General Manager Rural Generalism & Primary Health Care - Full Time
About us:
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) South Eastern Section is part of one of Australia’s most respected and trusted organisations, providing 24-hour emergency aeromedical retrievals and essential healthcare to people living and working in remote, rural, and regional communities. We also deliver a comprehensive range of primary and preventative health services — including GP and nurse clinics, dental care, mental health support, alcohol and other drug counselling, vaccinations, chronic disease management, and telehealth. By delivering these services, we help ensure that people in even the most remote communities receive timely, reliable healthcare.
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking health leader to join us as General Manager Rural Generalism & Primary Health Care. This pivotal role provides both strategic and operational leadership across our primary care and rural generalist services. You’ll work closely with the Clinical Director Primary Care and Rural Generalism to strengthen clinical operations, optimise performance, and deliver high-quality, sustainable care for rural and remote communities.
Reporting to the Executive General Manager Health & Clinical Services, your duties will include:
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for RFDSSE’s primary care and rural generalist services
- Oversee the clinical and operational performance of all RFDSSE primary care and rural generalist programs
- Improve systems relating to health intelligence, data capture and the and use of data to drive key health delivery decisions across primary care
- Analyse operational processes and systems to identify areas for improvement that enhance service delivery, improve financial efficiency, and risk management
- Support workforce planning, recruitment, rostering, and supervision structures to maintain a skilled, supported and sustainable clinical workforce
- Ensure compliance with quality, safety, and regulatory standards (NSQHS, AGPAL, contractual requirements)
- Manage budgets, optimise billing and funding opportunities, and ensure financial sustainability across all primary care and rural generalist services
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with universities, providers, and stakeholders to support collaborative service delivery
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, clinical governance, and accountability
- Support the Clinical Director Primary Care and Rural Generalist in implementing and refining models of care to meet the unique needs of rural and remote communities
About You:
You are an accomplished health service leader with experience in managing complex primary or rural health operations. You combine strong business acumen with a deep understanding of clinical governance, workforce management, and service innovation.
In addition to this, you will have:
- Minimum 5–7 years’ experience in primary health care, ideally in rural and remote settings
- Significant senior management experience, with a proven ability to lead and develop managers and key team members within a primary health care setting
- Comprehensive knowledge of contemporary primary health and rural generalist care, including general practice operations and rural hospital models of care
- Demonstrated success in implementing major organisational change
- Ability to create a compelling vision and translate it into actionable strategies and measurable outcomes
- Strong understanding of budgeting, financial planning, and resource allocation, including utilisation of MBS and management of contracts/grants
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Proven ability to represent an organisation at senior levels, building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating professionalism, enthusiasm, and effectiveness as an organisational ambassador
- Strong understanding of the context, challenges, and enablers of health care delivery in rural and remote settings
- Knowledge of virtual care, telehealth, or integrated care systems, particularly in rural or remote environments
- Experience in developing and enhancing digital health initiatives
- Familiarity with NSQHS, AGPAL, and RACGP standards, accreditation frameworks, and risk management systems
- Experience identifying and implementing opportunities for revenue growth, partnerships, or contracting in a health service environment
- A rewarding and unique opportunity to make a real difference in the future of rural healthcare
- Competitive remuneration package
- Relocation Assistance
- Generous salary packaging (increase take-home pay by up to 10%)
- Hybrid work options
- Option to enrol in Fitness Passport Membership, which gives you access to an extensive network of gyms, pools and leisure centres across Australia
- Flexible location — ideally based in Far West or Western NSW
What’s Next?
For more information: Please call Shannon Nott on 0409 903 325 or email shannon.nott@rfdsse.org.au
Our Values: Our Values of Reliability, Care, Trust and Safety shape the way we work as individuals, as team members and with the communities we serve.
The RFDS (South Eastern Section) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.
The RFDSSE aim to fill vacancies as quickly as possible. This means that we will close advert as soon as we have found the right candidate and this may be before the published closing date. We would therefore advise interested applicants to submit an application as early as possible.
Compensation: N/A