guide our work in every action, and that includes recruitment and employment! SMHS encourages Aboriginal people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds or LGBTI communities, and people with disability to work with us. Whatever your age, race, gender, religion,



sexual orientation, and family/carer responsibilities are, we ask that you consider bringing your expertise to our workforce.

Application and assessment support

If you experience difficulties while applying online, or require adjustments to allow you to fully participate in the application and assessment process, please contact Employee Services on 13 44 77 for immediate assistance during business hours

How to apply

You’ve heard from us, now we’d like to hear from you.

Your application should include:

1. A covering letter (no more than 2 pages) outlining your skills, experience and suitability for the role.
2. A comprehensive CV which sets out your qualifications, capabilities and experience relevant to this position.
3. The names and contact details of two (2) current referees who can attest to your suitability for this role. Please note referees may be contacted as part of the initial assessment process.

These documents should be complete and ready to attach prior to applying online. Please ensure you allow enough time to complete the online application process as you will be required to answer various questions and attach your documentation.

Employee Benefits

Our employees enjoy a range of benefits which may include (in line with operational requirements):

- Professional Development Opportunities and Study leave/assistance
- Flexible working arrangements
- Versatile leave arrangements
- Other professional and location-based allowances
- Eligibility to Apply: To be eligible for appointment, applicants must have valid Australian work rights. This includes visa holders. Permanent appointments may be made to individuals who hold citizenship, permanent residency, or visas that enable ongoing employment in Australia.

WA Health embraces diversity and is committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of our service. We are committed to growing the Aboriginal workforce as a part of WA Health’s Aboriginal Workforce Policy and as a measure to achieve equality, Section 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 applies to this position. Aboriginal people are encouraged to apply.

WA Health engages staff in positions of trust and responsibility. WA Health policies require applicants to undertake a criminal records screening and integrity checking as part of the appointment process. As well as undertaking a criminal record screening and integrity checking, you may also be required to undertake a working with children check (if required for the role) and a pre-employment health assessment. We may ask referees to comment on your integrity and past demonstration of ethical behaviour. Please note that adverse information does not necessarily disqualify an applicant but will be considered as part of the appointment process.

Whilst this selection process will initially be used to fill the above vacancy, applicants found suitable for this position may be considered for other ‘similar’ vacancies within SMHS and/or the wider WA public sector. In addition to this, should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised vacancy, then the next most suitable applicant may also be selected from this process. Both of these options remain valid for a period of twelve (12) months from when the authorised delegate endorses the recruitment decision.

Lodgement is system generated. Any submissions on, or after, 4:00pm on the closing date will not be accepted.

LATE OR EMAIL APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

An Executive Search is being undertaken as part of this selection process.

📌 Executive Director - People, Culture and Capability (Murdoch)
🏢 WA Health
📍 Murdoch