Make an impact where it matters – leading people, driving improvement and delivering operational excellence. Employment Type: Permanent Full Time Position Classification: Health Manager Level 1 Remuneration: $91,326
- $121,497 per annum + super

Location:
John Hunter Hospital | Awabakal Country Hours Per Week: 38 Requisition ID: REQ699549 Applications Close: Sunday, 15th November 2026 Where You'll Be Working Step into a pivotal operational leadership role at the heart of the John Hunter Health and Innovation campus in vibrant Newcastle, NSW. As the Administration Manager, you will lead a diverse, customer-focused workforce of 62.5 FTE spanning 7 distinct teams across two campuses, overseeing Outpatient Administration, Switchboard, and Mailroom Services. Our portfolio is the operational engine room and first point of contact for patients, GPs, visitors, and clinical staff:
• Outpatient Administration & Contact Centre: Delivering front-line reception, referral management, Contact Centre operations, and Telehealth support across high-volume clinics.
• 24/7 Switchboard Services: Maintaining round-the-clock telecommunications and emergency preparedness/business continuity for JHH and supported after-hours HNELHD facilities.
• Mailroom & Fleet Logistics: Coordinating drivers and mail/parcel distribution from JHH across Newcastle, the Hunter Valley, and Northern regional sites.

About The Role
Reporting directly to the Service Manager, you will guide, manage, and mentor a group of dedicated Team Leaders to coordinate 62.5 FTE across 7 teams and two campuses. Balancing daily operational execution with strategic workforce and financial planning, your core responsibilities will include:
• Financial, Budget & Activity Management: Monitoring expenditure against budget, analysing and reporting financial performance, identifying variances and risks, and contributing to forecasting and budget development. You will also oversee administrative compliance for Activity Based Funding (ABF), Non-Admitted Patient (NAP) activity, and Medicare billing to meet data and revenue KPIs.
• Rostering, Payroll & Recruitment Governance: Overseeing complex rosters (including 24/7 Switchboard coverage), payroll functions, and proactive end-to-end recruitment to maintain productive staffing levels, manage leave, and ensure strict Award compliance.
• People Leadership & Culture: Managing day-to-day HR matters, performance reviews, and conflict resolution while coaching Team Leaders and driving HNELHD’s Excellence Framework (90-day action plans, leader rounding, and accountability meetings).
• Service Improvement & Business Cases: Identifying operational gaps, risks, and efficiency opportunities across the three services, developing evidence-based business cases and workforce plans to support operational decision-making and service enhancement.
• Business Continuity & Vendor Liaison: Maintaining emergency preparedness for Switchboard operations and partnering with IT, telecommunications, and external mail/courier contractors to ensure seamless service delivery. Essential Requirements
• Experience in managing administrative/operational staff, OR an equivalent combination of study and work experience leading large, multi-disciplinary teams.




• Demonstrated financial management understanding/capability, including budget monitoring, variance and risk analysis, forecasting, workforce planning, and business case preparation.
• Eligible to drive in NSW (current NSW Driver’s Licence) with the ability to travel between campuses. Desirable / Can Be Worked Towards In The Role
• Formal qualifications or HETI pathways in Health Management, Leadership, Project Management, or Finance.
• Training or certification in service improvement methodologies (e.g., Improvement Science, Lean, or Accelerated Implementation Methodology).
• Experience with SDPR, ROB, financial reporting tools, and telecommunication/call centre systems)—comprehensive system training and mentoring will be provided for strong leaders joining from outside NSW Health. About You Our ideal candidate is a proactive, resilient, and people-focused operational leader who thrives on variety and continuous improvement. Crucial
• Leadership: A natural ability to coach, mentor, and support Team Leaders, foster a positive and accountable culture across 62.5 FTE, and navigate HR, recruitment, and performance matters with empathy and confidence.
• CORE Values & Problem-Solving: The agility to work autonomously, balance competing priorities across three distinct services (Outpatient Admin, 24/7 Switchboard, and Mailroom/Fleet) and two campuses, and remain calm and decisive under pressure.
• Financial, Roster & Analytical Capability: Strong numeracy and analytical skills—you know how to manage complex rosters productively, monitor budgets, identify financial or operational variances/risks, and build clear, evidence-based business cases for service enhancement. What Can Be Learned / Developed On The Job
• NSW Health Systems & Awards: While prior experience with complex rostering, payroll, and enterprise IT systems is essential, specific proficiency in NSW Health platforms (such as HealthRoster, ROB, Patient Administration Systems, and hospital switchboard software) and State Award nuances can be developed on the job.
• Healthcare Funding & Excellence Frameworks: If you bring strong financial and operational management capability from another sector or service, we will support and mentor you in learning healthcare-specific frameworks, including Activity Based Funding (ABF), Non-Admitted Patient (NAP) reporting, Medicare billing compliance, and the HNELHD Excellence Framework (leader rounding and 90-day action planning). How You'll Be Supported Stepping into a rapid-paced portfolio across two campuses, you will be backed by a collaborative leadership structure:
• Direct Mentorship & Coaching: You will work closely with the Service Manager through regular 1:1 catch-ups, strategic planning sessions, and hands-on support as you learn the portfolio.
• Experienced Team Leaders:



You will be supported on the ground by an established network of Team Leaders across our 7 teams who bring strong day-to-day operational knowledge across Outpatient Administration, 24/7 Switchboard, and Mailroom Services.
• Specialist District Partners: You will have dedicated support from JHH Finance Business Manager (for budget reviews and forecasting), People & Culture (HR) Advisors, Workforce/HealthRoster specialists, Clinical Support staff including co-ordinators based across both campuses and JHH Quality unit for Disaster Management partners. Additional Information
• An eligibility list will be created for future permanent full or part time and temporary full or part time vacancies.
• To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a Current Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.
• We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position. Whilst this position is open to all individuals, it is targeted to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people under section 21 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply and consideration will be given to suitable Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants to promote equal or improved access. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicants must demonstrate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status in addition to addressing the selection criterion. Need more information?
• Click here for the Position Description
• Find out more about applying for this position For role related queries or questions contact Joseph Turner on Joseph.
[email protected] Information For Applicants Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2 Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HNEHealthSteppingUp This is a Category A position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category A positions prior to offer. All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy. At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process please let us know when you apply or at any stage of the process. We will work with you to meet your needs and create the best possible experience. Please contact [email protected] for confidential support.

📌 Administration Manager (Newcastle)
🏢 Hunter New England Local Health District
📍 Newcastle