Chief Operating Officer - Allied Health and Mental Health Services

Albury Wodonga Health (AWH) is a leading regional health service and Australia's only cross-border public health provider. Since our establishment in 2009, we have grown into Victoria's second-largest regional health service, delivering comprehensive care across 21 clinical locations to a catchment of 300,000 people. With over 3,200 staff, we serve diverse communities across north-east Victoria and southern New South Wales, guided by our purpose: Together, we advance the health and wellbeing of our community.

AWH is a thought leader within contemporary regional health services. Following significant transformation and our recent 15-year anniversary, we are seeking an outstanding COO to build upon these achievements and lead AWH, the team and our partners to the next stage of our evolution. Reporting to the CEO and working in partnership with the COO Acute Health Services and the broader executive team, you will:

• Provide strategic counsel to the CEO and Board while maintaining hands-on operational oversight;
• Drive operational excellence across diverse portfolios including mental health, allied health, community care, cancer care, acute medical services, subacute and at home services and Aboriginal health services;
• Provide leadership to your teams in the delivery of safe, accessible and sustainable patient care;
• Lead a comprehensive organisational restructure to better align services, improve integration and strengthen succession planning across the health service;
• Lead quality improvement initiatives to elevate clinical outcomes and patient experience;
• Support new health infrastructure in partnership with State Departments of Health as part of the $558m Albury Wodonga Regional Hospital project;
• Champion digital transformation, innovation and operational agility to ensure long-term sustainability;
• Develop strategic partnerships with tertiary services, regional providers and community stakeholders;
• Foster a safe, inclusive and high-performing culture aligned to our purpose and commitments.

We are seeking a visionary healthcare executive with demonstrable experience leading major organisational change within the allied health / mental health / community health or related portfolios. You will bring both strategic thinking and operational excellence, the ability to manage significant budgets and diverse clinical portfolios, and a track record of building capable, accountable leadership teams. Your approach will be characterised by commercial acumen, high emotional intelligence, genuine care for people and communities, and the courage to have difficult conversations in service of better outcomes. Experience across private, public or NFP healthcare settings is valued, with regional experience desirable.

This represents a rare opportunity for an innovative healthcare executive to join AWH at a pivotal moment in our evolution. You will help shape the future of the organisation and the broader regional health ecosystem and ultimately support the delivery of world-class services for communities across the Albury Wodonga region.

The Albury Wodonga region offers an exceptional lifestyle. Positioned on the NSW-Victoria border, it provides easy access to Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra, while offering a relaxed regional lifestyle with excellent schools, healthcare facilities and recreational opportunities. Residents enjoy beautiful natural surroundings including the Murray River, nearby ski fields, and stunning national parks, perfect for outdoor activities year-round. The area combines the benefits of regional living, strong community connections, safe neighbourhoods, and quality amenities, with the convenience of a major regional centre.

Please click on the "Additional Information" button to download a copy of the Candidate Information Pack. For more information, please contact Rob Macmillan, Partner Health at Derwent Search at healthservices@derwentsearch.com.au or 0421 593 535 quoting reference number 33578.
Applications close: Tuesday 4th November 2025.