Clinical Governance, Risk, Quality and Contract Manager

This is a unique opportunity to join one of Australia’s most trusted and respected charities in a key executive role.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Tasmania delivers Dental, Physical Health, and Youth and Adult Mental Health programs to areas of unmet need across Tasmania. Our vision is to improve health outcomes for all Tasmanians, with a specific focus on remote and rural areas. We are seeking an experienced health governance leader to make sure the care we deliver across every program is safe, well monitored and continuously improving.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Executive team, the Clinical Governance, Risk, Quality and Contract Manager is the organisation’s lead for clinical governance, quality, risk, accreditation and contract management.

You will own the RFDS Tasmania Clinical Governance Framework and the quality, risk and compliance systems that support it, and provide independent assurance to the CEO, Board and Board Clinical Advisory Committee, and Program Managers. You’ll work in partnership with our Program Managers (Dental, Physical Health and Mental Health), who lead the day-to-day application of these frameworks with them across each program, while you set the framework, monitor performance and escalate concerns across the organisation.

This is a broad and influential role with responsibility for:

• Clinical governance – owning and reviewing the Clinical Governance Framework in line with the National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards (NSQPCHS), and overseeing credentialing, scope of practice, open disclosure, clinical review and mandatory notifications

• Quality and accreditation – leading our accreditation and compliance programs (NSQPCHS and ISO 9001 principles) so we are accreditation ready every day, and driving continuous improvement

• Contract management – with the CEO and Program Leads, overseeing the governance of funding agreements, service contracts and partnerships, monitoring performance and compliance, and providing assurance to Executive and the Board

• Risk and legislative compliance – maintaining the risk management framework and register (ISO 31000), and monitoring compliance with WHS, privacy, cyber security and health records obligations

• Incidents, feedback and audit – managing incident, complaint and compliment data, and developing and reporting on the annual audit program

• Committees and reporting – chairing the Quality and Safety Committee and preparing papers for the Board Clinical Advisory Committee and the Board, with a focus on performance and risk-based reporting

• Policy and capability – maintaining the policy register and OneVault documents, and providing expert advice and training content on quality, risk and clinical governance

The role is full time and based in our Launceston office, with travel within Tasmania (including occasional overnight stays) and some Board and committee meetings outside standard hours.

About You

You are a credible, values-driven health leader with a clinical background and senior experience in clinical governance, quality and risk. You can partner with and influence clinical leaders without line authority, turn data and incidents into meaningful improvement, and communicate confidently at Executive and Board level. You share our values of Care, Collaboration, Excellence, Innovation and Trust.

Selection Criteria

The ideal candidate will have:

1. A tertiary qualification in a health discipline, with clinical experience in primary, community or allied health settings

2. Demonstrated senior experience leading clinical governance, quality and accreditation programs in a health care setting, including against the NSQPCHS or equivalent national standards

3. Demonstrated experience designing and maintaining risk management frameworks, risk registers and incident management systems, and reporting risk to executive and board level

4. Proven experience in the governance and management of complex health service, funding or partnership contracts, including performance monitoring, compliance assurance and risk management

5. Demonstrated ability to analyse clinical and operational data, identify trends and unwarranted variation, investigate incidents and turn findings into improvement

6. Proven ability to influence and partner with clinical leaders and staff, gaining credibility on clinical matters without line authority

7. High-level written and verbal communication skills, including preparing board and committee papers

8. Working knowledge of WHS, privacy and health records legislation as it applies to a community health organisation

9. Experience with quality management and document control systems, risk assessment tools and Microsoft Office

10. Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing deliverables and meet deadlines

11. Reliability, high integrity and a strong work ethic, aligned with the vision, mission and values of RFDS

Desirable

• Post-graduate qualification in clinical governance, quality and safety, risk management or health services management

• Current or previous AHPRA registration

• Experience leading consumer engagement or co-design in health services

• Experience with OneVault or similar policy, compliance and learning management systems

• Membership of the Australasian College of Health Service Management, the Australian Institute of Clinical Governance or a similar professional body

What we offer

• Competitive salary + superannuation

• Generous not-for-profit salary packaging – up to $15,900 in general expenses plus $2,650 in meal entertainment, increasing your take-home pay

• A seat on a supportive, values-driven Executive team

• Professional development and growth opportunities

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• The opportunity to work with one of Australia’s most reputable and purpose-driven organisations

What you will need

• Tertiary qualification in a health discipline with at least 5 years’ experience

• Current Tasmanian driver licence

• Current First Aid and CPR certificates

• National Police Check

• Working with Vulnerable People Registration (Tasmania)

• 100-point identification check

How to Apply

If you are an experienced clinical governance and quality leader with a strong commitment to improving health and wellbeing in rural and regional Tasmania, we encourage you to apply. Please submit via seek.com.au:

• A cover letter addressing the selection criteria

• Your current resume

• At least two (2) professional referees

To access a copy of the position description, or to answer any questions you may have, please contact Sarah Mills, People & Culture Business Manager, email: sarah.mills@rfdstas.org.au

Applications will be treated in confidence and close once a suitable applicant has been found.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from people of underrepresented backgrounds, including but not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, veterans, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBTQI+ communities. Please note all applicants require the right to work in Australia. We acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal People and their enduring custodianship of Lutruwita (Tasmania).