POSITION NUMBER
20024059
POSITION TITLE
Program Director
CLASSIFICATION
Executive Level 2
SALARY
$122,992 - $133,777 plus 15.4% superannuation
REFERENCE NUMBER
15-0017
LOCATION
Sydney
____________________________________________________________________
Contact Officer:
Mike Wallace
Phone number:
(02) 9126 3518
Submission Details:
Applications are to be submitted via email to
ACSQHCHR@safetyandquality.gov.au
Should you experience any difficulties with submitting
your application please phone (02) 9126 3681
Closing Date:
20 October 2015, midnight AEDT
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Please read the following information to assist you in preparing an application.
Application Package
The application pack is made up of two parts:
1. Job description, job specification and selection criteria.
2. Application cover sheet "Personal Particulars Form".
Preparing your application
You should include in your application:

personal details to assist in identifying your application (you should use the Personal Particulars
Form) including a clear indication of which position(s) you are applying for

a summary of your work experience

a summary of educational qualifications/academic achievements

a statement in support of your application, describing how you consider yourself suitable against
each of the selection criteria (400 word limit per criteria)

the names of two referees, one of these referees should be your current supervisor. Written
referee reports are not required to be sent with your application. The selection committee will
contact your referee post the interview process

any other relevant information which would support your claim to the position.
You should frame your statement in terms of the selection criteria, and you should address each
criterion in sufficient detail to enable the Selection Committee to make an informed assessment.
Selection Process
The selection process is commonly made up of several forms of assessment, such as review of
written applications, interviews, work sample tests, and referees checks. However appointments
may be made based on assessment of written applications and referee checks only.
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About the Commission
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) commenced as
an independent, statutory authority on 1 July 2011. The Australian, state and territory governments
initially established the Commission in 2006 to lead and coordinate national improvements in
healthcare safety and quality. The Commission’s permanent status was confirmed with the assent of
the National Health and Hospitals Network Act 2011. The Commission was subsequently included
within the National Health Reform Act 2011.
Our mission
The Commission’s mission is to lead and coordinate national improvements in the safety and quality
of health care.
Our vision
The Commission aims to provide a health system that is informed, supported and organised to
deliver safe and high-quality health care that contributes to:
 better experiences for patients and consumers
 better health outcomes for the population
 improved productivity
 greater sustainability.
Our role
The Council of Australian Governments established the Commission to lead and coordinate national
improvements in the safety and quality of health care. Our role is to provide health ministers with
strategic advice on best practices to bring about these improvements. The Commission develops
and supports national safety and clinical standards; formulates and implements national
accreditation schemes; and develops national health-related data sets. The Commission is also
working to reduce unwarranted variations in practice and outcomes for individuals and populations,
and undertaking nationally coordinated action to address healthcare associated infections and
antimicrobial resistance.
The National Health Reform Act 2011 prescribes the Commission as a corporate Commonwealth
entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 in matters relating to
reporting and the use and management of public resources.
Our values
The Commission values close, collaborative relationships with our partners from across the
healthcare sector. These partners include consumers, healthcare providers, governments, and
other healthcare organisations and agencies.
The Commission and its people act with independence, transparency, fairness, respect, accuracy
and accountability. The Commission is committed to producing high-quality work, making ongoing
improvements and enhancing a supportive work culture.
Our accountability
As a corporate Commonwealth entity of the Australian Government, the Commission is accountable
to the Parliament and the Minister for Health, the Honourable Sussan Ley MP, for our performance
in achieving the outcomes of our agreed work plan and priorities.
For more information please visit www.safetyandquality.gov.au
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Position description
Position Number:
20024059
Position Title:
Program Director,
Position Level:
Executive Level 2
Employment Type:
Full time, Ongoing
Reporting To:
Clinical Director
Location:
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Level 5, 255 Elizabeth Street, Sydney
Purpose of the position
The Program Director reports directly to the Clinical Director and supports the Commission to build
and maintain strategic links across commonwealth, state and territory governments and healthcare
agencies. The Program Director will have an understanding of the Australian health system and be
an experienced public policy professional, with a demonstrated ability to engage and develop
relationships with critical senior stakeholders and broker decisions through collaboration and
consensus. In particular there will be a focus on the Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation (the
Atlas) which will inform strategies, resources and tools to identify and reduce unwarranted
healthcare variation, and will drive further investigation of variation at the local area level.
The Program Director provides high level strategic direction and leadership for applicable program
areas, and will work across programs to provide specialist technical advise.
Position responsibilities
1. Undertake strategic project development responsibilities, for example in relation to the clinical
variation portfolio.
2. Undertake project management activities including:
 Planning and documenting the projects
 Implementing, monitoring and reporting on progress including reporting through the
Project Management System
 Providing recommendations about managing risk, identifying problems and proposing
possible solutions
 Reporting on project progress and outcomes including use of the Commission’s Project
Management Tool
 Managing project deliverables to completion.
3. Develop and enhance positive, effective working relationships and drive negotiations and
communications with key stakeholders including with executives and heads of commonwealth
and jurisdictional health departments and agencies.
4. Keeping the CEO, COO and Clinical Director informed about progress on projects and strategic
implications.
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Skills required
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Excellent liaison, negotiation, influencing and consultation skills with a demonstrated ability to
engage and develop relationships with senior stakeholders and broker decisions through
collaboration and consensus
Excellent writing skills
High level oral communication and presentation skills

