Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Organisational Context
Western Health is a large, vibrant and progressive organisation providing an extensive range of health services in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne, with a focus on excellence in clinical care, teaching and research. Employing more than 12,000 staff, Western has a strong philosophy of working with their local community to deliver excellence in patient care.
The health service manages four acute public hospitals: Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s), Footscray Hospital, Williamstown Hospital and Bacchus Marsh. They also operate Sunbury Day Hospital, Melton Health and Community Services and Caroline Springs Community Health Centre.
The organisation is rapidly expanding with a program of intensive growth and related infrastructure expansion planned over the next five years. Significant investment has recently seen the construction of the new Footscray Hospital, and the planned new Melton Hospital (expected 2029 completion), two new community hospitals in Sunbury and Point Cook and the disaggregation of Mental Health and Primary Care at Dame Phylliss Frost Centre.
Western Health is recognised as a leading teaching and research health service of international standing and provides services across the entire lifespan from paediatrics to adults, the elderly, their families and carers.
 
Deputy Chief Operating Officer Portfolio
The Deputy Chief Operating Officer is one of three DCOOs within Western’s Operations Directorate
which provides a vast suite of services across all the organisation’s sites. The budget for the Operational Directorate is in excess of $1 billion and includes a variety of services including three emergency departments and over 700 inpatient beds.
This Deputy Chief Operating Officer role is responsible for the leadership, governance and oversight of the following divisions through which clinical and supporting programs are delivered:

• Women’s & Children’s Services
• Cancer Services, Cardiology & Speciality Medicine
• Western@Home
• Drug Health Services

 
Appropriate Profile
Against this backdrop and the fact that Western Health is growing at an unprecedented pace, only those with roles of similar scale and complexity will be appropriate to fulfil the expectations of this position, particularly given Western’s escalating demand and complexity. The organisation requires deep operational and strategic experience and the following is a summary of expectations:

• Develop a detailed understanding of the business and support the Chief Operating Officer to ensure the effective operations of Western Health.
• Act as a role model and mentor and model the Western Health values in leadership behaviours.
• Promote and lead a performance culture within the area of responsibility ensuring delivery of key clinical, operational and financial outcomes.
• Actively drive systematic review, benchmarking and critical analysis of performance metrics to ensure provision of safe, effective, coordinated, timely and appropriate services and continuous improvement across accountable Divisions and/or business units.
• Provide leadership and support for direct reports and ensure they receive appropriate professional training and development opportunities and appraise their performance at least annually.
• Develop workforce capacity and capability to achieve agreed standards of performance and ensure succession plans are in place for leadership positions in area of responsibility.
• Contribute to the articulation of strategic direction of Western Health across accountable Divisions and/or business units.
• Ensure there is financial responsibility and accountability within functional areas and develop and implement financial strategies that will ensure budgetary targets and key performance indicators are met.
• Review the cost effectiveness of programs and services and initiate and implement actions to improve productivity and services within functional area.
• Provide leadership and advice to planning initiatives that consider health care across the care continuum and address the health needs of the local population as relevant to area of responsibility.

 
How to Apply:
We welcome contact from potential applicants with any questions, however it is our strong preference to receive a copy of your curriculum vitae in advance of enquiries. Thereafter, to discuss please contact Catherine Reidy or Penny Heron at ***************@derwentsearch.com.au or call (03) 9691 1***.

Applications close Monday, February 26, 2024.