This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and values-driven leader to join the organisation as an Operations Manager on a maximum-term full-time maternity leave contract through to 29 November 2027. Overseeing a portfolio of Suicide Aftercare and Medicare Mental Health programs, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across multidisciplinary teams, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, recovery-oriented and person-centred support.
About the Role
As the Operations Manager, you will play a pivotal role in leading complex mental health and suicide aftercare services, with a strong focus on embedding peer-led practice and lived experience leadership across programs.
We are seeking an experienced operational leader with a deep understanding of recovery-oriented mental health service delivery and the complexities of community-based care. You will recognise the value of lived experience and bring proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams across clinical, psychosocial, and peer-led service environments.
While not a clinical leadership role, you will be comfortable partnering with psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, peer workers, and community support teams to deliver integrated, person-centred outcomes. You will champion contemporary mental health practice, ensuring lived experience perspectives are embedded across service delivery, program development, and operational decision-making.
Leading a portfolio of services, you will drive operational excellence, service quality, financial performance, and continuous improvement while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. You will build and maintain strategic partnerships across the mental health sector, ensuring services remain sustainable, compliant, and responsive to community needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the operational performance of suicide aftercare and community mental health programs.
- Support the integration and ongoing growth of peer-led practice and lived experience leadership across services.
- Lead, coach, and develop multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, recovery-oriented support.
- Manage budgets, contracts, service performance, quality, compliance, and risk.
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with government agencies, health services, community organisations, and funding bodies.
- Drive service innovation and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance customer outcomes and operational effectiveness.
- Ensure accurate reporting and achievement of contractual and organisational objectives.
You will bring:
- Significant leadership experience within mental health, psychosocial, community services, suicide prevention, or a related sector
- A strong understanding of recovery-oriented practice, trauma-informed care, and contemporary mental health service delivery.
- Experience working alongside multidisciplinary teams, including clinicians and peer workers
- A demonstrated commitment to lived experience leadership and the meaningful inclusion of peer-led approaches
- Proven experience managing operational performance, budgets, service delivery, and workforce outcomes
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
- Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or extensive experience in a related field
- Registration or qualifications as a Psychologist, Mental Health Social Worker, or Mental Health Occupational Therapist
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across clinical, psychosocial, and peer-led service environments
- Strong understanding of integrated models of care and collaborative practice within community mental health settings
You are a values-driven leader who can balance strategic thinking with operational excellence. You understand the complexities of mental health service delivery and can create environments where clinical expertise, lived experience knowledge, and recovery-focused practice work together to achieve outstanding outcomes.
A Safe and Inclusive Workplace
Pathway Talent has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, neglect, and harm and is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of children, young people, people with disability, and the communities we serve. In line with this commitment, all appointments are subject to the successful completion of relevant pre-employment and safeguarding checks, including background screening, qualification and registration verification, and any role-specific compliance requirements.
Diversity & Inclusion
Pathway Talent is committed to creating inclusive, diverse, and culturally safe workplaces. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