High level analytical, strategic and interpretation skills

Highly developed ability to conduct research, and interpret and synthesize quantitative and
qualitative information on a variety of subjects.
Sound decision making skills, incorporating initiative and professional judgment where
necessary
Excellent project and team management skills
Strong resource and time management skills.
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Qualifications and experience
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Relevant tertiary qualifications
Extensive program/project management experience
Experience in health safety and quality
Extensive experience in writing for different audiences and in different formats
High-level project management and/or policy development experience at a state or national level
High level analytical and problem solving skills
Experience in literature reviews and searches.
Critical knowledge
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Knowledge and understanding of the issues regarding safety and quality in health care,
including around clinical variation and how to minimise it in the delivery of health care.
Knowledge of the Australian healthcare system
Knowledge of evidence-based medicine and health care improvement
Knowledge of healthcare stakeholders and relevant interest groups
National routine health datasets
National health funding models.
Judgement and decision making
The Program Director, will be required to make decisions in relation to:

Program development, planning and management

Day to day activities and organisation of work

Stakeholder consultation and management

Priority setting and work flow management

Program direction and strategic focus

Draft content of papers, briefings, reports and other documents.

Reporting to the Commission Executive, Board, Standing Committees and Senate Estimates
when required.
Decisions which are referred to the Clinical Director include:
 Any decision that will substantially alter the outcomes, timeframe or funding requirements of a
program/project
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Major policy issues or conflicts arising in course of program/project and representational duties
All matters that require a higher delegated authority such as approval for expenditure,
appropriation of resources and/or travel
Sign-off of correspondence, reports and papers for public distribution.
Relationships
With:
Purpose
1. APS project officers
This position will provide leadership and supervise the work
of the APS project officers where appropriate.
2. Program Team
This position will work across Commission teams and in
collaboration with relevant program Directors and team
members to develop and implement program initiatives.
3. Commission Chief
Executive and staff
This position will provide support and advice as required to
the Commission’s Chief Executive and senior staff of the
Commission on matters related to the program or work.
4. Commission members
and standing
committees
This position will provide advice and support to Commission
committees as required to assist with decision making
processes.
5. Content experts and
stakeholders
This position will liaise with key experts and stakeholders
including clinical and jurisdictional advisory groups.
Selection criteria
1. Demonstrated excellence in program/project management and organisational capability, and
strategic planning. and focus on achieving results
2. High level understanding of Australia’s health care systems including safety and quality in health
care and / or the processes of government.
3. Demonstrable record of achievement in health care, preferably gained in a large and complex
organisation.
4. Highly developed analytical skills, strategic and conceptual ability, with the demonstrated
capacity for sound judgement and innovative problem-solving.
5. Strong interpersonal skills including an ability to communicate with influence and ability to
cultivate productive working relationships with a range of government and non-government
stakeholders.
6. An ability and orientation to make a positive contribution to the performance and the
environment of the Commission.
7. Demonstrated ability and experience in providing strategic leadership to achieve an effective
policy-focused outcomes..
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