Deputy Secretary, HealthShare

The Department of Health plays a critical role in the Victorian health system and is responsible for shaping it to meet the health needs of all Victorians. We’re focused on supporting Victorians to be as healthy as they can; whether through alerting them to seasonal risks like thunderstorm asthma, notifying them of contact with communicable diseases, safeguarding their drinking water, developing the best health, wellbeing and care facilities in the world, being at the forefront of mental health and
wellbeing treatment or accelerating medical research. It’s all part of the way we partner with the community to help every individual lead a healthy life.

About the role: 
The Department of Health is seeking a senior executive with deep procurement, commercial and supply chain expertise to establish and lead its new HealthShare division.

The Deputy Secretary will provide strategic leadership of the HealthShare division as a statewide procurement, supply chain, logistics and shared services enterprise supporting Victoria's public health system. The role is responsible for driving system-wide efficiency, productivity, value, supply resilience and service excellence through commercially disciplined, customer-focused and clinically informed approaches that leverage the collective scale of the Victorian health sector.

This role will oversee the successful transition of HealthShare Victoria into the Department of Health and lead a strategic reset to enable the division's purpose, service, scope and operating model. This includes aligning people, systems, governance, resources and performance arrangements to deliver a sustainable and customer-focused, statewide service enterprise.

The role will develop and implement a long-term vision for statewide procurement, supply chain and shared services, focused on measurable value for health services, government and the Victorian community. This includes simplifying services, strengthening supply assurance and ensuring investment, pricing, funding and performance arrangements support sustainable public value.

The Victorian Department of Health wants a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. The vision is for a Victoria where the children and people thrive, workplaces are productive and safe, and communities are more connected.  
They see it as their job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe and to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all. 

We are looking for a leader with:

• Demonstrated executive leadership of large-scale procurement, commercial, supply chain, logistics, warehousing or shared services functions in a complex operating environment.
• Proven experience leading commercially sophisticated organisations or business units responsible for major procurement expenditure, critical service delivery, contract management and supply chain operations.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience in pricing, funding model reform, cost-to-serve management, revenue recovery, supplier performance and strategic sourcing to deliver value, productivity and financial sustainability.
• Experience designing and implementing enterprise operating models, including service scope, accountabilities, decision rights, service standards, workforce capability, governance and performance arrangements.
• Experience optimising supply chain networks, warehousing infrastructure, logistics assets, inventory settings and distribution models to improve reliability, service performance, cost efficiency and resilience.
• Proven experience leading complex customer, government, supplier and sector stakeholder relationships, balancing service expectations, commercial constraints, policy objectives and system-wide outcomes.
• Knowledge of, or the ability to rapidly acquire knowledge of, the Victorian public health system and its operating environment.

The Victorian Department of Health will offer:

• The opportunity to perform meaningful work, making direct contributions toward enabling Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world.
• A wide range of growth and development opportunities within the department and wider Victorian Public Service.

A strong commitment to work-life balance, including a diverse array of flexible working arrangements.

For more information, please contact email publicsector@derwentsearch.com.au or call 0419 683 660 quoting reference number: 34748

To apply: Please provide a cover letter highlighting your suitability for the role and a resume by the due date. Applications close: 23 August 2026